#8 Malik Nabers Season 2023
2023 Citrus Bowl MVP
2021 Freshman All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
One of the nation’s top receivers heading into the 2023 season … Coming off best year as a Tiger with 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and 3 TDs … Led the SEC in receptions in 2022 and ranked No. 2 in the league in receiving yards … Became the 10th 1,000-yard receiver in school history when he went over the mark against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl … Named MVP of LSU’s Citrus Bowl win over Purdue … In 25 career games, has caught at least 1 pass in 24 times … Enters 2023 having caught a pass in 18 straight games, a streak that dates back to his 2-catch effort vs. Arkansas on Nov. 13, 2021 … Only game without a catch came at Alabama on Nov. 6, 2021 … Electric wide receiver who makes plays all over the field … Developing into a team leader … Can play either the slot or on the outside … Is a natural at the position … Very fluid, making his play look almost effortless … Much more than just a pass-catcher … Can block and is a player who must be accounted for on every down … Is a threat to score or make a big play every time he gets his hands on the ball … Reliable receiver with tremendous hands … Good after the catch … Elusive runner who is difficult to track down and tackle … Missed his senior season of high school football after being ruled ineligible after transferring schools between junior and senior seasons … Has appeared in 25 games with 17 starts … 100 career receptions for 1,437 yards and 7 TDs … Over the summer joined 10 teammates in LSU’s Study Abroad program that took them on a 10-day trip to Senegal … Majoring in mass communications.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2022)
Appeared in 14 games with 11 starts … Caught at least 2 passes in every game running his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 18 straight … Finished year with 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and 3 TDs … His 1,017 yards marks the 10th 1,000-yard receiving season in school history … Led the SEC in receptions and ranked No. 2 in receiving yards … MVP of the Citrus Bowl after catching 9 passes for 163 yards and a 75-yard TD … Also threw a 5-yard TD pass to Jayden Daniels in the 63-7 victory … Other receiving TDs came against Southern (5 yards) and Georgia in the SEC Championship Game (34 yards) … Had 3 100-yard receiving games, all of which came during the final 4 games of the season … Had 7 catches for 129 yards vs. UAB and 5 for 128 yards and a TD vs. Georgia … Had then a career-best 7 receptions in consecutive games vs. UAB and Texas A&M (69 yards) … Caught 6 passes for 49 yards in overtime win over Alabama, which was one of 4 game he had 6 catches (Mississippi State, New Mexico and Tennessee).
FRESHMAN SEASON (2021)
Made the transition to college with ease, playing in 11 games with 6 starts as a freshman … Earned Freshman All-SEC honors … Ranked among LSU’s leaders in receptions (28), yards (417) and touchdowns (4) … Caught at least one pass in 10 of his 11 appearances … Emerged late in the season as one of LSU’s go-to receivers, catching a combined 14 passes for 245 yards and 2 scores in final 4 games of the season … Had breakout performance in win over Louisiana-Monroe with 4 receptions for career-best 143 yards and a TD … Followed that with career-best 6 receptions for 51 yards in win over Texas A&M … Closed out season with 2 catches for 17 yards and a TD against Kansas State in the Texas Bowl … Also rushed for 23 yards on 4 carries in the Texas Bowl … Other TDs came against Kentucky (41 yards) and Ole Miss (9 yards) … First career start came vs. Auburn (2 receptions for 30 yards).
HIGH SCHOOL
Played first three years of high school football at Comeaux in Lafayette, Louisiana before transferring to Southside High School in Youngsville, Louisiana for senior season … Was unable to play football as a senior due to his transfer waiver being denied … Still managed to record a four-star rating from 247 Sports and Rivals… Rated as the No. 6 prospect in the state of Louisiana and the 18th-best overall wide receiver, according to 247 Sports… In 2019, he caught 58 passes for 1,223 yards and 21 touchdowns… Ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and has a 38-inch vertical… Played on the Louisiana Bootlegger 7-on-7 team in the summer after his sophomore season… A three-sport athlete, who participated in football, basketball, and track and field.
Malik Nabers’ Career Highs
Receptions: 9 vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl
Receiving Yards: 163 vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl
Receiving TDs: 1, 7x (Last: vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl; First: at Kentucky, 2021)
Long Reception: 75 vs. Purdue, 2023 Citrus Bowl