LSU redshirt junior wide receiver Aaron Anderson declared for the NFL draft Saturday, making it official that he will not use his final year of eligibility.
The decision was expected after Anderson participated in LSU’s senior night ceremony and accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. He announced the decision in social media post.
Anderson, a New Orleans native, was one of LSU’s top wide receivers when healthy the past two years. He caught 106 passes for 1,341 yards and five touchdowns during his career.
In a post on his Instagram account, Anderson thanked his family, coaches, academic advisors and fans at both LSU and Alabama.
“Every step, every grind, every sacrifice — none of this happens alone,” Anderson said.
As a five-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, Anderson signed with Alabama out of Edna Karr High. He spent one season with the Crimson Tide, but he did not play because of a knee injury. Anderson transferred to LSU after his freshman year.
Anderson had his best year at LSU in 2024, when he caught 61 passes for 884 yards and five touchdowns. He only appeared in nine games this season because of injuries, but he was still LSU’s third-leading receiver with 33 catches for 398 yards. He did not play in the last two games.
Anderson was LSU’s first draft-eligible player who still has eligibility to declare for the NFL draft. Redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins has also indicated he will turn pro after accepting an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Other players who still need to make decisions about their futures include junior linebacker Whit Weeks, redshirt junior center Braelin Moore and redshirt sophomore safety Tamarcus Cooley.
Without Anderson leaving, LSU has to replace its top three receivers because Barion Brown and Zavion Thomas exhausted their eligibility. It will also need to replace senior tight end Bauer Sharp, who has 252 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 24 receptions this season.
LSU can bring back two players with more than 200 yards receiving in sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kyle Parker. Without much depth or returning experience, LSU is expected to look for multiple wide receivers in the transfer portal heading into the first year under new coach Lane Kiffin.