Today we take a look at one of the breakout players from 2019.
7 – WR Griffin Hebert (RS JR) – Hebert signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2017 recruiting cycle over Army, Navy, South Alabama, Cornell, Columbia, and Northwestern State.
I’m not sure why other schools didn’t offer, this kid can play.
Hebert signed at 6’3, 205 pounds, but he’s now a rock solid 6’3, 220 pounds. His body really transformed his first two years on campus as he prepared to contribute with the physicality in the college game.
Hebert played 35 snaps on offense in 2018 as a RS FR, he didn’t record any stats. He also played another 84 snaps on special teams.
Ask any offensive coach on the staff, he probably should have played more as a RS FR.
As a RS SO in 2019, he really broke out. Hebert hauled in 30 passes for 537 yards and a team-high 6 TDs.
He caught 30/52 (58%) targets on the season. The 52 targets were 5th most on the team behind Hardy, Harris, Powell, and Stanley. He had 2 drops.
I still think he’s learning some of the finer things on how to get open out of that slot position, but he’s not the fastest guy in the world so he’s going to have to make tough catches at times. He’s a solid route runner at this point in his career.
Blocking in the screen game, he took a big step forward from his RS FR to RS SO season. He became much more physical. I saw the same growth in Zach Cousar a couple of years ago before he got hurt. Sometimes it takes those guys some time before the realize the importance of blocking in the screen game and how to setup angles on defenders so that the ball carrier can have room to run. Have to have good technique.
What is the outlook for Hebert in 2020? I think he will play a similar role. He played 61% of snaps in 2019, I think we could see him push up into the 70-75% range in 2020, depends on whether or not someone can push their way onto the field behind him or not.
From a catches and yards standpoint, I think prior to last season I said he was a 40-catch guy, so I was off a little bit. I think he’ll be somewhere in that neighborhood again in 2020. Probably 40 catches, 600 yards, 5 TDs. It really depends on whether or not someone emerges as that true #1 WR. I think it’ll be more by committee, especially with a seasoned QB like Luke Anthony.
Hebert is one of the hardest workers on the team. COVID-19 hasn’t slowed him down at all. He’s still in Ruston, absolutely working his tail off. Can’t workout in the DAC? That’s fine, he and Kody Russey built their own workout platform. Every morning, 6 AM, you can find those two working out together. They don’t miss a morning.
Thoughts on Griffin Hebert?
7 – WR Griffin Hebert (RS JR) – Hebert signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2017 recruiting cycle over Army, Navy, South Alabama, Cornell, Columbia, and Northwestern State.
I’m not sure why other schools didn’t offer, this kid can play.
Hebert signed at 6’3, 205 pounds, but he’s now a rock solid 6’3, 220 pounds. His body really transformed his first two years on campus as he prepared to contribute with the physicality in the college game.
Hebert played 35 snaps on offense in 2018 as a RS FR, he didn’t record any stats. He also played another 84 snaps on special teams.
Ask any offensive coach on the staff, he probably should have played more as a RS FR.
As a RS SO in 2019, he really broke out. Hebert hauled in 30 passes for 537 yards and a team-high 6 TDs.
He caught 30/52 (58%) targets on the season. The 52 targets were 5th most on the team behind Hardy, Harris, Powell, and Stanley. He had 2 drops.
I still think he’s learning some of the finer things on how to get open out of that slot position, but he’s not the fastest guy in the world so he’s going to have to make tough catches at times. He’s a solid route runner at this point in his career.
Blocking in the screen game, he took a big step forward from his RS FR to RS SO season. He became much more physical. I saw the same growth in Zach Cousar a couple of years ago before he got hurt. Sometimes it takes those guys some time before the realize the importance of blocking in the screen game and how to setup angles on defenders so that the ball carrier can have room to run. Have to have good technique.
What is the outlook for Hebert in 2020? I think he will play a similar role. He played 61% of snaps in 2019, I think we could see him push up into the 70-75% range in 2020, depends on whether or not someone can push their way onto the field behind him or not.
From a catches and yards standpoint, I think prior to last season I said he was a 40-catch guy, so I was off a little bit. I think he’ll be somewhere in that neighborhood again in 2020. Probably 40 catches, 600 yards, 5 TDs. It really depends on whether or not someone emerges as that true #1 WR. I think it’ll be more by committee, especially with a seasoned QB like Luke Anthony.
Hebert is one of the hardest workers on the team. COVID-19 hasn’t slowed him down at all. He’s still in Ruston, absolutely working his tail off. Can’t workout in the DAC? That’s fine, he and Kody Russey built their own workout platform. Every morning, 6 AM, you can find those two working out together. They don’t miss a morning.
Thoughts on Griffin Hebert?
