Just a sophomore, wideout Travin Dural is expected to step up as one of LSU’s leaders this season on an offense featuring a ton of freshmen contributors.
He welcomes the role and seems excited to take newcomers under his wing, especially New Orleans native Malachi Dupre, the nation’s top-rated player at his position.

“He was just out there flowing with us,” Dural said after a recent practice according to The News Star. “He came in and worked really hard this summer, and it shows. He looks really good.”
Like heralded freshman teammate Leonard Fournette, Dupre’s more than held his own this fall and has impressed coaches with a wide-range of abilities.

When the Tigers open the season Aug. 30 against Wisconsin in Houston, Dupre will likely trot on the field as a first-teamer alongside Dural and redshirt freshman John Diarse.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says Dupre was signed to make an immediate impact on an offense replacing dual 1,000-yard receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham.

Dupre’s ball skills are obvious, but his blocking ability in what’s expected to be a run-heavy offense with Fournette, Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard is much appreciated.

“Malachi Dupre has special abilities,” Cameron said. “We expect him to produce right away. We’re not hoping for him to start playing well in a couple of years. Not at LSU.”

Dupre says his focus on preparation has been the key.

“If you prepare well, then when the time comes and it presents itself, you’ll be prepared to do what you need to do,” Dupre said. “When Coach Cameron came here, he changed a lot of things. He was in the NFL for a long time, and he does a great job coaching and teaching us every day.

“For the first game and the season, I know we’ll be ready. When a guy like Coach Cam tells you that you have special abilities and that you will be special, you believe it. You buy into it because of his past.”