LSU’s fall camp is already reshaping the roster, and the biggest changes are showing up at the top of the depth chart.
As Kiffin’s new coaching staff sorts through the lineup, a wave of newcomers is pushing past familiar names and changing what the Tigers’ starting groups are supposed to look like. The effect goes beyond the obvious competition for snaps. It also pushes a chain reaction through the rest of the roster, especially in the depth spots that can quietly define a season.
On defense, Ole Miss transfer linebacker TJ Dottery is expected to line up next to Whit Weeks, moving into a role that had belonged to last season’s key defensive addition, Davhon Keys, along with other veteran depth pieces. Another former Ole Miss player, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, is also set to make an immediate impact, with expectations that he’ll start ahead of LSU veterans Dylan Carpenter, Damien Shanklin and Kolaj Cobbins.
There’s also a fresh face making noise at defensive end. Freshman Deuce Geralds has earned a boost into the starting conversation after an impressive spring, and he’s now in position to beat out veterans Dominick McKinley and Shone Washington.
Some of the expected starters are exactly what LSU brought these newcomers in for. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and wide receiver Jayce Brown all fit that category, with the offense needing help at those spots and Seaton standing out as one of the most impactful transfers to arrive.
But every time a newcomer moves up, somebody else gets nudged down. That’s the part of roster building that doesn’t get the same attention, even though it can matter just as much. LSU is filling key roles with players who are ready to contribute right away, but the players left behind in backup roles can become a problem if they stay there too long.
That’s the hidden cost of the headline-grabbing additions: the veterans who get bypassed, over and over again, and the depth chart logjam that can eventually push important players toward decisions once the portal opens.
It’s a familiar challenge for any coach trying to upgrade a roster. At LSU, though, the clock on patience is short, and the wait for playing time can turn into something much bigger.
In Other News...
LSUs Biggest Fall Camp Battle Could Define Lane Kiffins Debut
As fall camp opens under Lane Kiffin, the most important competition in Baton Rouge may not be at quarterback or receiver but along an offensive line that still has several moving parts. LSU does return center Braelin Moore and right tackle Weston Davis, which gives the Tigers a pair of established pieces, but the rest of the front is still sorting itself out as transfers and returning players push for spots that will shape the tone of the season opener.
The right side appears especially crowded, with battles expected to settle quickly once camp gets rolling so the staff can build a first-unit group. Those decisions matter because Kiffins debut will hinge in part on how fast LSU can turn that mix of experience and new faces into a dependable line, and the next few weeks should reveal whether the Tigers can find the right combination before the first game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
What Should LSU Fans Really Expect From Sam Leavitt
Sam Leavitt arrives at LSU with the kind of profile that naturally invites big-picture expectations. Under Lane Kiffin in 2026, the Tigers are not just looking for a steady hand at quarterback, but for a player who can help push the offense into the national conversation and make the program think in playoff terms again.
Leavitts fit in Kiffins system is part of the intrigue, especially with the coachs track record of getting production out of his quarterbacks. If the transition goes the way LSU hopes, the conversation around Leavitt could quickly move beyond simple competence and into the realm of major individual recognition by seasons end. [Read more 🡒]