The LSU Tigers star tight end Trey'Dez Green is not letting his LSU Tigers dream go to waste.
It was the LSU Tigers' turn to take the stage for SEC Media Days on Thursday, as Lane Kiffin and select players got a chance to speak ahead of the upcoming season.
One of the players chosen to represent the school was tight end Trey'Dez Green, a starter on the roster. Green has shown flashes of brilliance earlier in his Tigers career, but is now expected to take the next step under Kiffin.
The first thing Green touched on was the decision to move on from basketball, a sport in which he had at times dominated. It's a similar struggle to that of incoming star commit Ahmad Hudson, a two-sport athlete with high hopes at tight end.
“[I quit basketball because of] the toll it had on my body. I feel like I would be a unicorn in the [NFL]. It’s a lot of 6-foot-7 guys in the NBA or in college basketball. It’s not that many in the NFL or college football. So it was just being real with myself and having to understand and make a grown-man decision,” said Green.
There certainly aren't very many players who can do what Green does on a football field, moving with so much ease at his height. Even in the boring, predictable offense that LSU deployed last season, Green was able to stand out as a matchup nightmare. The tight end finished with seven touchdowns, and it felt like the team was just scratching the surface with him.
The Jackson, La., native had three weeks last season that proved all he needed to prove in terms of ability. He had 19 catches for 247 yards and three scores against three SEC opponents. Over a full 12-game season, that would be on pace for just under 80 catches and 100 yards, except in reality he finished with under half that production. He needs to find more consistency, and this new coaching staff should be able to help.
Outside of being dominant on the field, Green also has a reputation as an even better person off it. Those around him have echoed it for years, but his future as a leader was highlighted by himself when he was asked about his individual goals for this season.
“I just want to be the guy that my teammates can count on. Just want to be that outlet for them. Whether they’re going through something or they need some energy or a boost. I can just be that person in their ear. I just want to be looked at as a guy that just got stuff done on this offense,” said Green.
Part of that mindset comes from how he was raised. In a small town in Louisiana. Green is currently living his dream, and he doesn't want to take any part of it for granted.
“Growing up in Jackson, La., probably a population of about 3,000 people, it’s everybody’s dream, every kid’s dream in Louisiana to go play for those three letters and two colors. It’s a blessing that I’ve been able to represent those people. You just feel it when you’re there. It’s unexplainable. I really can’t tell you in words about how amazing that place is. I can’t wait to bring a winning environment back to Baton Rouge,” said Green.
Green's college career has already reached great heights, as he is one of the main stars of LSU's deal with Nike. He is one of the potential options for the No. 7 jersey and should be a focal point of the offense. This season could catapult him from being a star to being a superstar.
