Brian Kelly talks about why he called out Kayshon Boutte in the media earlier this year

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Brian Kelly admits it: He called out Kayshon Boutte.
Boutte, LSU football's star wide receiver, was not attending workouts ahead of the start of spring practices in March. Although he was still recovering from a second surgery to his right ankle that would keep him out all spring, LSU's first-year coach was disappointed in the junior's absence.

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"He's a great player. He's a good kid. But this has been a rough spot for him," Kelly said in March. "And what happens is you tend to get distracted because you're not involved in everything. But he's learning you got to be involved with everything whether you're injured or not."
At the Tiger Athletic Foundation's Coaches Caravan at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux in Lafayette on Wednesday, Kelly told The Daily Advertiser he "threw a shot across his bow" at Boutte because of his lack of familiarity with him at the time.
"I don't normally send messages in the media to players," Kelly said. "I usually talk to them, but I didn't know him very well. So it was the best way for me to kind of get his attention."
Kelly believes that Boutte responded well, pointing out how the junior needs to be a leader among a younger corps of wide receivers.
"I think he heard it," Kelly said. "And I think his response was appropriate. He was much more engaged."He got back out there and he was with the guys, he was engaged. He was helping them and that's what I was looking for."

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He hasn’t seemed engaged with the team much period.

When interviewed by Jordy before the bowl game he had no clue Kirklin was practicing at QB.

Maybe I’m wrong but he doesn’t strike me as a good team player.

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I can forgive him for being distracted and taking some time to work things out on his own.

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He was more than "distracted". And there are plenty of examples of true team players getting injured and still being engaged with the team while rehabbing. Adam Miller is an example.

We can try to spin it as him taking some personal time to reflect on his life goals and "figure things out", but objectively you can't discount it being nothing more than a player adopting the "all about me" mindset that was plaguing the culture under the previous regime.

If not for Gordon McKernan stepping in, he'd be wearing Crimson right now. I don't expect much from him this season tbh.

Heisman winner???

I don't know what to say about him, he clearly is just waiting to go pro once his draft stock is back up but that doesn't mean I won't cheer him on when he catches a lot of TDs this year.

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Yeah let's turn this into a "Let's shite on Boutte" thread.

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Please quote the part where I shite on him. I made an observation based on things I’ve seen.

There are 2 things I can comfortably say about Boutte based on what I’ve seen from him:

1) Dude gives 100% while on the field.
2) He gives a lot less off the field.

For CEO, #1 was enough. For CBK, it isn’t and I respect that. I hope for Boutte’s sake he starts buying into what CBK is selling because it will really help him next season and at the next level.

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He was more than "distracted". And there are plenty of examples of true team players getting injured and still being engaged with the team while rehabbing. Adam Miller is an example.

We can try to spin it as him taking some personal time to reflect on his life goals and "figure things out", but objectively you can't discount it being nothing more than a player adopting the "all about me" mindset that was plaguing the culture under the previous regime.

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Sorry, I give players the benefit of the doubt instead of expecting the best while presuming the worst.

Meanwhile, why is Brian Kelly even discussing this publicly? Can't he just be satisfied that he did something good as a coach or does he have to toot his own horn every time?

Mentioning this now could produce a negative reaction from Boutte. I don't think it is a coincidence that he did it a few days after the deadline passed for a transfer to be eligible in the Fall.

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Sorry, I give players the benefit of the doubt

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He hasn't earned it. He was going to Bama, that is a fact. Brian Kelly knows way more about this young man than you do.

he's just skating until he's draft eligible. I'll give players who have earned the benefit of the doubt, the benefit of the doubt.

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I cannot think of a better person than the H. Badger

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This.

TM has paid his dues, and proven his commitment. There's no better role model for a young guy IMO. He didn't do everything "right," but he certainly humbled himself and turned into an outstanding young man.