re: Are there transcendent athletes?

Just in recent memory - Kevin Faulk, Bradie James, Michael Clayton, and Marcus Spears were those types of players. Certainly, as an all-purpose back (particularly, in the return game) there were few who would have been ahead of Faulk. LSU has had ton's of great linebackers, but, Bradie James (right after the monster that was Michael Brooks) is a no-brainer to play for nearly any LSU team. And Clayton was that once in a decade type WR, and he usually delivered on that hype. Spears, as well, has very few peers as a defensive end in LSU history.

Josh Reed's last year was a transcendent experience, particularly that Alabama game - possibly as good a year (and game) as any LSU skill position player has ever had. I would say that, for a brief time - Josh Reed lived up to that.

Anthony McFarland had stretches where I actually felt a little bit sorry for the opposing OL coach and interior linemen who had to block him. Again, when you start looking at all of our great tackles (and DL, in general), just over the past 20 - 30 years, and Booger probably is the #1 or #2 DT on an All-time LSU team.