LSU is staring at another quarterback decision that could shape the next few years in Baton Rouge, and this one comes with a different kind of value than the winter portal haul.
The Tigers did not land a quarterback in their 2026 signing class, so they went shopping in the portal and came away with Sam Leavitt, Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark. 2027 quarterback Peyton Houston is already set to join the room next year, but there is still space for more talent down the line. That is why Monday matters: four-star quarterback Kaden Craft of Mooresville, N.C., is scheduled to announce his commitment, and LSU remains in the mix along with Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida and Ole Miss.
Craft’s decision would not just add another name to the board. It would deepen a quarterback room that is already starting to take shape for the long haul, with dual-threat skill sets at the center of what LSU wants to build. That kind of profile fits what Kiffin is after, and it also fits the way he says he wants to use the portal.
“The portal is thought of so much like every portal player is a senior or a one-year player,” Kiffin said at SEC Media Days. ”That’s not the case.
"A lot of times you sign a portal player, they may have two, three years of eligibility left. So, then you have them in your program. Now you go into year two, you’ve coached them already.”
That philosophy helps explain why LSU has been comfortable stacking talent even when it means competition gets crowded. Longstreet and Clark are both already in the room, and both have shown well in fall camp. Longstreet has moved ahead as Leavitt’s backup, while Clark is expected to sit third, though both are one play away from being needed if something happens to Leavitt.
Craft would enter a similar environment. He would be a long shot to see major snaps right away, especially with Longstreet a redshirt freshman and Clark a redshirt sophomore still holding eligibility once Craft arrives. Houston also looms as a favorite of the new staff and could eventually factor into the battle for the future.
That kind of timeline could mean patience for Craft, just as it did for Garrett Nussmeier, who waited three years before getting his chance to start. If Craft chose LSU, he would be betting on development, competition and time.
And there is plenty to like about the player himself. Craft is a dual-threat quarterback with real athletic juice, and his background stretches well beyond football - wrestling, track and field, basketball and even BMX racing. He brings scrambling ability and play-making traits that jump off the page, especially in a fast-paced offense like LSU’s.
The flip side is clear too. Craft still needs work on accuracy and hitting his targets, and the final two years of high school will matter a lot as he sharpens his decisions and ball placement.
Still, if LSU gets the commitment, the Tigers would be adding a raw but intriguing quarterback with the kind of tools that can make the room more dangerous over time. And if he ends up in Baton Rouge, his eventual battles with Houston in spring and fall camp would be worth watching.
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Umanmielens first impression of Ed Orgeron was simple: loud, intense and full of energy, the kind of presence that tends to register quickly in a defensive meeting room. LSU is hoping that edge, along with Umanmielens experience, can translate into more disruption up front, even as the true measure of the reunion will take time to play out on the field. [Read more 🡒]