Three weeks into LSU fall camp, the transfer class that grabbed all the preseason attention is starting to separate itself from the pack. The rankings looked great in August, but the real test has been on the field, where the depth chart is beginning to take shape and a few newcomers have already forced their way into bigger jobs.
That overhaul touched nearly 60 roster spots, and the No. 1 transfer class in the country was the centerpiece of it. Now defensive coordinator Blake Baker and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. have enough live reps to judge who is ready right now and who is still trying to earn trust.
Some arrivals have wasted no time. Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross came in as major additions at defensive end, and Baker has already noticed how quickly both have settled in. He said he has seen a lot of growth in each since the spring, a telling sign for a spot that looked thin just a few months ago.
Jordan Seaton has also looked the part from the start. The offensive line transfer arrived with one of the most decorated résumés in the country, and camp has done nothing to knock him off the Week 1 starter track. Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown has made a similar move at wide receiver, taking control of the top job in a room that was rebuilt around him and doing it the same way he did at his previous stop: by being a dependable target for quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Leavitt himself didn’t need much time to win over Kiffin. The head coach said he’s pleased with Leavitt’s fall camp and how he looks, and that has been enough to signal where the quarterback job stands.
On the defensive interior, Auburn transfer Malik Blocton has worked his way into a meaningful rotational role instead of simply filling space. Baker has grouped him with fellow newcomers Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson, and that battle has only gotten tighter as camp has gone on.
Not every headline transfer has created the same separation. The receiver room is still the clearest example of that. Kiffin added nine new pass-catchers and made it clear nobody arrived with a built-in edge, so players like Eugene Wilson III, Tre’ Brown III and Malik Elzy are still fighting for snaps rather than assuming them because of where they came from.
Weis described that group as deep but uneven, noting that a few players have stood out while others are still flashing without quite stacking enough plays together.
Cornerback has turned into another wide-open fight, especially after Aidan Anding’s Achilles injury changed the shape of the room. Ja’Keem Jackson, Michael Turner, Havon Finney Jr. and JUCO addition Lavonte Williams are all still battling for a role that once looked like it might be settled.
The backup quarterback competition has also shifted. Elon transfer Landen Clark was expected to push for real reps behind Leavitt, but freshman Husan Longstreet has reportedly moved ahead of him, shrinking Clark’s projected role.
There are still several transfer additions whose exact place on the team won’t be clear until closer to Week 1, and that uncertainty is part of the process. Baker has praised the growth of the safety group, while also acknowledging that depth there was a real concern when camp opened, which has opened the door for newcomers to make a move.
Weis has also pointed to the chemistry between Leavitt and returning tight end Trey’Dez Green as one of the offense’s steadier elements. He said the two “have really good chemistry,” and that connection gives the staff flexibility to move Green around the formation while the rest of the offense keeps sorting itself out.
With the opener approaching, LSU’s coaches are running out of time to make final decisions. But the first three weeks of camp have made one thing clear: this transfer class is going to be all over the field.
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