Malik Nabers has written himself into the LSU Tigers history books. A school associated with producing great wide receivers, the 2024 NFL Draft prospect is next off the production line.
After being instantly productive as a freshman and having a record-setting junior campaign in Baton Rouge, Nabers’ college stats show that he has been one of the best receivers in college football for the last three seasons.
Malik Nabers Impresses in Freshman Season
Nabers left high school as a four-star recruit. He played at Ovey Comeaux High School before transferring to Southside High School for his senior season. However, he was controversially denied a transfer waiver, meaning he didn’t play football in his senior year.
Initially committed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Nabers made a significant decision to play in his home state after a late recruiting push from LSU — a decision that would inevitably pay off.
The freshman receiver hit the ground running as a rookie in Baton Rouge, playing in 11 games and making six starts. Nabers’ first career reception came against the Central Michigan Chippewas and his first career touchdown came in a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.
He broke out late in the season with a 143-yard game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, a bright spot in a difficult season in Baton Rouge.
Nabers finished the season fourth on the team in receiving yards (417) and third in receiving touchdowns (4). It was a disappointing season for the Tigers, who finished 6-7, but Nabers’ performances showcased glimpses of why he would emerge as the next great LSU receiver, earning Freshman All-SEC honors.
Receptions: 28
Receiving Yards: 417
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
Rushing Attempts: 4
Rushing Yards: 23
Rushing Touchdowns: 0
Nabers Become Favored Target as a Sophomore
Jayden Daniels’ arrival in Baton Rouge for the 2022 season saw Nabers become the go-to target in the LSU offense. As a result, he caught more than two passes in every game of the season.
With 1,017 receiving yards, Nabers became only the 10th player in program history to have over 1,000 yards receiving, and his 72 receptions led the SEC.
LSU turned its fortunes around, finishing with a 10-4 record and making the SEC Championship Game. Nabers caught five passes for 128 yards and one touchdown in the title game loss and backed up his performance with nine catches for 163 yards and one touchdown in the Citrus Bowl.
Nabers had three 100-yard games in 2022, all coming at the end of the season, as he carried momentum into his junior year.
Receptions: 72
Receiving Yards: 1,017
Receiving Touchdowns: 3
Rushing Attempts: 1
Rushing Yards: 5
Rushing Touchdowns: 0
Nabers’ Record-Breaking Junior Season
Nabers headed into 2023 as one of college football’s top returning wide receivers. His dynamic, elusive playstyle had already impressed NFL scouts, and it was expected the receiver could become a high first-round NFL Draft selection if he could build on an already productive career.
What Nabers did in his junior season was record-breaking. In 11 games, the LSU receiver recorded nine with over 100 yards — career-high 239 yards against Mississippi State — and had multiple touchdowns in five.
The talented pass catcher put in excellent performances throughout the 2023 campaign. Alongside Brian Thomas Jr., the LSU receiving core was unrivaled and stoked fear in opponents.
Nabers’ college stats at the end of the season show that he led the nation in average yards per game (120.7) in 2023. His 1,569 receiving yards were the second most in the country and he became only the second LSU receiver to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
His 14 touchdown grabs are the fourth most in a single season in school history, as Nabers brought a close to a legendary college career.
The outstanding junior campaign saw Nabers voted as a unanimous All-American and became a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, a trophy he would lose to Marvin Harrison Jr. by just one vote.
KEEP READING: LSU Tigers’ Top 10 Returning Players in 2024
Overall, Nabers leaves Baton Rouge as its all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, becoming only the second player in school history to have over 3,000 career receiving yards.
Receptions: 89
Receiving Yards: 1,569
Receiving Touchdowns: 14
Rushing Attempts: 1
Rushing Yards: 1
Rushing Touchdowns: 0
Nabers’ Final College Stats
Receptions: 189
Receiving Yards: 3,003
Receiving Touchdowns: 21
Rushing Attempts: 6
Rushing Yards: 29
Rushing Touchdowns: 0
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