Texas Tech Transfer WR Jonathan Giles to Visit

Yesterday, Bruce Feldman reported Giles would be dropping into Baton Rouge on June 1st:

Giles will sit out this season but have two years of eligibility thereafter, similar to recent Texas Tech transfer Breiden Fehoko.

Playing in Texas Tech’s high volume, up-tempo spread, Giles caught 69 passes for 1,158 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016. Notably, he torched Oklahoma for 10 catches, 167 yards and 2 TDs in a wild shootout.

Give his highlights a gander:

One thing that pops to me is that Giles can really catch with his hands. He can extend and pluck the ball out of the air, which is something our receivers have sorely lacked since the departures of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.

He’s a different type of receiver than we’re accustomed to seeing in purple and gold. At 5’11, 185 he’s not the most physically intimidating guy on the field. He definitely plays more like a finesse receiver. He seems at his best operating in space (Tech did a lot to get him on the move and get the ball in his hands to make plays) or operating on slants and seam routes up the middle of the field. I don’t see top end speed or explosion, but he’s quick.

It’s a little bit hard to translate Giles from Tech to LSU due to the immense chasm in offensive styles. Tech could more easily find match-ups and exploit his talents without having to expose areas of weakness. Can Giles beat a jam? How will he perform in an offense that doesn’t chuck it around the field? Will he block in the running game? These are all relevant and important questions.

I’m sure Matt Canada will have a great pitch for how he plans to use Giles. He does look like a guy that could be a prime jet sweep man. Perhaps most importantly, Giles fills a major position of need for LSU. He would be one the best receivers on campus from the moment he set foot in Baton Rouge. Not necessarily the most talented, but easily the most proven. Unfortunately, LSU would have to wait a year to get him on the field.

After this season, we should have a better idea of where guys like Stephen Sullivan, Drake Davis, Dee Anderson, Derrick Dillon, Racey McMath and Mannie Netherly fall on the player development spectrum. It’s pretty easy to see a path for Giles to pick LSU and be the No. 1 wideout by Fall of 2018. The question will be whether or not Canada can convince Giles of an offensive overhaul over teams that have a history of fitting his skillset like Ohio State and Oregon.