Kayshon Boutte won't be on the field with the LSU football team Saturday when they face off with non-conference foe New Mexico, and head coach Brian Kelly wanted to get way out ahead of it.
The star Tigers WR has been excused from the team to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their first child, who was expected to be born sometime Thursday.
"We wish him and his new mom all the best," Kelly said during his Thursday press conference. "So I just want to make sure so we didn't get a whirlwind of rumors and innuendos flashing before us Saturday when you didn't see him on the sideline."
The timing of Boutte's absence should make it a bit easier to manage, with the Lobos out of Mountain West entering Tiger Stadium as 31.5-point underdogs. It'll likely be another tune-up opportunity after a win in the SEC opener against Mississippi State and with Auburn looming the following weekend.
Jack Bech will see more action in the slot, with Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Jaray Jenkins and Kyren Lacey also being looked upon to pick up some of the slack in Boutte's absence. It's been a slow start through three games the preseason All-American, with just 10 catches for 93 yards. Part of that is the run-first nature of the Tigers' offense, with QB Jayden Daniels carrying the ball for 225 yards over that span, a figure that's good for 9th in the Southeastern Conference. Nabers is the team's leading receiver thus far with 14 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown.
"We think we've got a nice rotation that will keep us in a really good situation as well," Kelly said.
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LSU's backup quarterback got his first action of the season against Southern, another non-conference matchup. The redshirt freshman struggled in that game to the tune of 13-23 for 183 yards and a pair of interceptions.
"Decision making," Kelly said. "I think we know that he's talented. I think I talked about it after the game is that he can't press, he just needs to let the game come to himself. I'd be happy that if he's in the game, that's a good sign. But it's really about making good decisions, take what they give you and let's move on to the next play. Let's call another play without it being a moment of 'wow,' you know, and stay away from those moments. And, you know, he can have great success."
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