As spring camp nears, all eyes in Baton Rouge are zeroing in on one position: quarterback. With Lane Kiffin entering his first spring at LSU, the Tigers are retooling their roster and reloading their offense - and the quarterback room is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason.
The presumed frontrunner is Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt, a talented signal-caller who showed flashes of promise before a foot injury cut short his 2025 season. Leavitt isn’t fully cleared yet, but he’s expected to be active in spring workouts - just not in full-team drills. According to Kiffin, Leavitt will be throwing and participating in 7-on-7 sessions, which is a good sign for his recovery and development heading into the summer.
“Really pleased with the QB transfers,” Kiffin said. “It’s not just about getting the top players; you have to develop under the top guys.”
That development piece is key - and Kiffin’s not leaving anything to chance. To bolster the depth chart, LSU added former USC blue-chip recruit Husan Longstreet, a player with high upside and a strong arm.
Then there’s Landen Clark, a dual-threat quarterback transferring in from Elon. Clark’s FCS background might make him a bit of an unknown at this level, but his mobility and playmaking instincts make him a wildcard to watch.
With Leavitt still working his way back to full speed, both Longstreet and Clark have a real shot to climb the depth chart this spring. The reps will be there. And with a new coaching staff and a wave of new faces across the roster, this spring camp is shaping up to be a critical period of evaluation and installation for Kiffin and his offensive staff.
LSU opens the season at home against Clemson - a high-stakes debut that demands clarity at the quarterback position. Leavitt, if healthy, figures to be the guy. But spring camp will provide the first real glimpse of how this quarterback competition could shake out - and whether Longstreet or Clark can make things interesting.
Bottom line: there’s talent in the room, and Kiffin has options. Now it’s about development, chemistry, and seeing who can take command of the huddle when the pads come on.