Good morning, Tiger Fans,
LSU’s recruiting board got a little clearer two days ago when Ruston defensive back Jayden Anding committed to the Tigers, pushing the class to 16 pledges and keeping LSU firmly inside the Top 10 of multiple recruiting rankings. That naturally has people looking ahead to who might be next, and one name drawing plenty of attention is 5-star wide receiver Monshun Sales.
His decision is expected soon, and LSU is expected to be in the mix. The feeling around this one is that the Tigers are a dark horse for Sales, while they appear to be in stronger position to flip fellow 5-star receiver Easton Royal.
Landing both would be a long shot, though recruiting has a way of surprising people.
Another major name LSU is tracking closely is Ruston tight end Ahmad Hudson, who has been committed to the Tigers since early May. Hudson told On3 that he remains strong in his commitment to LSU, but he is not ready to fully close things down yet. That doesn’t sound like a full alarm bell, but it does leave the door cracked just enough to make Tiger fans uneasy.
Hudson will be worth watching in person this fall when Ruston travels to New Orleans to face Edna Karr. That game was announced yesterday for the Caesars Superdome at 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13, and it should be a big one. Ruston has plenty of LSU talent on its roster and will be trying to end Karr’s winning streak.
The tight end room in Baton Rouge is where the real star power lives, though. LSU’s 2026 group is headlined by Trey’Dez Green, and there’s a strong case that he’s the best tight end in the country.
At 6-7 and 237 pounds, Green is listed with the kind of frame that changes how defenses have to play the red zone. Last season, he finished third on the team with 433 receiving yards, but he led LSU with seven touchdown catches.
He has become such a dangerous target near the goal line that it almost feels like a mistake when the Tigers don’t throw his way at least once inside the 20. With Green on the roster, every jump ball starts to feel like his ball.
Beyond Green, though, LSU is leaning on a group with a lot to prove. Malachi Thomas transferred in from Pittsburgh after appearing in 13 games last season, making one start and catching 13 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
Zach Grace comes over from Oregon with a reputation as a blocker, and his usage last year backed that up - 53 of his 60 offensive snaps came in that role. JD LaFleur, a legacy player who arrived as a three-star prospect, is entering his second year in the program and still has less experience than the transfers ahead of him.
Then there’s JC Anderson, Kiffin’s first verbal pledge after arriving at LSU, a four-star tight end from Mount Zion, Illinois who flipped from an Ole Miss commitment and checked in at No. 165 in the 2026 ESPN 300.
Green gives LSU a real difference-maker at the position. The bigger question is how fast the rest of the room catches up.
COUNTDOWN TO GAMEDAY: 58 DAYS
With 58 days left until the new season, one of the defensive highlights worth revisiting is Dashawn Spears’ 58-yard pick six against Florida last fall. Spears gives LSU meaningful depth in the secondary this season, and that play was one of the key moments in a 20-10 win that had plenty of drama attached to it.
The Tigers won that game despite managing only 316 yards and 10 first downs, and the offense was so rough that Brian Kelly later called LSU fans spoiled. LSU was only ahead 13-10 coming out of halftime, and the game was still very much up for grabs in Death Valley before the defense took over.
Spears finished with two interceptions, and LSU forced five picks overall in the victory. He was later named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Closing tidbits: Todd McShay said he believes LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt could be a top-five pick in the NFL draft. “I envision a young man who has everything skills-wise.”
In Other News...
Paul Finebaum Just Summed Up How Bad Brian Kelly Got At LSU
Paul Finebaum did not exactly hide his feelings about Brian Kellys time at LSU, saying he is relieved to be done with the weekly Monday interviews that came with the job. For three straight college football seasons, those live segments were part of the routine, and Finebaum made it clear the experience was anything but enjoyable.
The backdrop, of course, is Kellys uneven run in Baton Rouge, which ended with a 34-14 record before LSU moved on last fall. Lane Kiffin now holds the job, and Finebaum has already suggested the new arrangement is a far more pleasant one, which says plenty about how low the bar had gotten by the end of Kellys tenure. [Read more 🡒]
Why LSU Fans Are Eyeing No 57 A Little Closer This Year
With LSUs season opener against Clemson still 57 days away, No. 57 has become one of those little roster details worth watching as camp approaches. The jersey is now on junior offensive tackle Ja'Kolby Jones, a JUCO transfer who adds depth to the offensive line and gives the Tigers another name to track as they sort out the pieces up front.
The number has carried a few different storylines over the years, from former LSU offensive lineman Carius Curne to Davon Godchaux, who is now entering his 10th NFL season with the New Orleans Saints. For Tigers fans, the interest in Jones is less about flash and more about what he can become in a room where every bit of line help matters, especially with the opener closing in and the depth chart still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
LSU's Title Hopes May Come Down To One SEC Reality
LSU spent the offseason building the kind of roster that can survive the long grind of an SEC season, loading up at receiver, quarterback, running back and across a defense that already had plenty of pieces in place. The Tigers brought in transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt to steer the offense, added more help at the skill spots and fortified a defensive front and secondary that now look deeper and more versatile than they did a year ago.
For a program chasing championship-level consistency, the bigger question may not be whether LSU has enough headline talent. It is whether the Tigers have enough quality across the board to keep rolling when injuries, fatigue and the usual SEC attrition start to hit. Blake Bakers defense is expected to carry a major share of that burden, and the way LSU manages its depth in the coming months could end up telling the real story of how far this team can go. [Read more 🡒]