Arriving in blistering hot Las Vegas for week 1 and a battle vs the USC Trojans, second year Tiger WR Aaron Anderson wasn't on many analysts' radars, many left disappointed by his meager 2023 efforts through injury...but by the end of 4 quarters in the desert, Anderson's burgeoning reputation as a dominant playmaker & clutch presence would be sealed.

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Instead of the purely flashy slot machine player most among the national college football audience & almost all of LSU's beat media forecasted, here was the New Orleans native & former Edna Karr 5 star hauling down massive catches in traffic, taking hits and still chewing up yards on critical downs before scoring the only LSU touchdown of the 2nd half vs USC (of course, a play made on 3rd & 4, a rare red zone score for the 2024 Tigers).

From the first game on, Anderson set down a marker early in 2024, letting his first year starting QB Garrett Nussmeier know he could be relied upon when it was a "do or die" scenario, reeling in 16 grabs on 3rd or 4th down, headlined by 3 of his 5 TDs.

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The most obvious case in point being his game-tying touchdown on 4th & 5 with 27 seconds left vs top 10 Ole Miss, sending the game into overtime after Anderson & Mason Taylor pulled off incredible critical downs heroics on a nerve-shattering drive....all orchestrated by the brilliant Nussmeier.

But there were many moments this past fall where Anderson rose up from the fringes of Cortez Hankton's receiving room and evolved into a multifaceted weapon for LSU, producing hard nosed plays vs USC or Ole Miss, while showcasing his yards after catch, open field speed demon prowess vs A&M, torching their top 10 ranked defense for a 76 yard touchdown on a quick slant.

He simply caught the ball and was gone....gliding through space as if he dictated the earth's very axis....brutally calculating, majestically searing pace for all to see, now finally, fully unleashed.

While Kyren Lacy received 102 targets, the most of any Tiger overall as the titular #1 receiver, Anderson pushed or topped him in nearly every category, even joining him within the SEC's top 10 for yards, eclipsing Lacy in yards as the 7th most productive receiver in the conference & catching the 3rd most receptions in the SEC.

Although he didn't rattle off 100 yard games at a clip, or score a monstrous amount of touchdowns (LSU's offense was somehow incapable of maintaining a momentum or rhythm downfield for any of that to occur) Anderson still piled up the yards, catches, and big plays throughout a strong Year 2 as a Tiger...with Year 3 promising to reach even greater heights alongside far more elite competition within Cortez Hankton's receiving corps.

Could iron sharpen iron and we witness Anderson at his most explosive, even as he competes for targets next to transfer studs Nic Anderson and Barrion Brown or Chris Hilton Jr???

Not to mention the rise of Trey'Dez Green as a red zone / critical down target, the return of Zavion Thomas for another year or Kyle Parker from injury???

It's beginning to look like Anderson should be LSU's unquestioned starter in the slot....a position where he has absolutely cooked & crucified opponents.....specifically when he is flanked by dynamic receiving teammates on the outside.

In a 2024 room needing drive & impetus, Anderson was the man who carried the team at key points; in 2025, surrounded by bona fide NFL-level receiving talents, Anderson should be allowed to do what he does best: make plays in space & burn defenses after the catch.

If utilized correctly & if able to stay healthy, this upcoming season, LSU's fanbase & opponents alike should get used to seeing the back of his jersey more than the front....

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

TOP 10 LSU TIGERS OF 2024: #3 AARON ANDERSON

OUR PAST TOP 10s HERE

TOP 10 OF 2024

3. AARON ANDERSON

THANK YOU

FOR READING!!!

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