By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
LSU coach Lane Kiffin knew some Tigers would have to step up with all the significant injuries his team is facing early in the season.
On defense, Ty Benefield seamlessly filled in for Dashawn Spears at star in the 35-6 win over Texas A&M Saturday. And Davhon Keys will start in place of Whit Weeks at linebacker Saturday when No. 11 LSU (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) hosts McNeese State (2-3, 1-2 Southland Conference) at 6:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
But on the other side of the ball, Kiffin said there is no one-for-one replacement possible for tight end Trey’Dez Green.
That is why it will be up to a cast of receivers to replicate his production. It took two in the win over Texas A&M.
Hawaii transfer wide receiver Jackson Harris exploded for 163 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, while Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins Jr. took five catches for 107 yards. Watkins entered the game as one of LSU’s top targets, but it was a breakout performance for Harris. And one that begs a question or two. Was it just a one-off performance? Or will Harris continue to thrive with Green out?
The answer realistically lies somewhere in between.
Harris is no stranger to a big game. At Hawaii last season, he went over 100 yards six times and over 130 yards four times. His 19.7 average yards per catch was No. 9 in the nation, and he finished the year with 49 catches for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns.
At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Harris is a lengthy vertical threat and a contested catch specialist. He has led LSU in both contested targets (five) and contested catches (three) this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and that should remain the case with Green out.
Where Harris has struggled at times this season is consistency and reliability, but the numbers may be misleading. He has been targeted 22 times this season but only has 11 catches. In his first SEC game, he was targeted seven times with one catch against Ole Miss on Sept. 19. At times, timing with Leavitt has been off (as seen on a 100-yard pick-six against Louisiana Tech). And Harris has two drops through four games.
But you can return to the Ole Miss game tape to see why that 50 percent completion percentage is not entirely Harris’s fault. Of his six targets that fell incomplete, Harris was open for three, but quarterback Sam Leavitt threw three completely uncatchable passes. One was behind him on a short drag on third-and-13. Another was a contested one-on-one ball to the end zone. And the other was a scramble drill pass that was low before going through Harris’s arms.
Leavitt was frazzled by the Rebels’ pass rush, and it showed. He and Harris showed what they are capable of when the big wideout is prioritized in the scheme and Leavitt is comfortable in the pocket.
And if there are still inconsistencies, that is where Watkins comes in.
The 5-10, 183-pound sophomore has been the most consistent option in the LSU passing game outside of Green. Now in his second year under Kiffin, he has been one of the focal points of the offense in the slot. He benefits from mismatches and leads the team with 314 yards and two touchdowns, catching 20 of 28 targets without a drop. He has caught 15 first down passes and averages 6.2 yards after the catch.
But it takes more than two targets to have a productive offense.
Florida transfer Eugene Wilson III (5-11, 184) is a dynamic athlete. His blazing speed and twitchy route-running are real weapons, but he has led the Tigers’ with three drops to start the season and fumbled once.
Outside of the three starters, no other receivers have emerged as of yet. Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown (5-11, 176) looked to be in line for a starring role in the offense after an All-Big 12 season in 2025, but he has dropped two of his eight targets this season. Illinois transfer Malik Elzy (6-2, 217) earned the starting nod over Harris in week one, but has almost disappeared since a drop on LSU’s first drive of the season that led to an interception. Elzy could see an increased role as a big red zone target with Green sidelined, as could Troy transfer Roman Mothershed (6-5, 212).
The tight end room has become a non-factor in the passing game with Green out. Oregon transfer Zach Grace played 42 snaps against A&M with Green out, but he only ran a route on 57.9 percent of LSU passing plays. He was brought to Baton Rouge as a fullback/blocking tight end and has no catches on three targets this season.
Pitt transfer Malachi Thomas (6-3, 243) played only 14 snaps behind Grace against A&M and was primarily used as a blocker. He did well in his limited opportunity in that role. And he does not have a history of receiving production, recording just 13 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season.
Watkins and Harris should continue to lead the way. Their talent has been evident, and the coaching staff has clearly not hesitated to give them opportunities. But with seven SEC games remaining and no clear timeline on a return for Green, some other weapons will need to step up in the passing attack.
Saturday’s matchup with McNeese State should provide plenty of opportunities for a new threat to start to emerge.
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