LSU’s season opener against Clemson gave the Tigers exactly the kind of transfer showcase they were hoping for.
In a 51-10 rout on Saturday night, LSU’s portal class didn’t just show up - it shaped the game. The Tigers got major production on offense, impact plays on defense, and a handful of newcomers who looked right at home in their first game wearing purple and gold.
The biggest spotlight belonged to quarterback Sam Leavitt, and he handled it like a veteran. The headline transfer delivered 230 passing yards and 113 rushing yards, plus three total touchdowns, while shaking off an early interception to settle in and take control. His 90.3 PFF grade was fourth-best on LSU’s roster in Week 1.
But the night’s top individual grade went to another transfer who made his presence felt all over the field: defensive end Jordan Ross. The Tennessee transfer earned a 94.0 grade, best on the team and No. 8 among all FBS defensive ends in Week 1. Ross finished with an interception, a sack, four pressures and three stops, putting together the kind of performance that turns a debut into a statement.
Linebacker TJ Dottery was right behind him in the grading, posting a 91.3 defensive grade that ranked No. 13 among FBS linebackers in Week 1. The Ole Miss transfer was busy as a pass rusher and against the run, finishing with five pressures, three stops and a pass breakup.
Another edge addition, Princewill Umanmielen, also made a strong first impression. His 82.7 defensive grade came with an even stronger 91.0 pass-rush grade, giving LSU exactly the kind of disruptive presence it expected from one of the transfer portal’s top defensive players.
Safety Ty Benefield, one of the most talked-about newcomers all offseason, backed up the buzz with a 76.9 defensive grade. The Boise State transfer was active throughout the night, logging two stops and a pass breakup.
On the perimeter, Winston Watkins led LSU’s wideouts in production and finished with a 73.7 grade. The Ole Miss transfer caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, added 14 rushing yards, and capped his night with a 32-yard score in the third quarter.
Running back Dilin Jones also gave LSU a steady debut after winning the starting job out of the portal. The Wisconsin transfer carried 23 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, earning a 69.5 grade.
Up front, left tackle Jordan Seaton and right guard Aliou Bah both drew praise even if the numbers didn’t fully capture their play. Seaton finished with a 62.0 grade after allowing two pressures in 37 pass-blocking snaps and holding up well in the run game. Bah checked in at 59.7, but he helped LSU move people in the run game and worked effectively on double teams with center Braelin Moore.
LSU also got useful depth contributions from defensive tackles Malik Blocton and Stephiylan Green, both of whom were part of the rotation Saturday night. The Tigers are expecting veteran snaps from that group as the season goes on.
At quarterback, backups Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet both saw action and posted decent grades in limited snaps.
LSU built its opener around its transfer class, and the results were loud. The Tigers’ No. 1-ranked portal group looked the part in a blowout win, with several newcomers immediately leaving fingerprints on both sides of the ball.
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 🡒]