• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jan 24, 2009 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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For all the unique talents that separate Brandon LaFell from most people, there are a few traits that make him so much like everyone else.

So human and normal.

One way is that when the LSU junior wide receiver saw a chance to jump at a financial bonanza by jumping to the NFL this spring, he had to take a serious look — weigh the options and think if it made sense to walk away from college and likely secure his financial future.

Another common thread connecting the 6-foot-3 Houston native to anybody who has ever competed at anything or even those who have been normal working folks is wanting to do a job right and as well as he can do it.

It’s that layer of LaFell’s personality that explains why the Tigers top receiver last season will finish his college career and put off the NFL.

“Last year was a tough pill for all of us to swallow because it’s just not what LSU football is all about,” said LaFell, who announced Sunday he would return for his senior campaign. “When I thought about everything, the thing that stuck in my mind is ‘I can’t leave with that taste left in my mouth.’ I asked myself what is there left for me to accomplish and in my mind there’s still a lot I can do.”

What is left undone for LaFell isn’t limited to the football field, and that’s another part of the reason he’ll be back.

When LaFell huddled with his mom, Joyce Hicks, to reach a final conclusion, the topic of a college degree kept popping into the conversation. LaFell is on schedule to finish his undergraduate degree by the end of the summer 2009 session.

“After Brandon visited with his mom, the thing I think he realized is that he still has a lot he wants to achieve,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “He can better his draft position, he can be a very important player and leader on a great team for one more year and he can get a degree from LSU and that’s as meaningful as anything else.”

Especially to Mom.

“Making this decision was like going through the whole recruiting process again because I asked my mom’s advice on everything when I was deciding between LSU and Florida,” LaFell said. “She was the same way this time. She told me she wanted me to make the decision I felt comfortable, but she kept saying ‘Promise me you’ll get your degree.’ It’s important to me, but knowing it’s that important to her really helped me decide to come back because I’m so close now.”

And make no mistake: LaFell’s return is a major boon for the Tigers, both offensively and in the leadership category.

As a junior LaFell led the Southeastern Conference with 63 receptions, tied for the league lead with eight touchdown grabs and ranked second with 929 yards through the air. He sharpened his route-running skills in 2008 and used a long, loping and deceptively fast stride to gain separation from defensive backs on a regular basis.