LSU’s season opener against Clemson gave the Tigers a lot to feel good about, and one of the biggest takeaways was the sudden arrival of a transfer defender who looked ready to matter right away.
Lane Kiffin’s first game in Baton Rouge could hardly have gone much better. LSU rolled past Clemson on Saturday, and the offense had room to add even more points before time ran out. The Tigers came out sharp after Sam Leavitt threw an interception on their second offensive play, and the game quickly tilted LSU’s way.
Even with that kind of debut, there was no sense of satisfaction inside the program. Kiffin and the players made it clear after the win that there is still plenty to clean up as the season moves forward.
Still, the opener offered a real glimpse at what LSU may have found on defense. Among the new faces, the edge tandem of Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross stood out most.
Umanmielen was everywhere, finishing with six total tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Ross made his presence felt too, piling up four total tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss, while also delivering the play that lit up the night: a pick-six.
That interception return took off on social media because it sent Death Valley into a frenzy. Some LSU fans said it was as loud as they’ve ever heard Tiger Stadium get. The score gave LSU a 17-3 lead and flipped the momentum in a hurry as Ross sprinted into the end zone.
The conference noticed, too. Ross was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. Leavitt earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week, and Jordan Seaton was selected as SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
For Ross, the impact was immediate. He brought pressure off the edge and helped keep Clemson from ever settling in. The Tigers’ offense went three-and-out eight times in 13 possessions, and their only touchdown came against the backup defenders.
Ross arrived from Tennessee with limited production on his résumé, having logged 1.5 sacks and 26 total tackles across two seasons with the Volunteers. At LSU, though, he already looks like a player on the rise, and Umanmielen said the edge room has helped push everyone forward.
"The way he attacks every day, the way everyone in the edge room pushes each other, you can see how it takes a toll on one another," Umanmielen said. "Everybody wants to see everybody succeed, so it's like the competitive nature in it...everybody pushing each other, so we're getting better as that goes on so I've seen that go on from spring to fall camp and game day here."
The defensive line was one of the biggest reasons LSU looked so dominant in the win, and it could become an even bigger strength as the season goes on. For now, Ross has already given the Tigers something real to build on.
In Other News...
LSUs Ex-Pro Fight Just Ran Into A Bigger Roster Problem
LSUs roster picture got a lot tighter this week after the Tigers added injured players Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford to the official list, bringing the program to the NCAA limit of 105. For a team already juggling roster management and outside scrutiny, the move matters because it leaves no immediate room to add former NFL players DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, even as the program continues sorting through the broader mess.
The situation has also spilled well beyond the depth chart. The SEC has threatened penalties and even a vote to expel LSU over its efforts to bring in the ex-professionals, while legal action involving LSU officials and the conference is still moving forward. Lane Kiffin has publicly backed the idea of signing Wright and Harris, saying he believed both were deserving of fifth seasons, but for now the Tigers are stuck with a roster logjam and no clear answer on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Made A Roster Decision Fans Never Expected Under SEC Pressure
LSUs roster crunch got a lot more complicated after the Tigers added Gabriel Reliford and Aidan Anding to their 105-player roster, a move that quickly closed the door on two former NFL contract signees, DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris. The decision comes in the middle of a broader fight that has put the program in an uncomfortable spotlight, with the SEC taking a hard line on athletes who previously signed professional contracts and LSU pushing back on that interpretation.
The timing matters because this is not just a depth-chart issue, but a conference-level dispute that already escalated into an amended lawsuit threatening LSUs standing in the SEC. For now, the Tigers have chosen to move forward with two non-former professional players instead of opening those spots to Wright and Harris, leaving the bigger question unresolved as the legal and conference pressure continues to build. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces Mounting SEC Pressure In Fight That Could Force A Response
LSUs roster decision has turned into a broader SEC headache, with the conference now pressing the school over a move that brought former NFL players back into college football. Tony Clayton, who represents DaeQuan Wright and Zxavaian Harris, publicly took aim at commissioner Greg Sankey after LSU declined to roster his clients and instead added two injured players, a sequence that has only added fuel to an already tangled dispute.
The conference has threatened to expel LSU for violating bylaws that bar former professional players from returning to college, and the matter has spilled into federal court with the SEC, NCAA and LSU all caught in the legal crosscurrents. Lane Kiffin has denied orchestrating the players return, but he has backed them legally, leaving LSU in the middle of a fight that is no longer just about a depth chart and could end up forcing a response from the conference office. [Read more 🡒]