LSU’s 2026 roster is loaded with newcomers, and the Tigers’ haul of transfers and freshmen gives this class a chance to matter fast. With a No. 1-ranked transfer group and a No. 13 recruiting class that includes 16 true freshmen and three junior college signees, a few names stand out as the ones most likely to punch above the radar.
One of the biggest is DE Lamar Brown. At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, he arrives as LSU’s highest-rated true freshman recruit.
Rivals and ESPN both had him as the top overall prospect, and he was a five-star on both the offensive and defensive lines. At University Lab in 2025, he put up 29 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Brown did not enroll at LSU in the spring, so he has less time than some of the other newcomers to win a role, but the expectation is that he’ll force his way into the rotation before the season is over.
The interior of the defensive line has two more freshmen worth tracking closely in DTs Richard Anderson and Deuce Geralds. Anderson, at 6-3 and 339 pounds, is a five-star from Edna Karr and was considered the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country.
He went through spring practice as an early enrollee. Geralds, listed at 6-1 and 279, came in as a four-star and has already worked with the starting unit in practice, just like Anderson.
Lane Kiffin had strong words for both.
“This guy’s going to be a great player. It’s just a matter of time to when that happens. And love how physical he is, love how hard he’s worked,” he said of Anderson.
“Deuce has really been extremely productive and caused havoc,” Kiffin said. “He’s going to be a great player.”
Another freshman who could help sooner than expected is CB Havon Finney Jr. LSU’s cornerback depth behind DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland is thin, which makes Finney a name to watch for defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
Finney, who is 6-1 and 173, was the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2027 before reclassifying to arrive a year early. If he adjusts quickly, the talent is there for him to stay ahead of schedule.
At tight end, junior Trey’Dez Green enters the season as the preseason All-American, but transfer Malachi Thomas gives LSU another option. Thomas came over from Pittsburgh after catching 13 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns last season as a sophomore.
The 6-3, 242-pound tight end has 26 collegiate appearances on his résumé, and his experience should matter in a room where Kiffin expects a lot from the position. Thomas doesn’t have to be the headliner to be useful; he just has to take advantage of the chances he gets.
WR Tre’ Brown brings a different kind of upside. The 6-2, 190-pound transfer from Old Dominion was one of the nation’s most dangerous deep threats last season.
His 20.05 yards per catch ranked seventh nationally after he posted 38 receptions for 762 yards and four touchdowns. The jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC is a big one, and LSU’s receiver room is crowded, but Brown’s explosiveness is the kind that can change a game if he earns snaps.
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