With fall camp opening and LSU just a month from the start of the season, the Tigers are stepping into a new era on offense with a new head coach and a roster packed with fresh faces. There’s a lot to sort out, and the early days of camp should start to reveal which pieces fit where as the new-look Tigers get rolling.
At the center of it all is Sam Leavitt, who is finally set to practice with his teammates after months of buildup. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback arrived with serious buzz after being the top portal target at the position.
He led Arizona State to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth in 2024, then put up more than 4,500 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions across two seasons in Tempe while also adding 749 rushing yards and 10 scores. A foot injury cut his 2025 season short and kept him out of spring ball, but he’s recovered and already seems to be building chemistry with the receivers after he and several wideouts traveled to Dallas to train during their off week before camp.
The backfield is just as unsettled, and maybe even more intriguing. The spring surprise was that neither Harlem Berry nor Caden Durham finished camp as the No. 1 running back.
That job belonged to Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones. Durham has been LSU’s bell cow over the past two seasons, piling up 1,258 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 24 games, but his role had shifted because the previous regime leaned toward Berry.
Berry’s case was strengthened by a strong second half of 2025, when he ran for 400 yards on 78 carries, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored once. Still, the current picture points to Jones as the lead back for now.
Up front, the most underrated battle might be the one at left guard. Fifth-year senior Bo Bordelon has opened camp as the starter and put together a solid offseason, but Ole Miss transfer Devin Harper is right there pushing for the spot.
Harper, a former Calvary Baptist standout, came out of high school as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025 and was ranked among the nation’s top 15 offensive tackles. There’s a twist to the storyline, too: Harper had originally committed to LSU before flipping to Ole Miss.
The passing game could end up being a crowded and versatile mix, with plenty of names fighting for snaps. Jackson Harris and Winnie Watkins are currently two of the three starters at wide receiver, while Trey’dez Green is handling the tight end role.
Beyond that group, LSU has more options waiting. Jayce Brown and Tre Brown, both portal additions from Kansas State and Old Dominion, are next in line.
Florida transfer Eugene “Tre” Wilson is also in the mix, and when healthy he’s one of the most dangerous weapons in the country. Illinois transfer Malik Elzy, Troy transfer Roman Mothershed and freshmen Braylon Allen, Corey Barber and Jabari Mack could all be part of the rotation as well.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffins First LSU Practice Already Sent A Clear Message
Lane Kiffins first preseason practice at LSU came with a clean bill of health across the roster, and that alone was enough to make the opening session feel different. With the Tigers back on the field and everybody reportedly available, the new coach got an early look at a group that could start building its identity without the usual August injury caveats hanging over it. Even in a first workout, there was a sense that the program was turning the page with some actual momentum.
One of the more encouraging developments came from quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was back on the field after foot surgery and taking part in the work. The staff also had a small but meaningful off-field gesture to point to, with cornerback D.J. Pickett changing his jersey number to 5 after LSU followed through on a promise made during his recruitment. It was the kind of day that mixed routine summer practice with a few reminders that details matter, especially when a new era is getting started. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs First Defensive Look Created A Camp Battle Fans Will Watch
The first defensive look of LSUs preseason camp offered an early reminder that August can scramble a depth chart in a hurry. On the opening day of practice for the 2026 season, the Tigers mixed in several new faces with the veterans, and the most eye-catching shuffle came in the secondary, where the staff had Ty Benefield working with one young safety in a setup that suggested the competition is already wide open. Head coach Lane Kiffin said the early part of camp is about rotation and evaluation, and LSU is clearly using those first reps to see who can handle more than just a promising start.
The same theme showed up up front, where the defensive tackle group also got an early shakeup and a freshman was pulled into the first unit. For a defense trying to replace production and settle on reliable combinations, those choices matter because they can shape not just the first week of camp but the way the whole unit develops before the opener. The unresolved part is how long these alignments last, and whether the veterans can push back before the Tigers settle on a more permanent order. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fall Camp Is Starting To Reveal Which Young Tigers Matter
LSUs fall camp has only just gotten going, but it is already offering a first look at which young players could matter once the games start counting. With so many new faces and coaches adjusting on both sides of the ball, the early reps have taken on extra meaning. Freshman wide receiver Barber has been one of the names drawing attention after an impressive summer, while cornerback PJ Woodland looks like he could become an important piece on defense.
Thomas is another player worth watching as camp unfolds. The tight end is in the middle of a fight for playing time, and the next few weeks will be important as he keeps working with LSUs quarterbacks and tries to build the kind of chemistry that can move him up the depth chart. For a team trying to sort out its new look, these early battles may end up telling the story of how quickly the youngest Tigers are ready to help. [Read more 🡒]