Reggie Bush says LSU football’s Ja’Marr Chase reminds him of Odell Beckham.
Why does LSU football get to have all the best wide receivers?
For years, the Bayou Bengals had one amazing receiver after another, but rarely had a competent quarterback who could rifle him the pigskin. That narrative was completely flipped during Joe Burrow’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign last year, as the LSU Tigers were at the epicenter of college football. One guy who shined in this offense was wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
As a true sophomore, Chase took home the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in college. He had 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in his All-American season. Had he been draft-eligible, Chase would have been the first wide receiver off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s poised to be a top-five in 2021 should he declare a season early.
On Wednesday evening, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff had another webcast to discuss all things college football. It was a very receiver-centric episode, as all the guys had to pick their top-five. 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and USC Trojans legendary running back Reggie Bush had Chase in his top spot. He also sees a lot of Odell Beckham Jr. in Chase’s game. What an incredible LSU comparison!
"He reminds me a lot of Odell Beckham Jr."@ReggieBush and @mattleinartQB have lofty expectations of @LSUfootball's @Real10jayy__ this year and beyond 🐅🔥 pic.twitter.com/96yhYJqEeu
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) June 17, 2020
“He reminds me a lot of Odell Beckham Jr.,” said Bush. “With them, they’re always in trail position. That’s not something you want to against a guy like Ja’Marr Chase because he’s fast, he’s explosive, he has great routes, he understands concepts. He understands also where to be quarterback-friendly and when to be quarterback-friendly. He also won the Biletnikoff Award.”
Reggie Bush says Ja’Marr Chase reminds him of Odell Beckham Jr.
This is a very important year for Chase at LSU because there will be plenty of changes coming to the Tigers offense. Burrow now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the Kansas City Chiefs. And passing game coordinator Joe Brady now runs the Carolina Panthers offense.
Myles Brennan is the presumptive quarterback to replace Burrow. Longtime NFL coach Scott Linehan replaces Brady on offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s staff. Chase is one of the best returning players on the LSU football team, but the pressure is on if he wants to win the Biletnikoff in back-to-back years. There are plenty of great receivers scattered throughout the Power 5.
What you have to like about the Beckham comparison for Chase is the high football IQ. Bush’s comment over when and where to be quarterback-friendly means Chase has the same trait as Beckham to help make his quarterback look better than what he actually is. That’s not to say Burrow wasn’t otherworldly, but this trait of Chase’s will go a long way in helping Brennan.
With Bush saying Chase reminds him of Beckham, you have to feel good about that comparison.
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