LSU’s first week of fall camp has already produced a handful of clear takeaways, and the biggest one might be the health and rhythm of Sam Leavitt.
Leavitt, working his way back from the Lisfranc injury that kept him out of team drills in the spring, was a central figure throughout the week. He was constantly around the action, eager to stay involved even when he wasn’t in the drill, and he flashed the kind of arm talent that has kept the preseason buzz rolling.
Among the highlights were a throw to Winnie Watkins in stride about 40 yards downfield in a passing drill with no defense and a deep connection to Jayce Brown. He kept it going later in the week, including Saturday when he delivered strong throws to Malik Elzy and Josh Jackson.
Leavitt also looked comfortable moving around and reportedly added roughly 10 pounds. After the first day, Lane Kiffin said, “I thought Sam had a great day today.
Really looked the best he’s looked… I think his progression has been really good and he’s right on pace”
The running back room also gave an early hint about where things stand. Dilin Jones opened camp with the first reps, ahead of Harlem Berry and Caden Durham, and that initial pecking order suggested Jones has a firm grip on the lead role in a deep backfield. Berry and Durham still have time to close the gap, but Jones made a strong first impression in the opening week.
On the defensive line, the early look at LSU’s true freshmen was hard to ignore. Deuce Geralds was running with the first team on day one, and Malik Blocton was right there with him.
Richard Anderson later worked in with the first unit alongside Geralds, while Lamar Brown also got off to a strong start. It remains a long shot that all three freshmen will start right away, but they’ve clearly put themselves in position to contribute in a big way.
Another surprise came in the secondary, where Jhase Thomas got the nod over Tamarcus Cooley on the first day. With Cooley returning, Ty Benefield arriving as a highly touted addition, and Dashawn Spears in the STAR spot, the room looked set before camp even started. Kiffin later said the staff plans to rotate a lot of players early in camp for competition, but Thomas opening in that spot still stood out.
There were also a couple of developments worth watching closely. Weston Davis was not seen at Saturday’s practice, and in his place Tennessee transfer William Satterwhite II was taking first-team snaps at right tackle.
Trey’Dez Green was also in a gold, no-contact jersey that day. Both situations are likely to come up in Kiffin’s press conference.
Elsewhere, former linebacker Jaiden Braker has been working on the edge. Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery are the first-team linebackers, while Davhon Keys, who was second in the SEC in tackles last season, and Tylen Singleton give that group more depth.
That makes it tough to crack. At edge, though, Braker may have a cleaner path to playing time behind Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross.
Benefield remains one of the offseason’s biggest talking points. The Boise State transfer is listed at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, and has drawn plenty of attention for the way he plays.
Whit Weeks said in the offseason: “I think he’s going to be a first-round draft pick.” No one is making final judgments before the contact work really begins, but Benefield has looked the part so far.
With 26 days to go before the Clemson game, the countdown turns to one of Caden Durham’s best moments from last season: a 26-yard touchdown run against South Carolina. LSU fell behind 17-0 in the second quarter on the road before Durham provided the spark, breaking through traffic and keeping his balance for the score.
The Tigers came all the way back to win 36-33, and Durham finished with 98 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. It was one of the defining moments of Brian Kelly’s LSU tenure, and it also served as a reminder of what Durham can bring when he gets rolling.
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Sam Leavitt Faces Massive LSU Pressure In Kiffins New Era
Sam Leavitt enters LSU with the kind of upside that makes every snap feel like part of a larger evaluation, especially with Lane Kiffin now shaping the offense around him. The quarterback is being mentioned as a long-shot name for the 2027 NFL draft, which says less about where he stands right now and more about how much room there is for his stock to rise if this new setting helps bring out his best.
Jordan Seaton is in a similar conversation from a different angle, with the left tackle viewed as a possible early draft candidate if his development keeps trending the right way. For LSU, both names fit the broader appeal of Kiffins new era, where talented players can turn potential into real professional buzz, even if the path to that level still has plenty left to be proven. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Is Now Caught In A College Sports Fight That Wont Fade
The Protect College Sports Act was supposed to keep moving, but now it has been pushed into September after U.S. senators delayed a vote amid a crowded agenda and a fresh round of amendments requested by university and conference officials. For LSU, that means the larger fight over how college athletics should be governed is still very much alive, even as some of the sports biggest power brokers keep trying to shape the final version before it advances any further.
There is still plenty of resistance waiting when lawmakers return, and the bill could face more revisions before it gets another real chance. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has already come out against it, even with major college athletic conferences backing the measure, which leaves the issue in the familiar limbo that has defined so much of the sports recent policy debate. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs QB Answer Under Lane Kiffin Comes With Real Doubt
Sam Leavitts arrival gives LSU a clear starting point for Lane Kiffins first season shaping the offense, and it comes at a moment when the Tigers badly need stability at quarterback. The former Arizona State signal-caller is in place for 2026, reportedly recovered from the foot injury that ended his 2025 season and getting ready to run an attack that should look very different under Kiffins direction.
Still, the early read around the SEC is far from unanimous, which is part of what makes this such a fascinating fit. Defensive coordinators are split on how Leavitt will translate in Baton Rouge, with some seeing a quarterback whose value comes from what he can create when plays break down and others questioning whether he fits the usual standard LSU expects at the position. [Read more 🡒]