LSU’s quarterback situation is still unsettled heading into Saturday’s meeting with McNeese State, and Lane Kiffin isn’t ready to tip his hand.
With starter Sam Leavitt dealing with a hamstring injury, Kiffin was asked Tuesday whether backup quarterback Landen Clark could get the start at Tiger Stadium. His answer left the door wide open.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Kiffin said.
What Kiffin did make clear is that he likes what he has seen from Clark. The backup has earned praise for the way he has handled his opportunities this season, and Kiffin pointed to Clark’s knack for creating plays when he gets on the field.
“Landon’s done a great job when he goes into games,” Kiffin said. “He really finds a way to make plays.”
Kiffin also joked about Clark’s odd-looking passing line, noting that some of the quarterback’s best throws have not shown up as completions in the stat sheet.
“You’ve got to be the first quarterback in the history of football to actually throw two touchdowns that are in guys’ hands, throw another completion in the game, and somehow be 0-for-5,” Kiffin said. “So that’s hard to do.”
Behind the scenes, Kiffin said Clark has shown the same kind of ability in LSU’s preparation work. He singled out Clark’s time as the scout-team quarterback during the Tigers’ build-up to Clemson.
“He really performs really well,” Kiffin said. “He was our third quarterback for the mock game. He had to go be the Clemson quarterback in the stadium and ran around all day long and made some plays against our first defense.”
Kiffin also connected Clark’s style to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, saying both players have a way of making unexpected things happen in practice and in games.
“He really does a good job in practice,” Kiffin said. “I’m not saying he’s Trinidad, but in the same way, he has some of that ‘Trinidad Magic.’
Whenever he went into scrimmages, all of a sudden these things happen, or in the games. And Landon has done the same thing.”
Kiffin did not announce whether Clark will start or simply have a larger role Saturday, but he made it clear LSU views him as a useful piece on offense.
“So I’m happy for him, and it’s a good weapon to have, obviously, regardless of Sam’s health,” Kiffin said.
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