Chasing Greatness: LSU WR Malik Nabers Cementing Legacy in Baton Rouge
LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers has rewritten the record books in Baton Rouge after piecing together a legendary career in the purple and.gold.
On Saturday against the Texas A&M Aggies, he broke the program's all-time receptions record after reeling in his 184th career catch, but he has his sights set on another piece of history.
Nabers is now just 22 yards away from breaking LSU's receiving yards record. LSU great Josh Reed sits at No. 1 with 3,001 yards, but Nabers is ready to cement his legacy in Baton Rouge.
After coming up short of the record against Texas A&M, Nabers confirmed he will play in the Tigers' bowl game in order to reach the milestone.
“That record hasn’t been broken in over 20 years and whoever has the opportunity, I feel like they would want to do the same,” Nabers said. “I came here to play with a chip on my shoulder. Didn’t care who I was playing, how many games we had left. I never left my team out there to dry so this record is mine to break.”
Nabers has already proven to be one of the greatest wideouts in LSU history and he understands the history of the program. He's had his sights set on these records all season.
“I was really working on the receiving yards but it’s one record down, one more to chase. I’m gonna break it,” Nabers said.
Now, he has another goal looking to be checked off. Nabers was named a Biletnikoff Award finalist on Monday, an award given annually to America's top receiver.
Nabers has had a record-setting year, leading the nation in receiving yards with 1,546 and ranked No. 2 nationally in receiving TDs with 14. He’s had nine games with at least 100-yards receiving, which includes a career-best 239 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches in a win over Mississippi State.
Nabers has been the nation’s top receiver when it comes to big plays as he leads the country in plays of 20-plus yards (34) and 30-plus yards (34). He also has seven plays of 40-plus yards.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels chimed in Nabers and his historic run for the Tigers.
“We knew Malik was 60 something yards away from being the all time leader in receiving yards here and him [Lacy] getting that penalty negated that. It broke his heart because that’s his brother and something we worked so hard for,” Daniels said. “For him being emotional and scoring that closing touchdown meant a lot for all of us to pick our brother up."
Lacy was emotional after the game knowing the penalty took away a piece of history, but Nabers knows there is still one game left to make it happen.
“You could see me, I’m looking at Kyren block down field, he wanted me to get it so bad and I felt like it was gonna come back. On the last push off I looked at the ref and he threw it,” Nabers said. “I knew I still had some more to go, I’m not mad about it because it shows how bad he wanted me to get the record.”
Now, as Nabers prepares for his final game in the purple and gold, he'll suit up in the bowl game no matter where the Tigers play with his sights set on breaking the program's all-time yardage record and walking away with a Biletnikoff Award in his hands.
