by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
A Tiger we haven't yet witnessed in purple and gold, former Alabama transfer and Edna Karr legend Aaron Anderson continues to battle his way back from injury just in time for summer conditioning....and his emergence among LSU's talented receiving corps could ignite competitive fireworks within Cortez Hankton's WRs room for the next 3 years.
Also successful as a returner (20 special teams touchdowns at Edna Karr), Anderson is a speed merchant and loose cannon with the football in his hands, eating up large chunks of yardage after the catch....qualities which made him a 5 star talent from 2022's recruiting class.
As a senior, Anderson went off, catching 74 passes, producing 926 receiving yards & 14 touchdown receptions alongside 6 special teams scores....all making Anderson one of the most hotly pursued receivers of the 2022 class.
Spending his first collegiate year at Alabama fielding 0 targets from just 3 on-field snaps during 1 total appearance, Anderson wasn't ever given a sniff by Nick Saban, even when his Crimson Tide suffered mightily without a talisman or playmaker at receiver.
After Alabama's 2022 season, where Anderson witnessed his home state Tigers best the Tide in overtime before a stark-raving mad Tigers Stadium, the Louisiana native had enough, returning home thanks to a blockbuster transfer this past winter.
But....just how good is he?
Reminding me of Tiger legend Early Doucet, crossed with specific traits from any number of latter day LSU skill position playmakers (the body & athletic profile of Clyde Edwards-Helaire if he was a receiver, may fit the bill), Anderson's shorter stature (5'8) is actually one of the biggest keys to his successful career at melting defenders: you can't catch the man, but also.....in the heat of the wash, it's damn near impossible to find him
Likely headed for stardom at LSU, Aaron Anderson's Alabama defection brought the happy ending we'd all clamored for in the aftermath of a long, painful recruiting saga throughout 2021 & early 2022.
When you watch Anderson's raw abilities in motion, it's stunning and almost inconceivable for me to think Nick Saban lured such a promising Louisiana talent out of the Boot.....only to lose him 12 months later...
I'm not saying Anderson will win an automatic Heisman or a Biletnikoff, but just think how different things would be if Saban lost Devonta Smith after 2017/18....
Now, due to Saban & his program slipping, another Louisiana native son returns home from abroad with one big mission in mind: win a championship wearing purple & gold.
With talents like Anderson, the Tigers' offense continues to edge ever closer to that goal.
LSU's 2023 wide receivers room is potentially the most stacked room inside the SEC, containing weapons such as Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, Chris Hilton Jr, Kyren Lacy, incoming freshmen dynamos Shelton Sampson Jr, Kyle Parker, Jalen Brown, Khai Prean, plus Anderson himself on roster; If properly unleashed, it's hard to foresee defensive coordinators being able to stop the Tigers' aerial assault.
Possessed with blistering pace, "GTFOH" strength & agility, expert route running, a prize fighter's mentality amid aerial duels, elite vision after the catch, and most importantly, solid hands, Anderson is the complete package.
It's time for Brian Kelly's Tigers to cash in on their enormous portal win at Saban's expense.
In today's college football transfer portal era, one man's forgotten bench receiver is another man's Biletnikoff candidate.
Assisted by our deep quarterback & wide receiver rooms, Aaron Anderson will likely become a special Tiger over the coming seasons....and LSUOdyssey will be there every step of the way.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW US HERE @LonnPhillips
Copyright 2023 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
AUTHOR'S NOTE
THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE & SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED DURING THIS TOUGH TIME FOR MY FAMILY & I.
NOTHING WILL EVER STOP US.
PERIOD.
NOTHING WILL EVER KEEP US DOWN.
WE HAVE GOALS & AMBITIONS TO ACHIEVE...& WE KNOW THAT IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME & GOD...
THANK YOU, LOVE YOU & GEAUX TIGERS
We will know if he retains all of his skill when he gets on the field this Summer. Injury recovery is very unpredictable as we have seen with Hilton and others.