LSU’s preseason work is starting to show up in the numbers.
With Fall Camp wrapped and Week 1 sitting 11 days away, the Tigers have moved into Clemson prep after 15 practices on the Ponderosa and a pair of closed scrimmages. Lane Kiffin said Monday that he expects this group to keep getting better as the season goes on.
"What I think is that you're gonna see, hopefully, that we continue to prove throughout the year where maybe some teams are playing their best early. Older teams have been together a long time," Kiffin said on Monday.
"I think what you'll see with us, and it's been the case. Last year we played really well down the stretch with an extremely portal heavy offense with a lot of new pieces. And so, hopefully, that's the case here too."
The biggest takeaway from LSU’s updated roster is plain enough: a lot of bodies changed in a hurry. Some players added real bulk, others trimmed down, and a few saw their listed height shift as well. Geaux247 highlighted 30 of the most notable spring-to-fall changes, and the list runs across the roster.
Up front and on the edge, Princewill Umanmielen is up to 256 pounds from 244, while Jordan Ross checked in at 254 after being listed at 246 in the spring. Kolaj Cobbins also climbed to 243 from 234. On the other side of the scale, Lamar Brown went from 294 to 282 while also being listed at 6-5 instead of 6-4.
The defensive backfield shows plenty of movement too. DJ Pickett is up seven pounds to 196, Ja'Keem Jackson is up nine to 197, PJ Woodland added eight pounds to get to 172, and Michael Turner Jr. moved from 162 to 170. At safety, Ty Benefield jumped to 216 from 208, Aiden Hall went from 193 to 206, and Jhase Thomas added 11 pounds to reach 186.
At linebacker, TJ Dottery is up to 232 from 225, Whit Weeks moved from 223 to 226, and Davhon Keys climbed from 218 to 229. Keys’ jump stands out among the bigger gains on the roster.
LSU also saw changes at receiver and tight end. Eugene Wilson III dropped from 190 to 184, while Jayce Brown, Jackson Harris, and Malik Elzy each ticked up slightly. Trey'Dez Green added five pounds and is now listed at 242.
In the backfield, Harlem Berry moved from 187 to 193, while Dilin Jones dropped from 211 to 206.
The offensive line and interior defensive front also shifted. Brett Bordelon made one of the biggest gains on the roster, going from 276 to 297.
Brysten Martinez went from 318 to 304, Weston Davis from 315 to 310, and Jordan Seaton from 307 to 311. On the defensive line, Richard Anderson dropped from 339 to 330, Dominick McKinley went from 297 to 298, and Deuce Geralds moved up to 285 from 279.
With camp done, LSU now turns fully toward Clemson, and the Tigers are 11 days from kicking off at Tiger Stadium.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got A Huge RJ Luis Ruling Before 2026-27
RJ Luis is now cleared for another college season, and the timing matters for LSU as it looks ahead to 2026-27. Judge Ronald Johnson granted the former St. Johns standout a preliminary injunction, allowing him to suit up for the Tigers after Luis challenged the NCAAs decision that had blocked his return to college basketball. The ruling is a notable one for a player who once won Big East Player of the Year honors and briefly signed a professional contract before trying to make his way back into the college game.
For LSU, the decision removes the eligibility barrier that had hovered over one of the most interesting roster possibilities on the horizon. The case drew opposition from the SEC commissioner, but the injunction restores Luis path to compete in Baton Rouge unless something changes down the line. It is a significant development for a program that could use every bit of high-end talent it can secure, even if the final shape of that future still has a ways to go. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Got A Wild New Lane Kiffin Exit Story
Before Ole Miss and LSU meet on Sept. 19, the Rebels are dealing with one more Lane Kiffin-era story line that sounds more like a thriller than a routine coaching departure. Walker Jones, the executive director of the Grove Collective, said on a podcast that the FBI came through Ole Miss facilities to sweep for bugs after Kiffin left the program, and he said he even checked his own office for surveillance devices.
Jones also made clear he remains skeptical about how Kiffins exit went down and what it ultimately meant for Ole Miss. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that keeps the old storyline alive long after the coach is gone, and it adds another layer of intrigue as LSU prepares to see the Rebels in a game that already had plenty riding on it. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Now Faces A Difficult Kate Koval Situation Off The Court
Kate Kovals time at LSU is ending for reasons that go far beyond basketball, adding an unexpectedly personal layer to the Tigers offseason roster shuffle. The womens program had signed Russian player Anna Minaeva, and Koval is now leaving the team after what has been described as a difficult decision tied to her family situation, with her father serving in the Ukrainian army during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Kim Mulkey has acknowledged the circumstances and supported Kovals choice, underscoring how complicated roster-building can become when global politics and personal history intersect. For LSU, the move leaves a notable gap in the frontcourt conversation, but the bigger story is the human one, and the one detail tying this all together is enough to make the situation feel far more fragile than a normal transfer decision. [Read more 🡒]