LSU’s fall camp is already sorting out a few early truths, and one of the biggest is that the Tigers still have some real proving to do before this roster can fully match the buzz around it.
Through the first two days of practice, quarterback Sam Leavitt’s health has been one of the main storylines, and a handful of young Tigers have already started to push themselves into the conversation for playing time. Those are the encouraging signs. But camp is also exposing the spots LSU has to tighten up if it wants to look the part in 2026.
One of the clearest strengths on the roster is the defensive line. LSU has loaded that group with five-star talent across the board, from the seniors down to the freshmen, and it has already looked like one of the best-positioned units on the field.
That front can do more than just dominate on its own side. It also has the chance to raise the level of the offensive line, which is under the microscope after last season’s disappointing performance and the changes that came with the offseason overhaul. During the early media viewing periods, the trenches have been split into individual drills, and that means the offensive line will get a daily test from the first-, second- and even third-team defensive line.
If one position stands out as the thinnest on the roster, it’s cornerback.
That group took a hit in the spring when sophomore Aidan Anding suffered a torn ACL during one of LSU’s Saturday scrimmages in Tiger Stadium. Before the injury, Anding had been making noise with strong play on the boundary and inside, and he looked like a real contender to claim the third cornerback job. Instead, LSU is now working with just eight corners on the roster, and five of them are new to the program.
As fall camp continues, LSU is looking at returners Michael Turner Jr. and Ja'Keem Jackson, transfer Treylan James, Craig Walton Jr. and freshmen Havon Finney, Emari Peterson and Dez Ellis to fill out the depth chart at corner.
The big question is simple: which of those players is ready to rise up and join starting corners DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland on the field every game?
In Other News...
LSU Faces A Crucial 5-Star Battle On Two Recruiting Fronts
LSUs recruiting board has two five-star storylines moving at once, and both could matter when the next signing period comes around. Wide receiver Easton Royal, currently committed to Texas, has official visits lined up to LSU, Texas and Florida, giving the Tigers a real chance to make their case in person as his college choice takes shape during the season.
On the other side, LSU is also trying to keep tight end commit Ahmad Hudson from drifting in a crowded recruitment. Hudson has noted that Nebraska remains active in pursuing him, while LSUs contact has not been as steady, a dynamic that adds a little tension to a class the Tigers would like to keep intact. With basketball roster building taking up some attention in Baton Rouge, the margin for error on the recruiting trail feels especially slim. [Read more 🡒]
Former LSU Star Suddenly Enters A Troubling Saints Defensive Situation
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For LSU fans, the path back to the division is a noteworthy one, especially with Jones still carrying the reputation he built in Baton Rouge before becoming one of the more recognizable defenders in the league. His arrival comes as the Saints sort through an unsettled stretch on defense, with the kind of depth concerns that can quickly change a teams plans in midseason. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Early LSU Take Should Fire Up Tigers Fans
Lane Kiffins first season at LSU has already come with the kind of buzz that follows a coach who arrives with both expectations and a makeover plan. The Tigers have retooled through the transfer portal and brought in a roster headlined by five-star talent like quarterback Sam Leavitt, left tackle Jordan Seaton and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, giving the program an immediate talent injection and a clearer sense of the ceiling Kiffin is aiming for.
Kiffin has made it clear this group is only the starting point, not the finished product, which is the part that should matter most to LSU fans. The blend of proven portal help and elite young pieces suggests the Tigers are not just trying to keep pace in the SEC, but build something with staying power, even if the early returns are still only the first chapter of a much longer plan. [Read more 🡒]