2023 NFL Draft: LSU WR Keyshawn Booth declares after initially opting to return to team next season

LDU star wide receiver Kayshawn Booth heart and will changed to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month after announcing he would return to the Tigers in 2023. LSU announced earlier Wednesday that Booth would not play in the upcoming Citrus Bowl game against Purdue on Jan. 2, but that he was enrolled for the spring.

By declaring for the draft, the junior completely changed his plans just 23 days after announcing he would return to the Tigers in 2023. “LSU has been nothing short of amazing to me” Booth said on December 5th. “My growth in the new squad helped me reach new levels. Even though we fell short of our overall goal, we still fought and achieved results that will be a stepping stone for future success…while some stories will end here, mine won’t. Let’s stop and focus on the ultimate goal of any LSU Tiger: winning a national championship.”

Where Booth ended up in the draft remains a mystery. He had first-round potential in a loaded wide receiver class, but is not listed the best players in his position (probably because of his previous announcement). But Boutte was one of the most electrifying environments in the world college football over the past three seasons. When healthy, he has been as important to his team as any offensive weapon in the game.

Booth’s 2022 season has also been a saga of sorts, so it will be interesting to see if that affects his draft stock. He was the subject of transfer rumors early in the season after he deleted all links to LSU from his social media following a heartbreaking 24-23 loss State of Florida at the season opener. However, he had a stronger second half of the season, culminating in 107 receiving yards and a score in the SEC championship game loss to Georgia.

“We support Kaishan and his decision,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said in the statement. “He went through a thoughtful process and ultimately decided it was in his best interest. We appreciate everything he has done during his time at LSU and wish him well.”

He looked like he could have a stellar season in 2021 when he caught 38 passes for 508 yards and nine touchdowns in six games; however, an ankle injury in October ended his season. Booth was an All-SEC freshman in 2020 when he caught 45 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns. In the final game of the season, he set the SEC single-game receiving record with 14 passes for 308 yards and three scores in a 53-48 win over Ole Miss.