LSU’s defense has had plenty of attention since spring football opened, but the buzz hasn’t been centered on the offense. The Tigers’ defense has been the group turning heads, and a big part of that story is the growing connection between linebackers Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery.
There was already belief inside and outside the building that LSU could field something special on that side of the ball. Blake Baker is entering year three as defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge, the Tigers added several major transfers to address key needs, and they also brought back multiple productive starters. That combination created real optimism that the “Bayou Bandits” could develop into a top-20 defense.
Through spring practices and fall camp, that expectation has only gained momentum.
“You know, coming here, that's one of the first things that was on my mind, was how great the defense could be from a talent perspective and then getting out here in the spring, summer and fall camp and just watching those guys step up to the plate and just be great from every aspect - film, on the field, afterwords getting extra work in - all eleven, everybody on the defense has been amazing,” fifth-year senior linebacker TJ Dottery said Thursday.
The linebacker room has been a major reason for that steady progress. LSU’s depth and talent there stand out as one of the strongest position groups on the roster, and it’s a unit the Tigers will lean on heavily in 2026. Weeks and Dottery are the headliners.
The numbers back up the confidence. Both players have appeared in 32 games, and together they bring 382 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six pass breakups and an interception into the 2026 season.
Dottery, who transferred from Ole Miss in January, said his connection with Weeks clicked almost immediately when he arrived. That relationship has only deepened over the last eight months, and Dottery believes that off-field bond has helped their on-field chemistry come together quickly.
“Honestly, from genuinely the first day we met each other, I felt like we hit it off and it's continued to grow and with him getting back early spring and us being able to develop and get true reps together, it's been awesome man,” Dottery said.
Communication matters at linebacker, but so does trust. Dottery said the two have built that trust by spending time together away from LSU’s football facilities as well.
“Outside of football, (we're) watching film at each other's home. We sit around, we listen to music videos, watch YouTube, football highlights,” Dottery said. “He was just over at my house the other day and we was watching some of the preseason games from the NFL, so just hanging around each other like normal people, honestly.
“Sometimes, it doesn't even have to be about football and we're just able to click and hang out.”
Dottery and Weeks have both drawn strong praise throughout fall camp, and their work in the middle of LSU’s defense could end up being one of the team’s biggest strengths this season. If they keep producing at the level they’ve shown all offseason, the Tigers have a real chance to turn that linebacker pairing into a defining piece of one of the country’s best defenses.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Finally Addressed The LSU Dispute As Week 1 Nears
Jayden Daniels finally got his first preseason snaps with the Washington Commanders in a loss to the Detroit Lions, a small but meaningful step as he shifts from camp work to game preparation. Even with the NFL spotlight starting to sharpen, Daniels has had one off-field issue lingering in the background: a legal dispute with LSU over the use of his name, image and likeness, tied to the school assigning his former jersey number to another player.
Daniels has now addressed the matter and, for the moment, his focus is where the Commanders need it most, on getting ready for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. For LSU fans who followed his rise closely, the dispute adds another layer to a quarterback era that still resonates, even as Daniels moves deeper into his professional routine. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Running Back Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Didnt Expect
LSUs preseason camp has already started sorting out a few competition lines, and the running back room has been one of the most interesting to watch. Redshirt sophomore transfer Stacy Gage has been running ahead of junior Caden Durham on the depth chart, but a recent full-contact scrimmage reminded everyone that the picture is far from settled. Durham worked with the first team and broke off some significant runs, while Dilin Jones opened as the No. 1 back before leaving the scrimmage and not returning.
The bigger takeaway for LSU is that the Tigers are still testing combinations all over the field, not just at running back. The starting offensive line has been taking shape, the second team has seen movement, and even the defensive backfield is showing some tweaks, with Jhase Thomas getting work ahead of Tamarcus Cooley at safety. For a staff trying to build clarity before the opener, the backfield battle now looks like one of several places where camp could keep shifting right up until the final week. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Just Reinforced Why LSU Recruiting Never Slows Down
Nick Sabans latest reminder of why Louisiana matters in football circles traces back to the early 1990s, when he was an assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Bill Belichick asked him to figure out which state produced the most NFL talent per capita. The answer, Saban said, was Louisiana, and that view of the state as a deep well of football ability helped shape why he later took the LSU job. He has long tied that kind of talent base to what made recruiting in Baton Rouge feel different from other stops in his coaching career.
For LSU, the broader point is simple: the pipeline never really shuts off. The Tigers have stayed in the top 10 of recruiting classes in recent years, and Sabans remarks only reinforce the idea that Louisiana gives the program a built-in edge before the work even starts. Even as coaching staffs change and the recruiting landscape keeps shifting, LSU continues to benefit from being in one of the countrys most productive talent pools. [Read more 🡒]