Brandon LaFell may not always be one of the first names mentioned when discussing LSU’s remarkable history at wide receiver, but his production says he belongs in the conversation.

During four playing seasons from 2006 through 2009, LaFell caught 175 passes for 2,517 yards and 25 touchdowns. He led LSU in receiving yards for three consecutive seasons, earned All SEC honors twice and played an important role on LSU’s 2007 national championship team. He finished his career ranked among LSU’s leaders in virtually every major receiving category.

For his production, consistency and longevity, Brandon LaFell comes in at No. 94 among the Top 100 LSU Tigers of All Time. 

From Houston to Baton Rouge

Brandon Josiah LaFell came to LSU from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas.

At 6 foot 3, LaFell possessed the size LSU wanted at receiver, but he was also an accomplished defensive back and basketball player.

During his senior football season, LaFell caught 46 passes for 1,116 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted eight passes and returned four of them for touchdowns. He also returned two punts for scores.

LaFell signed with LSU in 2005 and redshirted his first season while learning behind an outstanding group of receivers that included Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet.

His opportunity was coming.

An Early Glimpse of His Potential

LaFell’s first college reception could hardly have been more memorable.

On his first career play from scrimmage against Louisiana Lafayette in LSU’s 2006 opener, LaFell caught a 58 yard touchdown pass.

His role remained limited behind LSU’s veteran receivers, but he made the most of his opportunities. LaFell finished his redshirt freshman season with five receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

His other touchdown also covered 58 yards, coming against Notre Dame in LSU’s Sugar Bowl victory.

LaFell earned Freshman All SEC recognition from the league’s coaches. 

A National Championship Season

LaFell became a major part of LSU’s offense in 2007.

He played in all 14 games and started nine, catching 50 passes for a team leading 656 yards and four touchdowns.

One of his biggest performances came against Virginia Tech. LaFell caught seven passes for 125 yards as LSU dominated the No. 9 Hokies, 48 to 7.

His season ended with a national championship.

Against Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game, LaFell caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from Matt Flynn during the second quarter. The score gave LSU a 17 to 10 lead, and the Tigers never trailed again on their way to a 38 to 24 victory.

LaFell was a national champion in just his second playing season at LSU.

Becoming LSU’s No. 1 Receiver

With LSU’s veteran receivers moving on, LaFell became the centerpiece of the passing game in 2008.

He responded with one of the best seasons of his LSU career.

LaFell caught 63 passes for 929 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight touchdown receptions tied for the most in the SEC. He ranked second in the conference with 71.5 receiving yards per game and third with 4.8 receptions per game. 

His biggest statistical performance came against Troy.

LSU fell behind 31 to 3 before mounting a remarkable comeback. LaFell caught a career high 12 passes for a career high 126 yards as LSU rallied to win 40 to 31.

He also delivered one of the biggest plays of LSU’s season against Auburn. LaFell caught an 18 yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining to give LSU a 26 to 21 comeback victory.

The Associated Press selected LaFell first team All SEC following the season.

Then he had a major decision to make.

Coming Back for One More Year

LaFell initially declared for the 2009 NFL Draft.

Three days later, he changed his mind.

Under NCAA rules at the time, LaFell was allowed to withdraw within a 72 hour period because he had not signed with an agent. He elected to return to Baton Rouge for his senior season. 

The decision gave him one more opportunity to add to his place in LSU history.

LaFell started all 13 games in 2009 and caught 57 passes for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His 11 receiving touchdowns were one short of LSU’s single season record at the time. He scored in eight of LSU’s 13 games and had multiple touchdown receptions against Louisiana Lafayette, Mississippi State and Tulane.

Against Mississippi State, LaFell caught six passes for a season high 101 yards and two touchdowns.

He finished the year as a second team All SEC selection by both the conference coaches and the Associated Press. 

One of LSU’s Most Productive Receivers

LaFell finished his LSU career with:

175 receptions

2,517 receiving yards

25 receiving touchdowns

14.4 yards per reception

At the conclusion of his career, he ranked second in LSU history with 25 receiving touchdowns, third with 175 receptions and fifth with 2,517 receiving yards.

He also caught at least one pass in his final 41 consecutive games.

Perhaps the best indication of LaFell’s consistency was his ability to remain LSU’s top receiving threat despite changes at quarterback and elsewhere on the offense. He led the Tigers in receiving yards in 2007, 2008 and 2009. 

LaFell also graduated from LSU in December 2009 with a degree in general studies.

Then it was time for the NFL.

NFL Career

The Carolina Panthers selected LaFell in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 78th overall pick. 

He spent his first four NFL seasons with Carolina before joining the New England Patriots in 2014. That became the most productive season of his professional career.

LaFell caught a career high 74 passes for 953 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. He helped New England reach Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks.

LaFell caught four passes for 29 yards in the Super Bowl, including an 11 yard touchdown from Tom Brady that opened the scoring. New England won 28 to 24, giving LaFell championships at both the college and professional levels.

After two seasons with New England, LaFell played two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders in 2018.

Across nine NFL seasons, LaFell appeared in 125 regular season games with 90 starts. He caught 406 passes for 5,398 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

Why Brandon LaFell Is No. 94

LSU’s wide receiver history has exploded since LaFell left Baton Rouge.

Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are among the stars who have helped establish LSU as one of college football’s premier producers of NFL receivers.

That can make it easy to overlook just how good LaFell was.

He caught 175 passes for 2,517 yards and 25 touchdowns during an era when LSU was not producing the enormous passing statistics seen during the Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels years.

He led LSU in receiving yards three consecutive seasons.

He earned first team All SEC honors.

He scored a touchdown in LSU’s national championship victory over Ohio State.

He finished his career among LSU’s leaders in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Then he spent nine seasons in the NFL and became a Super Bowl champion.

Brandon LaFell was not simply another talented LSU receiver who eventually reached the NFL. For three consecutive seasons, he was LSU’s leading receiver and one of the most reliable offensive weapons on the roster.

That earns Brandon LaFell the No. 94 spot among the Top 100 LSU Tigers of All Time.

Sources

LSU Athletics, Brandon LaFell official biography
LSU Athletics: Brandon LaFell⁠

LSU Athletics, LaFell Withdraws Name from NFL Draft
LSU Athletics: LaFell Returns for Senior Season⁠

LSU Athletics, LaFell Declares Intent to Enter NFL Draft
LSU Athletics: LaFell’s Original NFL Draft Declaration⁠

LSU Athletics, Biletnikoff Award Watch List
LSU Athletics: LaFell Named to Biletnikoff Watch List⁠

Pro Football Reference, 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft Results⁠

Pro Football Reference, Brandon LaFell NFL statistics
Brandon LaFell NFL Career Statistics⁠