Odell Beckham Jr.'s College Football Career: A Deep Dive into LSU Years

Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr., widely known as OBJ, is a celebrated American football wide receiver whose journey to NFL stardom began during his college career with the LSU Tigers. This article explores Beckham's college career, highlighting his statistics, achievements, and the impact he made on the LSU football program.

Early Life and High School Career

Born on November 5, 1992, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham's athletic prowess was evident from a young age. He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. In football, he showcased his versatility by playing wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and cornerback. As a junior, he recorded 45 receptions for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns, alongside three rushing touchdowns. In track and field, Beckham followed in his mother's footsteps, participating in sprinting and jumping events.

Recruitment and Arrival at LSU

Beckham was considered a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, rated as the No. 6 wide receiver and the No. 40 player in the nation. His decision to join LSU was influenced by his father, Odell Beckham Sr., a former LSU running back.

2011 Season: Freshman Year Impact

As a true freshman in 2011, Beckham quickly made his presence felt, starting nine of 14 games. He made his collegiate debut on September 3, 2011, against the #3 Oregon Ducks. He finished the season with 41 receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns, earning Freshman All-SEC honors. Notably, 20 of his 41 catches resulted in a first down. Beckham showcased his explosiveness with back-to-back games featuring 50-plus yard receiving touchdowns, a feat not achieved by an LSU player since 2005. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after an eight-reception, 61-yard performance against Mississippi State.

Key Statistics from 2011 Season:

Played in 14 games, starting nine
41 receptions for 475 yards
Two touchdowns
SEC Freshman of the Week (vs. Mississippi State)

2012 Season: Sophomore Year Progression

In his sophomore year in 2012, Beckham started 12 of 13 games for the Tigers. He showcased his versatility by contributing in both receiving and special teams. In the season opener against the North Texas Mean Green, he had a 70-yard punt return touchdown. On September 29, he had his first career collegiate game with over 100 yards against the Towson Tigers. He had five receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-22 victory over the Tigers. On November 17, against SEC West rival Ole Miss, he had an 89-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter help tie the game late. Beckham earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance against Ole Miss.

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Key Statistics from 2012 Season:

Started 12 of 13 games
43 catches for 713 receiving yards
Two receiving touchdowns
35 punt returns for 320 yards and two touchdowns
SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Ole Miss)

2013 Season: Junior Year Dominance and National Recognition

Beckham's junior season in 2013 was his most outstanding, earning him national recognition and solidifying his status as one of the most dynamic players in college football. He claimed the Paul Hornung Award as college football's most versatile player and earned first-team All-America honors as a kick returner. Beckham led the SEC and ranked No. 2 in the nation in all-purpose yards, averaging 178.1 yards per game. He set an LSU record with 2,315 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total in SEC single-season history.

Beckham teamed with Jarvis Landry to become the first set of receivers in school history to go over 1,000-yards in same season in 2013. Beckham caught 59 passes for 1,152 yards and 8 TDs in 2013, while Landry had 77 catches for 1,193 yards and 10 scores. Of Beckham’s 15 career TDs, 12 came on plays of 25 yards of more and 7 were 50 yards or better, including a 100-yard return of a missed field goal against UAB in 2013 and an 89-yard punt return vs. Ole Miss in 2012.

Key Statistics from 2013 Season:

Played and started all 13 games
59 receptions for 1,152 yards
Eight receiving touchdowns
32 kickoff returns for 845 yards
18 punt returns for 160 yards
Paul Hornung Award Winner
First-team All-America (Kick Returner)

Notable Games in 2013:

LSU 56, UAB 17: Beckham recorded 331 all-purpose yards (third in school history) and four total touchdowns, including a 100-yard missed field goal return.
Georgia 44, LSU 41: He had 289 all-purpose yards.
LSU 59, Mississippi State 26: Beckham had 290 all-purpose yards, nine catches for 179 yards, and two touchdowns.
LSU 48, Furman 16: He posted a career-high 204 receiving yards on six catches.

College Statistics

Year	Games	Receptions	Yards	Avg	TD
2011	14	41	475	11.6	2
2012	13	43	713	16.6	2
2013	13	59	1152	19.5	8
Total	40	143	2340	16.4	12

LSU Career Records and Honors

Throughout his college career, Odell Beckham Jr. achieved numerous records and honors at LSU, including:

LSU record for all-purpose yards in a season (2,315 in 2013)
3rd in LSU history in yards per catch in a game (min. five catches): 34.0 yards (vs. Furman, 2013)
5th in LSU history in receiving yards in a game: 204 yards (vs. Furman, 2013)
T-4th in LSU history in touchdowns in a game: Four (vs. UAB, 2013)
T-5th in LSU history in touchdown catches in a game: Three (vs. UAB, 2013)
T-7th in LSU history in longest punt return for a touchdown: 89 yards (vs. Ole Miss, 2012)
8th in LSU history in kickoff return yards in a game: 136 yards (vs. UAB, 2013)
11th in LSU history in receiving yards in a game: 204 yards (vs. Furman, 2013)

NFL Draft and Professional Career

After his impressive junior season, Beckham opted to enter the NFL Draft. He was selected by the New York Giants with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.

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