LSU’s title push may not be about the biggest names on the roster as much as the sheer number of answers it can throw at opponents.
The Tigers are heading into a new season with championship expectations and plenty of buzz around Lane Kiffin’s transfer portal haul, but the bigger story is how much depth has been packed into nearly every room. LSU has added top-tier transfers, blended in freshman talent, and built out position groups that look ready to withstand the grind of a full season.
That shows up immediately on offense. LSU has turned its wide receiver room into a loaded unit, adding six elite receivers to veteran Phillip Wright III. That kind of depth gives the Tigers a chance to keep pressure on defenses snap after snap.
At quarterback, new starter Sam Leavitt arrives from ASU with a strong supporting cast. The backfield is built to help him settle in, with starting running back Harlem Berry, veteran Caden Durham and Big Ten transfer Dillon Jones all in the mix. LSU also has the No. 1 tight end in the country in Trey'Dez Green, a 6'7 target with the kind of vertical ceiling that makes him easy to find.
And if Leavitt doesn’t deliver the projected production, or if injury becomes a factor again, Kiffin has a fallback plan. Husan Longstreet, Kaden Martin and Landon Clark give LSU a quarterback room with multiple options.
The same kind of depth runs through the defense. Blake Baker enters the season with the No. 2-ranked defensive unit in the country, and the strength there is less about one or two headline names than the ability to keep rotating fresh bodies through every level.
Up front, Baker has a deep defensive line rotation with a solid dozen strong options to keep the quarterback under pressure all season. On the edge, LSU can lean on Ole Miss transfer Princewill Umanmielen, with veterans Dylan Carpenter and Jordan Ross also in the mix.
The secondary has its own layers. Tamarcus Cooley and Dashawn Spears bring veteran experience at safety, while transfer additions Ty Benefield and Faheem Delane add more playmaking potential. At corner, sophomore DJ Pickett stands out as a potential secret weapon, with Aidan Anding, PJ Woodland and Havon Finney Jr. also part of the mix.
LSU’s offseason has been defined by the attention around its major additions, but the real edge might be how complete the roster looks from top to bottom. With so many position groups stocked, the Tigers have a chance to keep rolling well beyond the regular season.
That kind of durability matters in a championship race. If LSU can keep rotating talent, survive injuries and maintain its level deep into the year, the expectations around this team only grow stronger.
In Other News...
Paul Finebaum Just Summed Up How Bad Brian Kelly Got At LSU
Paul Finebaum did not exactly hide his feelings about Brian Kellys time at LSU, saying he is relieved to be done with the weekly Monday interviews that came with the job. For three straight college football seasons, those live segments were part of the routine, and Finebaum made it clear the experience was anything but enjoyable.
The backdrop, of course, is Kellys uneven run in Baton Rouge, which ended with a 34-14 record before LSU moved on last fall. Lane Kiffin now holds the job, and Finebaum has already suggested the new arrangement is a far more pleasant one, which says plenty about how low the bar had gotten by the end of Kellys tenure. [Read more 🡒]
Why LSU Fans Are Eyeing No 57 A Little Closer This Year
With LSUs season opener against Clemson still 57 days away, No. 57 has become one of those little roster details worth watching as camp approaches. The jersey is now on junior offensive tackle Ja'Kolby Jones, a JUCO transfer who adds depth to the offensive line and gives the Tigers another name to track as they sort out the pieces up front.
The number has carried a few different storylines over the years, from former LSU offensive lineman Carius Curne to Davon Godchaux, who is now entering his 10th NFL season with the New Orleans Saints. For Tigers fans, the interest in Jones is less about flash and more about what he can become in a room where every bit of line help matters, especially with the opener closing in and the depth chart still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]