LSU’s first game week of the season has brought plenty of noise, but the players inside the building keep circling back to football. With Clemson only four days away and Saturday night’s opener in Tiger Stadium looming, Whit Weeks, Sam Leavitt and Trey’Dez Green spent time talking through the buzz, the new additions and the moment ahead.
A big part of that chatter has centered on the possibility of adding players late, and all three Tigers made it clear the locker room has been on board. Weeks said Coach Kiffin brought the idea to the leadership group and asked if they were open to bringing those players back, while Leavitt described the team as excited about the chance to add help if everything is legal. Green took the same view, saying he’s focused on the bigger goal even if it means fewer touches for him.
Weeks also opened up about the meaning of wearing No. 7.
He called it “What an honor, truly. I know how many legends have come before me and wore that number - and now it's me and Trey'Dez's turn to wear that number.
So, I know we're going to wear it with a lot of pride.
"And I mean, still to this day, I'm just speechless um that they gave that to me. Um such an honor and I know I'll wear that number with a lot of pride.”
He said the outside conversation around roster additions hasn’t thrown LSU off at all. In his view, the way college football has changed over the last four years means teams have to be ready for anything. He also pointed to the freshmen on the roster, praising Deuce Geralds, Richard Anderson and Lamar Brown for their effort and energy, even if they’re still learning where to line up.
"Great effort - especially coming in as a freshman - you're probably not going to understand the system as well as our older guys are. From the three freshmen - Deuce [Geralds], Richard [Anderson], Lamar [Brown] - just their effort is incredible.
"To see how much fun they have playing the sport - it's a lot of fun being out there with them. They're just some young bucks running around - they might not be lined up in the right spot - but they're going to make some plays."
Leavitt echoed the same tone when asked about the late roster additions. He said the team had already been talking about it and was ready to welcome anyone who could help. He also brushed off the controversy surrounding the issue.
"Coach Kiffin came and talked to the leadership council and obviously the whole team's kind of been talking about it. We all were nothing but excited for the opportunity to bring guys in and help us win some games. I don't really know why there's such an issue with it.
"If it's their fifth year, everybody gets five years in college. I don't know the exact details on everything. I'm just here to play ball… Everyone's on board with making it happen if everything falls into place and it's legal."
Leavitt also broke down what Dae’Quan Wright could add to the offense. He pointed to the different personnel options and the way that can force defenses into tough choices, creating mismatches in both the run game and the pass game.
"Then you get mismatches in the run-game or the pass game. So many different things you can do. Dae'Quan - I've watched this tape - He's a really good player as well."
Saturday night will also bring a setting Leavitt clearly plans to savor. He said he’s been asked about the atmosphere plenty of times and expects to take in the scene before locking back in. For him, the chance to play in Tiger Stadium at night is something to appreciate.
"I've gotten that question a few times. I think I take it back to going and playing in the playoffs and just how exciting that moment was. I'm just going to really embrace the moment for a little bit because you're not going to get many opportunities to play in Tiger Stadium at night on game day.
"So, it's going to be special playing with these fans and this crowd and this environment. Definitely have to soak it in and embrace the moment and the blessing that God has given you to be in this situation. Then you got to relock in and focus up.
"I'll probably take a few minutes - whether it's on the run out or pregame, - just soaking it all in and embracing the moment. Then getting back to square one and focusing on the play at hand.
Leavitt also had high praise for Eugene Wilson, describing him as someone he got to know well while rehabbing early in his own injury recovery. He said Wilson has taken a different approach in this stage of his career and has been locked in mentally and physically.
"Eugene's my guy - coming back from my injury early on - I was spending a lot of time with him - rehabbing. I got to learn a lot about him as an individual and as a worker. I think that him as well coming into this spot later in his career - after going through some injuries - he's definitely taken a different approach from what I heard.
"I didn't know him in previous years, but everything I've heard is he's just been beyond locked in. I've seen it on so many different fronts, mentally, physically, taking care of everything. I'm just so proud of him.
"He's been grinding since Day 1 - never complains. He's a heck of a player, too. He's a pretty fun guy to throw the ball to."
Green’s comments carried the same theme of buy-in. He said the coaching staff asked the players directly whether they were okay with adding newcomers, and his response was simple: he wants the title back in Baton Rouge.
"It's amazing. Coach asked us about this being a player-led team and he asked us if it was okay - and I was like 'It's amazing to me,' even if it means less catches, less yards. I'm all about just bringing this national championship back to Baton Rouge."
Green was equally enthusiastic about Dae’Quan Wright, saying the two have already clicked and that Wright has been helping him with details of the position. He described Wright as a complete tight end and said he’s happy to have him around.
"Dae'Quan is amazing. I had a chance to talk with him - and it's just been going up. We just clicked ever since we met each other, so I'm excited.
"You got that complete tight end right there - and and him knowing the offense and everything - he's been teaching me a lot of little techniques. He's just been teaching me stuff that I didn't even know. So I'm just happy to have him on board."
Green also spoke about the meaning of No. 7, tying it to growing up in Louisiana and watching that number year after year. He called it a blessing to be trusted with it.
"It's been amazing. By me being from the state of Louisiana - growing up - I always watched the number seven. I always wanted to be number seven.
"And it's just a blessing that the coaches and everybody who had a hand in that decision and picking my name is just amazing. Like I said, it's just a blessing."
LSU opens the 2026 season Saturday night against Clemson in Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on the ABC Network.
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