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Around SBN: NFL Week One: Previews and Predictions for all 15 games

An Appreciation: WR Brandon LaFell

Third in a series on seniors leaving the SEC.

Perhaps the strongest thing you could say about Brandon LaFell is "Nov. 18, 2006." That's the last time the LSU wide receiver played in a football game and didn't make a catch. And that consistency is what made LaFell a player worth remembering.

APPRECIATIONS 2009
QB Jonathan Crompton (Tennessee)
RB Anthony Dixon (Mississippi St.)
Because, when you look at the numbers, there aren't many signature games in LaFell's career. The showdown with Virginia Tech in 2007 was his only 100-yard game against a marquee opponent. His 1,721 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns over the past two seasons have been the result more of showing up for each game than a breakout performance here or there.

That was also what made him easy to miss amid the hype about younger wideouts like Alabama's Julio Jones and Georgia's A.J. Green. People might forget that LaFell actually had more receiving yards and touchdowns than Jones in 2008 and needed just 25 more receiving yards to lead the conference. No one had more receptions.

LaFell was not quite as good this year. He was still one of the top five or ten receivers in the league, depending on how you measure that. But he was not unquestionably one of the top three -- indeed, you can make arguments that Green, Ole Miss' Shay Hodge, Auburn's Darvin Adams, Florida's Riley Cooper and Arkansas' Greg Childs all had better years than LaFell in 2009.

But there have been few as consistent as LaFell over his four years at LSU. He might not have been one of the league's biggest stars -- but he proved that you don't have to be one to be very, very good.

Brandon LaFell, 2006-09
G REC YDS AVG TD
47 175 2,517 14.4 25

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good gravy!

that’s the largest football i’ve ever seen. it’s larger than his head with the helmet on!

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by kleph on Feb 1, 2010 11:58 AM EST reply actions  

Thanks for the back-handed compliments!

I expect nothing more out of you guys. You didn’t disappoint.

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by Poseur on Feb 1, 2010 12:13 PM EST reply actions  

Sorry you feel that way

I wrote much the same thing about Kenny McKinley last year, and he was one of my favorite Gamecocks ever. To me, there are few compliments that can be given to a wide receiver than saying they were consistent. And the series is supposed to highlight seniors with good and/or memorable careers. No backhanded compliment was intended.

Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.

by cocknfire on Feb 1, 2010 1:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

I think it's pretty easy to make a case that Shay Hodge had a better year than Brandon Lafell.

You say, simply, Shay Hodge led the SEC in total receiving yards, yards per game, and receptions.

One might even call that an ironclad case.

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Destroying your traditions since [YEAR REDACTED].

by Ivory Tower on Feb 1, 2010 7:54 PM EST reply actions  

You nailed it

Lafell was not spectacular, but he was steady. The kind of receiver who would be All-SEC with the presence of a playmaker on the other side.

by froberts on Feb 1, 2010 8:42 PM EST reply actions  

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