LSU’s bounce-back win over Texas A&M did more than stop the bleeding after the loss to Ole Miss. It also put Jackson Harris squarely in the middle of the Tigers’ passing-game conversation.
In a 35-6 rout on home turf, LSU found an answer on the outside when it needed one. With tight end Trey'Dez Green sidelined by a knee injury suffered in Oxford the week before, Harris became quarterback Sam Leavitt’s top target and made the most of the opportunity.
He finished with 163 receiving yards on six catches, a 27-yard average per reception, and scored twice. One of those touchdowns came on a 57-yard strike on a sneaky 4th & 1 play, a snap that underscored just how dangerous he can be when LSU wants to push the ball vertically.
That kind of production matters in a crowded wide receiver room, especially for a player who arrived in Baton Rouge through the transfer portal after spending last season at the University of Hawaii. Harris was one of nine transfer portal wide receivers added by LSU this offseason, and he has quickly separated himself with both his receiving skill and athletic ability.
What stood out against Texas A&M was how smoothly he adjusted after the offense changed around him. LSU needed someone to step into Green’s role and keep the pass game moving, and Harris did exactly that.
Now he’s starting to alter the shape of the Tigers’ passing attack. Opponents have to account for him on the outside, and after last week, that’s no longer optional.
October now looms as a key stretch for LSU as it tries to define its offensive identity before the tough SEC run in November. For the Tigers, the challenge is straightforward: keep the scoring production coming, and Harris will be a big part of whether that happens.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has Real QB Intrigue Before McNeese
LSU heads into Saturday nights game against McNeese with more uncertainty at quarterback than anyone expected this week. The Tigers are set for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff in Death Valley, but the main storyline isnt the matchup itself so much as who Lane Kiffin will put behind center after Sam Leavitts recent left hamstring injury opened the door for questions about the depth chart.
Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet have both entered the conversation, and Kiffin still has not made a decision on the starter. McNeese brings its own established signal-caller in Devin Lippold, a third-year quarterback with a steady season to this point, but for LSU the intrigue is all about whether the Tigers can navigate the week cleanly enough to get the right answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Quarterback Situation Just Got More Interesting Before McNeese
McNeese will head into its matchup with LSU without third-year quarterback Devin Lippold, who is out with a right wrist injury and will be replaced by Jake Strong. On LSUs side, the quarterback picture is still taking shape as the Tigers prepare for the game, with Sam Leavitt expected to start while working back from a left hamstring injury.
The bigger question for LSU is how much the offense might need to lean on depth behind Leavitt if he is not fully ready to handle his usual workload. Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet are both candidates to see the field, which gives the Tigers a little more insurance but also leaves some uncertainty in a position group that will be closely watched once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Contributor Fans Should Watch
Jhase Thomas is starting to look like more than just a special teams piece for LSU. The defensive back saw his playing time rise against Texas A&M after spending most of his first season in that familiar off-to-the-side role, and his growth has been building quietly in the background as he settled into college football and worked his way toward a bigger defensive opportunity.
Thomas prepared for the expanded look by studying film and leaning on veteran teammates, while also drawing on the guidance of his father, former NFL defensive back Fred Thomas. For LSU, it is the kind of progression coaches like to see from a young recruit becoming a real contributor, and it gives the defense another name worth tracking as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]