Lane Kiffin’s first offseason in Baton Rouge has been anything but quiet - and that’s exactly what LSU needed. Known for his aggressive approach in the transfer portal, Kiffin wasted no time living up to his “Portal King” nickname.
In just one offseason, the Tigers brought in a staggering 40 new players, headlined by top-ranked quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State. But while LSU made major gains, they also felt the sting of key departures, as several standout players declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Let’s start with the biggest name: Harold Perkins Jr. The dynamic linebacker has officially declared for the draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.
Perkins was a cornerstone of LSU’s defense - a player who could change a game with a single play. His departure leaves a noticeable gap at the second level, both in leadership and production.
But this is the reality of college football in the portal era: star players come and go, and programs have to reload fast.
The Tigers also lost two key weapons in the passing game. Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Anderson declared for the draft and accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, signaling his full commitment to the next level.
He’s joined by Zavion Thomas, another early departure from the receiving corps. That’s a double hit to LSU’s offensive firepower, especially in a system that thrives on explosive plays.
Up front, defensive lineman Bernard Gooden also declared. His exit adds to the turnover on the defensive line - a unit that will look quite different when the Tigers take the field next season.
Now, here’s where Kiffin’s portal prowess comes into play.
Despite the losses, LSU’s transfer class is one of the best in the country - ranked No. 1 by 247Sports (which tracks only incoming players) and No. 4 by On3 (which weighs both additions and departures). Kiffin didn’t just patch holes - he rebuilt entire position groups.
At linebacker, the Tigers return Whit Weeks and Davhon Keys, and they add TJ Dottery, the SEC’s leading tackler last season. That trio gives LSU a legitimate shot at fielding one of the top linebacker units in the country, even without Perkins.
The wide receiver room, while hit hard, was restocked with serious talent. Ten new pass catchers are on board, including Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Eugene Wilson III (Florida), and Winston Watkins (Ole Miss). Add in depth pieces like Jackson Harris, Tyree Holloway, and Josh Jackson, and suddenly the receiver room looks deep and dangerous again.
On the defensive front, LSU didn’t just replace Gooden - they upgraded. Former Ole Miss edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen arrives after a nine-sack season and ranks among the top five players in the entire portal class. Opposite him, former five-star Jordan Ross transfers in from Tennessee, giving LSU a potentially dominant pass-rushing duo.
And Kiffin wasn’t done. On Friday night, he landed offensive tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado - another top-five transfer and arguably the best offensive lineman in the portal. Seaton allowed just two sacks last season and gives LSU a cornerstone piece on the offensive line to protect Leavitt, the new face of the offense.
In total, LSU signed nine top-100 portal players. That’s not just volume - that’s elite talent across the board.
The big question now is how quickly this group can come together. Chemistry doesn’t happen overnight, and winning in the SEC requires more than just a stacked roster on paper.
But if the pieces fit - if Leavitt settles in at quarterback, if the new receivers find rhythm, and if the defense gels around its new stars - LSU has the talent to make serious noise in Kiffin’s first year. The Tigers addressed every major need with high-end talent. Now it’s about turning that potential into production.
The transfer portal giveth and taketh away - and no one understands that better than Lane Kiffin.