LSU annihilated college football in 2019, running the table with a perfect 15-0 record en route to a fourth national title. So why wouldn’t the Tigers also be dominating the pros? It seems they have been—Sports Illustrated notes the NFL’s current rookie leaders in passing yards, rushing yards and receiving yards all hail from Baton Rouge.
Obviously, it’s an extremely small sample size—there are still 13 weeks to go in the NFL regular season and perhaps more if COVID has anything to say about it. But LSU’s 2020 draft class was rightfully touted as one of the most talented ever and somehow, at least early on, it’s managed to match the hype.
Fourteen LSU alums were selected this year, tying the record set by Ohio State in 2004. The crown jewel of that group, Heisman winner Joe Burrow, has been as good as advertised for the Bengals, reaching 300 yards passing in each of his last three contests. Justin Jefferson, the fifth receiver taken in April despite leading the nation in catches a year ago, has been a relative bright spot for the struggling Vikings, already ranking among the NFL’s top eight in receiving yards (348) and yards per catch (21.8). Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (pronounced E-laire) has also looked the part for Kansas City, roaring to 304 rushing yards (sixth-most) on 71 carries for the reigning Super Bowl champs. Fellow first-rounder Patrick Queen has fared similarly well in his debut season, pacing the Ravens with 33 tackles.
Between Burrow, Jefferson, CEH, Queen, Deion Jones, Patrick Peterson, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Tre’Davious White, DJ Chark, Tyrann Mathieu, Danielle Hunter, Jamal Adams and Leonard Fournette, LSU has its fingerprints all over the NFL. With unanimous All-American Ja’Marr Chase among other Tigers headed to the pros next spring, it doesn’t look like LSU’s reign of NFL dominance will end anytime soon.
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