Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Jan 24, 20223 min
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
It turns out the father of LSU's best player, intrepid junior WR Kayshon Boutte, commands just as much authority as his son:
Embrick Boutte is a tough, no nonsense man; he values humility, strength, and truth, all backed by a serious love for family & a strident belief in his own son.
The former track and basketball athlete was exacting and scrutinizing throughout our conversations, whether he was refuting false reports about his son "joining Alabama" or refusing to view his son as bigger than the team, Em always kept me on my toes, even as the mysterious Boutte Family Patriarch also left some intriguing questions unanswered.
During the past few months, I quoted Em Boutte multiple times through this site and on our social media accounts, reports which were circulated by national media, defying false rumors started by Saban droogs suggesting Boutte was headed to Alabama.
But....how close was this deal to actually happening?
What are his father's thoughts on 2022?
We ask everything possible, only showing what Em was willing to answer.
LONN: Sir, what do you think about first when you look ahead to Kayshon's junior season at LSU?
EM: Commitment to Excellence.
LONN: What about this new staff or new era makes you confident?
EM: We gotta trust the process. Something's we might not understand but gotta keep the faith.
LONN: I love that, a lot of this transition is about trusting in Kelly's new direction.
Em, what was your favorite moment of Kayshon's sophomore season??
EM: That would have to be the catch for a touchdown against Auburn. That catch takes a lot of concentration & it was an accurate throw. We couldn’t see he had it until Tiger Stadium erupted, that was cool.
LONN: What do you feel was your son's overall biggest improvement during 2021??
EM: His size and strength.
LONN: Em, were you a stunner athlete in your time, too?
EM: I played basketball & ran track. Could’ve jumped out the gym, literally. Wish they had YouTube back then because it would’ve been different.
LONN: When Kayshon was born, did you feel he could be a supreme athlete, too?
EM: He was competitive as a baby. He was born with a gift that only God gives, his Mom & I just nurtured it. I was training all of them @ early ages, he just had that IT.
LONN: When your son broke the SEC all time record, as a freshman vs Ole Miss....can you take me through that game for you and your family?
EM: Just another game, different stage. Felt refreshing to see him do it with grace. He took over some games in high school, middle & pee wee.
LONN: Yes, like that 5 TD game as a senior at Westgate! Keeping that in mind, Kayshon is LSU's best player in 2022 and was the Tigers' best player in 2021....was it ever a question to go to Alabama?
EM: No, Kayshon was all LSU.
LONN: Many said that Kayshon would head to Alabama without Gordon McKernan's involvement in the NIL partnership deal, is that true?
EM: I don't think so at all.
LONN: What do you think about your son's mega deal with Gordon McKernan?
EM: Game changing.
LONN: What makes it game changing?
EM: It's the first major NIL deal for LSU. That deal should’ve been made, Bama & A & M light years ahead of LSU in the NIL market. Bryce Young signed a Million dollar deal, I think, before anything.
LONN: What's your greatest Kayshon story???? Something people wouldn't know about him?
EM: He was in Pee-Wee & we needed 99 yards to win, he got 99 yards on the 1st play but we had a penalty & his touchdown got called back. They ran the same play again & he scored again Defense held & we won the game.
LONN: When your son was recruited coming out of high school, outside of LSU, who was he seriously considering?
EM: It was always LSU. Bama made a serious push and they were very convincing, but he went with his heart. He loved the school, he wanted to run track and play football for LSU.
LONN: He seems to be old school in so many ways, has he always been a quiet guy?
EM: He’s always put the team before individual success. We always had a rule, when you get the ball show what you bring to the team & be humble doing it.
LONN: Did Kayshon learn a lot from Ja'marr Chase? Working closely with him even just for those 5 or 6 months?
EM: I’m not sure, I would be lying, but going up against the best DB’s everyday made it look easy out there.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2022 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
SHOUTOUTS: Thank you to Emrick Boutte and the Boutte family! Sir, I appreciate your time speaking with us!