When Malachi Dupre was a senior at New Orleans-area power John Curtis Christian High School, he was a five-star recruit rated as the nation’s No. 2 receiver. A year later, Tyron Johnson came out of New Orleans’ Warren Easton rated a five-star recruit among the nation’s top five recruits.

Both opted to stay in state to attend LSU, meaning it looked like the Tigers were on their way to having a high-powered passing offense.

That hasn’t happened yet, but could this be the year? For the first time since Dupre arrived, he’ll have a returning starter at quarterback for his junior year in Brandon Harris (also a highly regarded recruit out of high school). And if there was a single takeaway from LSU’s late-season slump last year, it was that the Tigers need a passing game to keep opponents from ganging up on Leonard Fournette and the running game.

Dupre is back after a productive 2015 season (43 receptions, 698 yards, 6 TDs), and the Tigers also have 2014 receiving leader Travin Dural back after he slumped in 2015. Given that talent, maybe this is the year LSU breaks out.

2015 rotation

Starters (returning players in bold): Malachi Dupre, Travin Dural (28 receptions, 533 yards, 3 TDs), John Diarse (started in slot, 13 receptions, 137 yards), TE Colin Jeter (12 recpetions, 132 yards, 1 TD). Reserves:  Trey Quinn (5 receptions, 83 yards), Tyron Johnson (9 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs), D.J. Chark (2 carries, 86 yards, TD), TE DeSean Smith (4 receptions, 82 yards), TE Foster Moreau, TE Dillon Gordon (3 starts before career-ending injury).

Projected 2016 rotation

Starters: Malachi Dupre (Jr.), Travin Dural (Sr.), Jazz Ferguson (So.) or D.J. Chark (So.). TE Colin Jeter (Sr.). Reserves: Tyron Johnson (So.), Stephen Sullivan (Fr.), Dee Anderson (Fr.), Derrick Dillon (Fr.), Drake Davis (Fr.), TEs Foster Moreau (So.), DeSean Smith (Sr.), Jacory Washington (So.), Jamal Pettigrew (Fr.).

Five issues to watch

  1. Building on success, or slumping?: Two years ago, Travin Dural was the break-out receiver for LSU, catching 37 passes for 758 yards and 7 touchdowns. But after a change at quarterback, Dural’s production dropped last season as Dupre bacame Harris’ preferred target. For LSU to have the year it wants, it needs both Dupre and Dural to progress in the same season to get where it wants to go.
  2. Anybody want to be No. 3?: It’s been since 2012 since LSU had a third receiver who was productive enough to finish with more than 20 receptions (Kadron Boone with 26 catches). Even in Zach Mettenberger’s 3,000-yard passing season of 2013, the bulk of the throws targeted future Pro Bowlers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Lately, being the third receiver has been a frustrating role for the Tigers and after last season, both players who dominated that role — John Diarse and Trey Quinn — opted to transfer. Coming out of the spring, Jazz Ferguson looks like he has the best chance to win that role. However, will he simply be on the field or will he, or somebody else (perhaps speedy D.J. Chark) actually produce in that role?
  3. Where’s Tyron Johnson?: The most-anticipated prize prospect in the 2015 recruiting class, Johnson had his moments as a true freshman but seemed to be a forgotten man in the spring. Will Louisiana’s top-rated prospect in 2015 be a bust or will he bust out and find a productive role in August?
  4. Freshmen of impact?: At different times in the spring, early enrollees Dee Anderson and Stephen Sullivan looked impressive. If one goes by the order of progression, Johnson, Chark and Ferguson should be the next names up behind the “big two.” But can they hold off the impressive freshmen?
  5. A pass-catching tight end?: DeSean Smith came out of high school with the reputation of being one of the nation’s more promising pass-catching tight ends. But at LSU, tight ends have to be able to block in the power run game, and last season Smith seemed to lose snaps to freshman Foster Moreau, a blocking specialist. LSU has gone years without a significant target at tight end. If one is needed this year, maybe Smith will combine with the versatile Colin Jeter to give LSU some production at the position.