Brian Kelly Identifies Two Emerging Transfer Wide Receivers Poised to Impact LSU Football’s 2025 Campaign

LSU football is in the midst of a critical transition period, one that head coach Brian Kelly has been preparing for since his arrival in Baton Rouge. With a roster constantly reshaped by the modern realities of the transfer portal, the Tigers are adapting and retooling on the fly. And as LSU gears up for the 2025 season, two newly acquired wide receivers from the transfer portal have captured Kelly’s attention—and potentially the future of the Tigers’ offensive success.

Speaking recently about the Tigers’ ongoing preparations, Kelly singled out a pair of transfer wideouts as players to “keep tabs on” throughout spring and summer workouts. Though LSU has long been known as a powerhouse for developing elite receiver talent—think Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Malik Nabers—the team has rarely relied so heavily on transfers at the position. This year is different. Following departures to the NFL and portal exits, the receiving corps has undergone a bit of an overhaul.

Enter two new faces who have quickly started to turn heads: Jyaire Shorter, a transfer from North Texas by way of Auburn, and Oregon State’s former standout, Silas Bolden. Both bring very different skill sets and backgrounds to the table, but what they share is a hunger to contribute—and a chance to reshape the narrative around LSU’s offense in 2025.

Shorter, a veteran presence with a fascinating journey, originally emerged as a deep-threat specialist at North Texas, where his speed and physicality made him a nightmare for opposing secondaries. A brief stint at Auburn saw limited opportunities, but Kelly believes the Tigers can unlock his potential in ways others couldn’t. “Jyaire’s someone we’re very excited about,” Kelly said. “He’s mature, he’s physically ready, and he understands what this moment means. He’s not just looking to get on the field—he wants to change the game.”

What stands out most about Shorter is his physical tools. At 6-foot-2 and around 220 pounds, he’s built like a classic SEC receiver. His ability to stretch the field vertically has already been evident during spring scrimmages, where he’s reportedly developed early chemistry with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. That deep-ball connection could be vital to an LSU offense that, for the first time in several years, doesn’t return an All-American-caliber No. 1 receiver.

Silas Bolden, meanwhile, offers a completely different type of threat. Coming from Oregon State, where he posted multiple explosive seasons, Bolden is a shiftier, more elusive presence. He’s undersized at just under 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, but he brings elite quickness, route running, and the kind of yards-after-catch ability that thrives in Brian Kelly’s spread system.

“Silas is a spark plug,” Kelly noted. “He’s dynamic in space, extremely confident, and he brings that Pac-12 polish. We’re using him in a lot of different ways—out of the slot, motion concepts, even some special teams. He’s the kind of guy who can take a 5-yard play and turn it into 50.”

The Tigers will need exactly that sort of explosiveness in 2025. With Jayden Daniels off to the NFL and Nussmeier stepping into full-time starting duties, the offense may not look as vertical or quarterback-run-heavy. Kelly has suggested they’ll be more balanced, more scheme-diverse, and more reliant on short-to-intermediate passing concepts. That’s where Bolden could shine. His footwork and route nuance, developed in Jonathan Smith’s west-coast inspired system at Oregon State, give LSU an edge in the short game they haven’t had in recent years.

But it’s not just talent that drew Kelly to these two players—it’s the mindset. In his comments, Kelly stressed the importance of building a locker room culture where transfers aren’t just seen as one-year rentals, but as real contributors and leaders. “We’re not in the business of filling gaps,” Kelly said. “We’re building a team. These guys are here because they earned it. They buy into the program. They want to wear this jersey for the right reasons.”

That cultural buy-in has been one of the more underrated parts of Kelly’s tenure so far. While other programs have struggled to integrate high volumes of transfers without fracturing team chemistry, LSU has, for the most part, struck a solid balance. That’s been especially true at the wide receiver position, where a crowded room of veterans and younger talent could easily devolve into competition-induced chaos.

Instead, players like Kyren Lacy and Chris Hilton Jr. have reportedly welcomed the newcomers, fostering a collaborative rather than cutthroat environment. Kelly believes that harmony will help LSU’s offense develop into a unit defined not by individual stars, but by versatility and unpredictability.

“This group can hurt you in so many ways,” Kelly said. “You’ve got guys who can win one-on-one, guys who can catch tough balls in traffic, and guys who can run away from coverage. You don’t always get that in one room, but I think we’re close.”

The broader implications are clear. In the SEC, especially with Alabama reloading under Kalen DeBoer and Georgia continuing to dominate, LSU can’t afford to be a step behind on offense. A receiver room with limited experience or chemistry could quickly become a liability. But with Shorter and Bolden, the Tigers may have found a way to fast-track their development cycle—and keep pace with the conference elite.

What’s also notable is how Kelly has chosen to highlight these two players publicly. LSU fans and media alike were eager to learn who would emerge as the top targets for Nussmeier, especially after Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. moved on. That Kelly named Shorter and Bolden as two players to monitor says a lot. It’s both a message to the fans—these guys are the real deal—and to the players themselves: the door to stardom is wide open.

There’s also an undercurrent of strategy here. By emphasizing the depth and diversity of the receiver room, Kelly is subtly shifting expectations for what LSU football might look like in 2025. It won’t just be deep shots and quarterback scrambles. It’ll be timing routes, designed space touches, and motion-heavy play designs that put players like Bolden in optimal positions to succeed.

Kelly has also been candid about the evolving nature of recruiting and roster management. He’s repeatedly spoken on how the Tigers evaluate portal targets with a blend of analytics, film study, and cultural fit. In Shorter and Bolden, they found players who check all the boxes. Their respective journeys—one a seasoned SEC traveler, the other a dynamic playmaker from the Pacific Northwest—represent the kind of national reach LSU is now comfortable operating with under Kelly’s leadership.

And while their stories are still being written in Baton Rouge, the early returns have been promising. Shorter has looked physically dominant in red-zone drills, often boxing out defenders and hauling in contested catches. Bolden, on the other hand, has taken reps as a punt returner and occasional backfield motion man, showing the kind of positional flexibility that makes defenses uncomfortable.

Still, Kelly is quick to temper expectations, reminding everyone that “nothing’s settled in April.” But make no mistake—he sees something special brewing with these two.

“You want to know who’s going to step up this fall?” Kelly asked rhetorically. “Keep an eye on those two. We wouldn’t be talking about them if we didn’t believe they were ready.”

With that, the stage is set. LSU’s 2025 receiving corps won’t look like last year’s, and that’s by design. In Jyaire Shorter and Silas Bolden, Brian Kelly believes he’s found the right blend of maturity, explosiveness, and versatility to help carry the Tigers into their next chapter. And if their early impact is any indication, LSU fans may have two new names to cheer—and defenses to fear.