When it comes to college football recruiting, few coaches attack the process with the kind of relentless energy Lane Kiffin brings to the table. Now at the helm of LSU, Kiffin is making it clear: he’s not just dipping his toes into the transfer portal-he’s diving in headfirst, and he's not coming up until he’s brought elite talent back to Baton Rouge.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Kiffin was asked about his approach to recruiting through the portal this offseason. The question specifically mentioned two high-profile targets: quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive lineman Jordan Seaton. Both had recently visited LSU, and Kiffin wasted no time in following up-personally flying out to see them just days later.
His response? Classic Kiffin-direct, competitive, and unapologetically driven.
“I just know how I do things. I don’t really do well with ‘no,’” he said. “It just makes me more competitive when someone tells me no.”
That mindset is more than just a soundbite. It’s a window into how Kiffin operates behind the scenes.
He’s not waiting for players to come to him. He’s getting on planes, showing up in airports-literally-if that’s what it takes to land the guys he wants.
“If that means I have to get on a plane and find a guy in the Knoxville airport, so be it,” Kiffin said. “It’s how I work.”
That kind of hustle resonates in Louisiana, a state where hard work and grit are part of the cultural DNA. Kiffin sees that connection, and he’s leaning into it.
“I think that fits in with Louisiana people, because that’s how they think,” he added. “No job is too small. Find a way to get it done… It’s a good match.”
It’s more than just a good match-it’s a message. Kiffin isn’t just bringing his brand of competitive fire to LSU; he’s syncing it with the work ethic and pride that define the program and its fanbase. In the ever-evolving world of college football recruiting, especially with the transfer portal reshaping rosters overnight, that kind of alignment matters.
And if Kiffin’s early recruiting moves are any indication, LSU isn’t just staying competitive in the portal era-they’re setting the pace.