By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

Jarvis Landry hauled in his third career NFL touchdown reception Thursday night, one of his five receptions for 46 yards, helping lift the Miami Dolphins to a key 22-9 victory at home over the Buffalo Bills. It was the latest strong performance in what’s been a string of them for the rookie, who recently secured a starting position after beginning the season as the team’s fourth receiver.

Lutcher coach Tim Detillier isn’t surprised.

“I just knew he’d make it,” Detillier said. “I’m excited for him. But truth be told, I just expected it. Jarvis is a true football player.”

Detillier coached Landry during the latter’s sensational career with the Bulldogs, one that saw him rise to become the nation’s No. 1 receiving prospect as per MaxPreps.com. Landry hauled in 62 passes for 1,158 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior with the Bulldogs, then caught 51 passes for 716 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior season. Landry scored at least 15 total touchdowns in each season from his freshman year onward.

He helped Lutcher capture the 2008 Class 3A state football championship, catching eight passes for 119 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown, in a 17-0 title game win over Notre Dame.

Landry moved on to LSU, where he ascended to become the Tigers’ leading receiver in his sophomore and junior seasons. Questions about his draft stock arose after he ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, a run where he reportedly strained a hamstring.

Nonetheless, the Dolphins selected Landry in the second round of the draft with the 63rd pick. He’s rewarded that investment thus far: he’s hauled in 42 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 655 yards on kickoff returns (31.1 average yards per return) and 143 yards on punt returns (8 YPR).

“He’s got the biggest, strongest hands I’ve ever seen,” Detillier said. “He’s got a knack for playing this game. Even when he’s not catching passes, you see what he does on special teams. He finds a way to impact the game.”

Landry was the rare talent that started at Lutcher as an eighth grader. He quickly ascended to become the team’s top offensive weapon.

Soon, Detillier and his coaching staff realized Landry had even more to give.

“We don’t usually let guys play both ways, but by the time of Jarvis’ junior year, we knew he needed to be on the field,” Detillier recalled.

Landry began starting at linebacker for the Bulldogs and made his presence felt, recoding 105 tackles as a junior and 99 as a senior.

“If I’d have played him at left guard, he’d have been the best left guard,” Detillier said. “His natural position is wide receiver, but one thing there was never, ever a question about was Jarvis’ physicality. Every now and then, you’ll see a wide receiver lay a good lick on someone. But this was every play.

“People had to be aware of where he was at all times, because he’d knock you into next week otherwise. It was never dirty or cheap. It was just the way he played.”

He said things that typically have to be coached and instilled into young players simply came instinctively to Landry.

“He visualized things before they happened,” Detillier said.

At Lutcher, the highlight plays came often. Detillier recalled one play where Landry made a reception by the sideline, pulling what looked like a sure overthrow out of bounds back inbounds — and continuing to run thereafter. Defensively, Landry had a knack for pulling in seemingly impossible interceptions.

While Landry’s success may not have come as a surprise to Detillier, the one thing that has about Landry’s pro career thus far was his draft position. Detillier felt a number of teams passed on a player destined to be a strong professional wide receiver.

“If I’m drafting, I’m taking him high,” Detillier said. “He’s a guy who’s not only going to produce, but he’s going to play. If Jarvis is hurt, you won’t even know about it. He plays through injury.  

“It’s amazing what he can do. We’re all excited to see it unfold at the NFL level.”