LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is unavailable for Monday’s Citrus Bowl against Purdue, head coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday.
Boutte announced his return to LSU for the 2023 season rather than enter the NFL Draft. Boutte explained his return, in part, with the following post on social media.
“LSU has been nothing but amazing to me,” Boutte wrote. “My growth under the new staff has helped me reach new levels. While we did not achieve the overall goal, we still fought and produced results that will be a stepping stone for future success. The goal is always to win a national championship at LSU and that will never change. We made strides this year but ultimately fell short. That is why I believe we can accomplish many things moving forward. I believe in this team, coaches, strength staff, nutrition staff and training staff.”
With Boutte’s return, the Tigers will get two of the SEC’s top offensive skill position players back next year, as quarterback Jayden Daniels will also come back for his final season of eligibility.
“I think there are some young guys that need some work that I think that this is going to be an effective first, you know, four, five practices where — where we really can lean on them and get them a lot of work,” Kelly said this month. “And look, they are not blessed where we have so much depth. We are still in a position where we’ve got to build up this program through recruiting. That’s still a chief concern. But we do have some young players we are anxious to see in these first three and four practices in there are, you know, get out there and really give them a lot of work.”
A five-star recruit in the Class of 2020, Boutte went with his home-state school out of New Iberia (La.) Westgate. Gabe Brooks, who evaluates prospects in Louisiana for 247Sports, projected Boutte as a future first-round pick with a comparison to Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills.
Boutte’s 2022 season, his junior campaign, ends with 48 receptions for 538 yards (11.2 average) and two touchdowns in 11 games (10 starts). He broke out as a sophomore during the 2021 season, catching 38 passes for 509 yards (13.4 average) and nine touchdowns over six games (all starts). As a freshman with the Tigers in 2020, Boutte made 45 catches for 735 yards (16.3 average) and five touchdowns through 10 games (five starts).
“We would love to get back to winning ways,” Kelly said in early December when LSU learned of its Purdue matchup. “We have lost two games, obviously to the No. 1 team in the country this past weekend. But again, you know, playing Purdue, a team that won their side of the Big Ten, have a lot of respect for Jeff. His times play with an edge. Played them when I was at Notre Dame. He’s got a great, creative offense.”
