Fall camp has started to sharpen the picture for LSU, and a few names are climbing fast as the Tigers get closer to the Clemson opener. While the attention has centered on quarterback Sam Leavitt, the bigger story inside camp has been the number of players making real noise on the other side of the ball.
The defense, in particular, has produced several of the most encouraging developments so far. Freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds has been one of the biggest winners, earning first-team reps with a group of experienced transfer portal additions.
He’s been working alongside Auburn transfer Malick Blocton, and the Georgia native has backed up his top-10 status as a defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class. Geralds looks like a strong candidate to factor into the defensive line rotation this season.
Another young defensive name making a move is red-shirt freshman Jhase Thomas. In LSU’s deep secondary, he has emerged during camp and even picked up first-team reps.
Kiffin gave him credit for what he’s shown so far: "Jhase really has done a great job," Kiffin said. "He can play multiple things, and so we rotate a lot of guys early."
Thomas didn’t play much last season, but he’s putting himself in position for a bigger opportunity in 2026.
Jaiden Braker is also turning heads after making a switch from linebacker to defensive end. Kiffin explained the thought process after Monday’s practice: "Just really looking at him and his length, wanted to try and see how he looked rushing and laying on the edge," Kiffin said after Monday’s practice.
"He's done a really good job there." Braker played in five games as a true freshman last season, mostly on special teams, and now he could become part of LSU’s defense this year.
On offense, the receiver battle is wide open beyond the names already near the top. Jayce Brown, Winston Watkins Jr., and Jackson Harris look like the front-runners, but there’s still plenty of room for movement in the depth chart.
Illinois transfer Malik Elzy has stood out with what appears to be a deep-ball connection with Leavitt, and he has looked solid throughout camp. That kind of chemistry can matter quickly, and Elzy seems to have a real chance to carve out a meaningful role.
Freshman defensive lineman Richard Anderson rounds out the list of stock risers. In a sport that usually leans hard on experience, Anderson has looked like a player who could already belong as a long-term starter. He’s been physical, strong in drills, and convincing enough to suggest that his playing time could grow as the season goes on.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Is Suddenly Facing An LSU Fan Backlash
Jayden Daniels is finding out that the pull of Baton Rouge does not fade just because he is now wearing a Washington Commanders uniform. The dispute at the center of it involves LSU and the use of his name, image and likeness, with the school allowing another player to take over the jersey number Daniels once wore in the purple and gold. For a former Heisman winner who remains one of the most visible faces tied to LSU, it is the kind of issue that can turn a routine alumni matter into something much bigger with the fan base.
The reaction has only grown louder with ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum piling on and taking aim at Daniels response. Finebaum framed the decision as a bad one and said Daniels has already lost support in LSU Nation, adding a fresh layer of heat to a story that was already touching a nerve with Tigers fans. Daniels, meanwhile, is trying to settle into his next chapter in Washington, where the Commanders open the season against the Eagles on Sept. 13, even as his old college ties continue to follow him. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Missed On A Top Quarterback LSU Fans Were Watching
The quarterback board took a hit for LSU when Donald Tabron II, one of the top names in the 2028 class, came off it and pledged to Texas A&M instead. The junior from Cass Tech in Detroit had been a priority target for the Tigers and Oregon alike, and his profile made him one of the more closely watched young passers in the country.
Tabrons decision gives Texas A&M an early cornerstone in its 2028 class, and it also says something about how this recruitment unfolded behind the scenes. He had made multiple trips to College Station and built a strong connection with the Aggies staff, the kind of relationship-driven pull that can outweigh the appeal of other heavyweight programs, even for a prospect LSU had reason to believe was within reach. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Lean On These Loaded Groups While Kiffin Builds His Offense
Lane Kiffin is still putting his stamp on LSU, but the early read on this roster points to a few spots that should help steady the transition. Safety, running back and cornerback all look like groups with real upside, and that matters for a team trying to find its footing under a new coach while the offense takes shape around him.
Ty Benefield gives the secondary another intriguing name to watch, while Caden Durham and Harlem Berry offer the kind of backfield punch that can keep pressure off the rest of the offense. On the perimeter, DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland could give LSU the sort of cornerback depth that lets the Tigers play with more confidence, even if the bigger picture still depends on how quickly Kiffins system comes together. [Read more 🡒]