Freshman Phenom 5.0: Hometown Hero Shelton Sampson Jr. Shining

Baton Rouge's very own is making some noise, raw talent has been on full display.

LSU wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. made the decision to stay in Baton Rouge to represent the purple and gold.

It’s been a dream for the freshman wideout to play in Death Valley, and as he begins his career as a Tiger, Sampson is off to a smooth start.

A player that has received rave reviews from his peers, the first-year Tiger has carved out a key role with the second team during preseason practice.

Can Sampson make an immediate impact during his freshman campaign? Does he have the tools to be another freshman phenom in Baton Rouge?

A dive into Sampson’s game:

Impressive Tools

When dissecting the top freshmen on LSU’s squad, it’s the physical tools that jump off of the page and Sampson is another player who meets the criteria. 

He’s a long, lanky wide receiver with an impressive catch radius for just a first-year player.

Sampson utilizes his God-given physical traits to his advantage, but pair them with his vertical that helps him get up and over defenders and it makes him a lethal deep threat. During camp, it’s been on full display.

Sampson’s mix of length and speed is what has many comparing him to former LSU great Terrace Marshall. From a physical standpoint, the two are very similar.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder continues hitting the weight room, but with an impressive frame to fill out, his imposing tools are a key piece to his success.

"He's as gifted as any wide receiver we have on the roster, but he's swimming in the deep end like all the young guys," offensive coordinator said of Sampson. "He has incredible athleticism, a great catch radius, and can run. Hoping that will add to what we are if he continues to come along."

Raw Talent

Sampson has the ability to make the highlight reel play on a routine basis. He can go up and over defenders at ease which helped him reach high four-star status at the high school ranks, but the college game is a different beast.

The first-year Tiger is raw and it gives wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton a “blank canvas” to work with. 

Yes, Sampson came to campus with an incredible skill set, but he’s a player with limitless potential.

Sampson’s strong hands, physical traits and impressive vertical have him already running with the second team, but long term, he’s a player that can be a force in the SEC, which is why his raw talent is so important.

Improvement as a Route Runner

In high school, it was too easy for Sampson. The speed he attains would give him the ability to blow by opposing defenders as a vertical threat. 

The height had him reach the ball at it’s highest point no matter how many defenders covered him. He was unguardable.

Now, becoming crisp in his route running is where he can separate himself from his peers. During Fall Camp, he’s done just that. It’s a small sample size, but the strides he’s taken as a route runner have been impressive.

It’s only a matter of time until the Baton Rouge native puts it all together, and once the freshman wideout does just that, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with sooner rather than later. 

Freshman Phenom Stories:

Freshman Phenom 1.0: LSU TE Ka'Morreun Pimpton Turning Heads

Freshman Phenom 2.0: LSU DB Javien Toviano Impressing Early

Freshman Phenom 3.0: The Rise of LSU CB Ashton Stamps 

Freshman Phenom 4.0: LSU DE Dashawn Womack Playing Above His Age