Well, Malik Nabers hits the ground running in New York, shining bright despite the Giants’ 3-14 crash last season. But his breakout does come out of the blue, but it shoots straight from his deep-rooted skills at LSU. We all know the Tigers’ history of cranking out elite pass catchers like magic. Building on that legacy, Nabers excelled, earning All-American honors in 2023 and setting LSU’s all-time receiving yards record. But don’t just sleep on his LSU laurels; he then stormed the NFL in 2024, shattering the rookie receptions record and securing a 2025 Pro Bowl berth. Is this LSU’s history of developing exceptional WRs what made the difference, or just pure talent in Nabers’s case?
We all know that LSU keeps churning star receivers, regardless of era or offensive scheme. Recent years saw Heisman-winning quarterbacks connecting with stars like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. But even before LSU’s pass-heavy approach, the program bred elite wideouts. Dwayne Bowe and Odell Beckham Jr. thrived during the team’s run-first era. The LSU jersey signifies a consistently high standard; whether it’s a power running game or a high-flying aerial attack, LSU receivers consistently excel in the NFL.
So, what makes LSU a wide-out-producing unit? Well, LSU’s star WR Malik Nabers talked about the team behind their success on the 7 PM in Brooklyn, making it evident that mindset is all that matters. “When you look at those names, you start understanding who we are. We are from the same spot; we are all from Louisiana. We all built. We were all built in the same way in Louisiana, but we built different, but we still got that same mindset of just – ‘I want to show the world how different I am.’” No wonder the duo was explosive back in 2023.
Malik Nabers led the nation in receiving yards per game and ranked second nationally in total receiving yards (1,569), becoming LSU’s all-time leading receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. topped the country with 17 receiving touchdowns. And that’s because both Malik and Brian were rooting for the team’s success, not personal gain. “Like, that’s how it is. Like, you gotta have that. When you go to LSU, you gotta have that I can’t be f—– with like there’s no comparing me to this person, like he’s not better than and I did itth BT (Brain Thomas) on my side, like he was like me, and BT (Brain Thomas) competed for one another to get better. It was always when we did drills. It wasn’t who can do it better; it was who’s gonna be smoother doing it.”
Well, LSU’s passing game slipped slightly in 2024, averaging 0.14 EPA per dropback (24th nationally), but remained effective. Inconsistency showed, but the team was still standing tall; that’s all because of the kind of mindset LSU’s WR carries. And giving their example, Malik Nabers said,
“Who’s gonna look better doing it, and who’s gonna kill this DB today? Who’s gonna win the most today? When we did one-on-ones, it was who was gonna catch every b–l? Who’s gonna win every route? Who’s gonna be the smoothest coming out? Every route we will have the best releases. We always critiqued everything we did because we knew it was time to go compete.” And now they are doing the same in the NFL, shining bright.
But in between all this light and shine, one deep regret still haunts Malik Nabers.
Malik Nabers’ tough admission on Kyren Lacy
Tragedy struck Houston on Saturday, April 12th, shortly after sunset. A police chase ended with a car crash, and officers discovered the driver, LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy, already dead. A brief investigation revealed a family argument, a discharged firearm, and a subsequent flight. Lacy was just 24.
The news devastated the NFL, particularly his former teammate and friend Malik Nabers, who spoke publicly for the first time about his loss on May 1 at 7 PM In Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony. He said, “Bro, I regret leaving. I regret leaving school because I knew that if I had been there — if we had been there — it would have changed. Like, that’s probably my biggest regret. I’m not going to say it’s definite, but it’s probably my biggest regret — just not taking him with us when we left for the draft.” That kind of regret doesn’t vanish easily; it lingers with you throughout your life.
Lacy joined LSU in 2022, a year after Malik Nabers. While Nabers quickly established himself, Lacy patiently waited, playing in 14 games (starting 2) in 2022 before starting 10 of 13 in 2023. They formed a strong bond beyond football. The 2024 NFL Draft shattered that bond; the Giants drafted Nabers sixth overall, leaving Lacy behind. Their close-knit group, including Jayden Daniels, fractured at the worst possible time.
The fracture led to significant consequences. News of Lacy’s downward spiral broke in December when he allegedly struck a 78-year-old man and then drove away. His legal troubles mounted. Reflecting on that time, Nabers added, “Not having him with us when we got drafted… that’s probably our biggest regret now, seeing what happened. Because we all wanted to get there, and he was the only one who never got to see the end of the daylight.” Those words cut deep. A young man’s NFL dreams died before he could possibly make it all happen.
April 12 still haunts Nabers. He remembers the moment vividly: “I checked my phone, but I went to Instagram first. And I saw… it was him. And like — it’s like every thought in my head went blank. I didn’t know how to think, I didn’t know who to call, I didn’t know what to say, and I didn’t know what to do. And then all the memories started playing back — just me and him. And I’m like, ‘Nah… Nah, not him. This can’t be true.” His voice broke as he recalled the shock, the devastation, and the ensuing silence. It’s cruel.
Lacy seemed destined for greatness. He excelled at the NFL Combine, and his legal troubles were almost over; a hearing was set for two days after his death. He had everything—until he had nothing. For Nabers, the grief is profound: “I didn’t understand death at the time, but this was like the first person I had lost close to me. And when it happened, it just… it hit. Like, life’s real—it’s real.” Nothing can prepare you for that moment—when a friend becomes a memory.
The post Malik Nabers Drops Raw Confession on LSU Locker Room Culture After Admitting to ‘Biggest Regret’ With Kyren Lacy appeared first on EssentiallySports.