[Tuck4Bama]

Brandon LaFell's redshirt freshman season amounted to a spectacular pair of matching bookends, minus the books.

He started the 2006 season by catching a 58-yard scoring pass on his first play (in the opener against Louisiana-Lafayette) and closed with a 58-yard touchdown (against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl). But between those two were only three receptions for 24 yards, an injury and inconsistency.

But now LaFell, a 6-foot-4, 194-pound sophomore from Houston, appears poised to make a quantum leap from part-time player to full-time starter and from follower to leader. His hard work in the spring and summer has paid off in rave reviews from LSU teammates and coaches.

LaFell expects to be starting new chapter- NOLA.com