Arkansas Bengal Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 LSU rookies impacting the NFL Jennifer Hale FOX Sports Southwest JAN 27, 2015 5:50p ET Al Bello/Kevin C. Cox Look familiar? When the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is announced at the NFL Honors ceremony, LSU product Odell Beckham Jr.is the odds-on favorite to walk away with the honor. However, Beckham's fellow Tiger Jeremy Hill made a case for himself too. In fact, three LSU products are wrapping up sensational rookie campaigns that established them as NFL stars of the future. Beckham Jr, Hill and Jarvis Landry have proven themselves to be clutch building blocks for their respective programs. All three young talents are well worth keeping your eyes on next season. If this initial performance is any indication, you won't be able to help yourself. Odell Beckham Jr Drafted: First Round, 12th Pick by the New York Giants Awards/Accolades: Pro Football Writers of America Rookie of the Year Pro Football Writers Offensive Rookie of the Year Highest yards-per-game average in NFL rookie history with 108.8 Longest rookie streak of leading the NFL in receiving yards for 6 consecutive games The first NFL rookie to have 4 consecutive 100+ yards games since Jimmy Orr in 1958 Multiple franchise rookie records including 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 12 games Beckham Jr is the highest drafted wide receiver ever in LSU's history. He's made headlines this season for his consistent production, that amazing one-handed catch versus the Dallas Cowboys and his comments about the controversial Dez Bryant catch that wasn't a catch in the playoffs versus Green Bay. After collecting several post-season rookie honors, Beckham Jr is also up for the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award on Super Bowl Eve. A hamstring injury delayed Beckham's NFL debut by four games at the beginning of the season, but he quickly made up for lost time. Beckham ended the season recording 4 games with 10 or more receptions, a first for a rookie in NFL history. Beckham has been preparing for greatness for quite some time, so it's no surprise to those closest to him. The son of former LSU running back Odell Beckham Sr and LSU track star turned Olympian Heather Van Norman, Beckham grew up in and out locker rooms and visiting Mike the Tiger daily once his parents finished their respective practices. As a college student himself, the Newman High School product spent his time in Baton Rouge adding his name to the purple and gold record books, as well as prepping to play on a larger stage. Draft analyst Mike Detillier believes Beckham's attention to detail back at LSU helped prepare him for the NFL stage, including yoga to improve concentration and flexibility. "LSU wide receivers coach Adam Henry is one of the best young wide-out coaches around, and he helped Beckham with his techniques and his route running skills. Beckham was so much quicker getting in and out of his cuts and breaks," Detillier said. "I grew up in the 1970's, and I saw Lynn Swann at USC and then his NFL Hall of Fame career with the Pittsburgh Stealers. That is who Beckham reminds me of. Just superb eye-hand coordination and a knack for contorting his body to make a tough catch look routine. He has huge hands also and just is incredible timing his leaps just right to make the catch." Jeremy Hill Drafted: Second Round, 55th Pick by the Cincinnati Bengals Awards/Accolades: 4th Bengals rookie to rush for 1000 yards and the first since Corey Dillon in 1997 Pro Football Focus: All Rookie Team Pro Football Focus: #1 rookie running back NFL Rookie of the Week: Week 9 Bengals Offensive Player of the Year In the final 9 contests of the season, Hill turned up the heat, rushing for 929 yards. Even more impressive, his yards after the catch: 504. The Baton Rouge native is also elusive. According to PFF, Hill recorded 28 forced missed tackles. Hill seems to be making the most of his NFL opportunity, thanks in part to the strong foundation his mother built him. Lisa Hill moved to Cincinnati this past season to help be a stabilizing force as her son adjusted to the NFL world. Hill attended Redemptorist, before finishing his high school career being home schooled. Hill was nominated for Rookie of the Week five times, winning it once in Week 9. He rushed for 100 yards in 5 separate games, ending the season strong with 3 consecutive 100-plus yard performances. "Tough, instinctive, tremendous peripheral vision, a North-South guy who just powers people at the point of attack," Detillier said. "What is amazing is, just like at LSU, he's known as a power runner, but he makes so many big plays after breaking a tackle. He just wears you out with his brute strength and then he hits the homerun shot on you. His style and his hard-charging ways always reminded me of Marshawn Lynch with the Seattle Seahawks. Had Hill not had all the off-the-field issues at LSU, he would have been a first round pick instead of lasting into the second round. He is one of those type runners that you don't feel like tackling in the fourth quarter." Jarvis Landry Drafted: Second Round, 63rd Pick by the Miami Dolphins Awards/Accolades: Led all rookie kickoff returners in 2014 Professional Football Writers of America All Rookie Team: Punt Returner 4th overall kickoff returner in the NFL, averaging 28.1 yards Franchise rookie record of 84 catches This Lutcher High School product has excelled in the return game, despite focusing largely on being a wide receiver at LSU. Not only are his 84 catches a rookie record for the Dolphins, it's the 4th highest total for any player in franchise history. Landry improved steadily as the season progressed, much like Hill, wrapping up the season with 5 catches or more in the final 9 contests, which is the longest streak in franchise history. The former high school track and field standout doesn't just stack up well within the Dolphins franchise: Landry walks away from his rookie campaign as the NFL's 4th best return man when it comes to kickoff return average, 28.1 yards. His punt return average is 8.2 yards. "Jarvis Landry I have known since he was in junior high school, and he was one of the best 'hands' wide receivers I have ever seen," Detillier said. "It was Landry that was known for the acrobatic catches in high school and at LSU - not so much Beckham. Landry was one of the best route runners at the college level and his transition to pro football was just so smooth. What none of us knew was just how good of a return man he would be. Beckham did that at LSU, and Landry was known for his 'strike' skills as a gunner on special teams. He is not someone you want as the anchor man on your 4x400 meter relay team, but you put pads on him and very few guys catch him from behind." http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/lsu-tigers-nfl-odell-beckham-jr-jeremy-hill-jarvis-landry-012715 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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