LSU’s defensive tackle room is starting to take shape in August, and the early signs out of Baton Rouge point to a group that could be deeper than it looked a few months ago.
With Lane Kiffin’s debut against Clemson now 17 days away in Death Valley, the Tigers are still working through the final stretch of the offseason, and one of the biggest areas to watch remains the defensive front. That’s especially true in the middle, where LSU is sorting through a mix of veterans and a freshman class that has already forced its way into the conversation.
The biggest development has come from the trio LSU signed last December: Lamar Brown, Richard Anderson, and Deuce Geralds. The three highly-touted defensive linemen made things official and gave Kiffin and Co. a major boost on the recruiting trail. Now they’re backing up the hype in Fall Camp.
According to the latest buzz from Baton Rouge, those true freshmen are not just learning on the side. They’re flourishing in August work, picking up significant reps with the first team and putting themselves in position to help right away. The expectation is that they could make an immediate impact in 2026.
That doesn’t mean LSU is short on options. The Tigers have pieces to work with in the trenches, and the competition at defensive tackle is still very much alive as camp rolls on. But the fact that the newcomers are already getting meaningful run says plenty about where this room stands heading into the season.
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The bigger question came from the absences, with sophomore running back Harlem Berry and junior defensive end Jordan Ross out again after missing the previous days work. For a camp already shaped by the push toward the opener, repeated missed practice time at two key spots is the kind of development LSU will keep watching closely even as junior quarterback Sam Leavitt continued to look sharp and efficient, connecting on several passes including deep throws. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Brings A Familiar Jolt Back To LSU
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For a program that has leaned on change in recent years, Orgerons presence offers something different: familiarity, urgency and a clear sense of what the Tigers have been in the past. He remains known for the kind of passionate coaching style that can light up a practice field, and LSU is also counting on the recruiting edge that helped define his rise through the game. Even without a headline role, he has quickly become one of the more interesting additions around the program this fall. [Read more 🡒]