LSU’s search for help in the secondary has turned up an unusual name: former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton.
According to Matt Moscona of LouisianaSports.net, LSU has “mutual interest” in Cotton for the 2026 roster. Cotton signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in June, then was waived earlier this month.
That’s where things get messy. LSU’s reported interest may run straight into the SEC’s new rules, which prohibit players from trying to make the jump back to college football after signing with an NFL team.
Cotton would be ruled ineligible under the conference’s second rule in the new NFL policy, which bars anyone from playing in the SEC if they have previously “signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team.”
The situation echoes what’s been reported around defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae'Quan Wright, both of whom signed undrafted deals with the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, respectively. Harris and Wright both played for Kiffin at Ole Miss.
If Cotton wants to suit up for LSU before the season begins, the only path appears to be legal action against the SEC to try to get around the conference’s new restrictions. Even then, the outcome would be anyone’s guess.
If he somehow clears that hurdle, Cotton would add another experienced body to LSU’s secondary.
His college career started at UC Davis, where he spent his first three seasons and played in 30 games. He then transferred to Utah before the 2025 season and became a regular starter for Kyle Whittingham’s team, appearing in 13 games with eight starts.
Cotton finished with 30 total tackles, including 22 solo stops, along with seven pass breakups. He also recorded five tackles against Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl.
What happens next remains to be seen as the final days before the season continue to tick away.
In Other News...
LSU Just Made A No. 18 Choice Fans Will Debate
LSUs latest nod to its locker-room standards came with a familiar kind of weight, as center Braelin Moore was chosen to carry the No. 18 tradition into this season. The honor has long been reserved for players who embody leadership and selflessness, and it remains one of the programs more meaningful internal markers. Moore is only the second offensive lineman to earn the distinction, which says plenty about how the Tigers view his role beyond the line of scrimmage.
Because of NCAA numbering rules, Moore will wear a patch representing No. 18 rather than the number itself, but the symbolism is still the point. The tradition dates back to quarterback Matt Mauck and has been passed along to players whose value shows up in the huddle, in the meeting room and in the way teammates respond to them. For LSU, the selection is another reminder that some of its biggest expectations are measured less by statistics than by the standard a player sets every day. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Made A No. 18 Choice Fans Will Read Into
LSU added a familiar bit of symbolism to its roster this week by honoring Braelin Moore with the No. 18 jersey, a number reserved for the Tiger who best reflects leadership and character. Moore, a fifth-year senior center, will keep wearing No. 61 on game day because of NCAA numbering rules, but the patch attached to his uniform carries real meaning around the program.
The choice is notable for another reason: it is only the second time an LSU offensive lineman has received the honor, following Lloyd Cushenberry in 2019. For a position group that usually gets its praise in quieter ways, the gesture says plenty about how Moore is viewed inside the program and why this one figures to resonate with fans who pay attention to the details. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Is Fueling A Debate LSU Fans Can't Ignore
Lane Kiffin is back in the conversation around LSU, but this time it has nothing to do with play-calling or the transfer portal. He appears as the villain in a new Dr. Pepper "Fansville" commercial set to air this football season, another reminder that his image still carries plenty of edge in college football circles and plenty of baggage for fans who remember his Ole Miss days well.
The timing makes the spot especially hard for LSU fans to ignore, because the Tigers have just added former NFL players DaaQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris after both were cut and then entered the transfer portal. Both players once played for Kiffin at Ole Miss before he took over at LSU, which gives the commercial a little extra irony for a fan base still sorting through how to view its coachs old ties. [Read more 🡒]