LSU’s quarterback room has a chance to shape everything this season, and the Tigers are finally getting a real look at it with fall camp underway at the Ponderosa.
The season opener is closing in fast, with LSU set to host Clemson in Baton Rouge on September 5th. Until then, the focus lands squarely on the most talked-about spot on the roster: quarterback. There’s plenty to sort through, but the early read is clear enough - Sam Leavitt is the leader, Husan Longstreet looks like a future option, and Landen Clark is pushing to carve out a real role.
Leavitt enters the year as QB1, and the fit with Charlie Weis Jr. already stands out. At 6’2”, 216 pounds, the redshirt junior is working in his first season with Weis calling the offense, and the connection between the two has come together quickly. The scheme leans into a hybrid RPO approach, built to get the ball out fast and put playmakers in space.
That setup suits Leavitt’s strengths. He has the experience, the football IQ, and the ability to push the ball downfield and create mismatches.
But there’s another side to his game that has to tighten up. At times, he can get himself into trouble by drifting in the pocket and turning clean situations into sacks.
Over the course of the season, his footwork will need attention, and the question of whether the foot injury he dealt with played a role hangs over that part of his game. Coach Kiffin has made it clear that he didn’t look like he had a foot issue at all last year.
It showed earlier this afternoon.
Behind him, Longstreet has been one of the more intriguing names since spring. The former USC transfer arrived with five-star pedigree and has backed that up with a strong arm and the ability to tuck it and run with authority. He repeatedly flashed downfield passing ability in the spring, and he even had a day where he found the end zone five times running with the ones and twos.
His touch stands out. So does the upside.
If Leavitt were to miss time, Longstreet is the kind of quarterback who could step in and keep the offense moving. He still has work to do, though, especially when it comes to forcing throws into tight coverage and turning every pass into a fastball.
Then there’s Clark, who brings a different kind of energy to the room. The former Elon quarterback was a Jerry Rice Award finalist last year, and his competitiveness jumps off the page. His athleticism made him a dangerous piece for the Phoenix, where he helped lead an offense that was 11th in total offense in 2024 to 5th in the CAA in 2025.
At LSU, that same versatility gives him a shot to matter. He’s in the mix to back up Leavitt, and his experience could help him separate as game week approaches.
Still, the challenge is bigger than just running and throwing well. He has to show he can handle the Charlie Weis offense and prove he can be more than an athletic quarterback with a strong downfield arm.
For now, the room is taking shape. Leavitt is the front-runner, Longstreet is the name fans will want to watch for the future, and Clark is battling to make himself impossible to ignore.
In Other News...
LSU Inherits A Quarterback Storyline Lane Kiffin No Longer Controls
Trinidad Chambliss arrived at Ole Miss as one of the more interesting quarterback additions in the SEC, a spring 2025 transfer from Division II Ferris State who quickly turned himself into a real storyline. His rise has already drawn plenty of attention, but not everyone around the league views it as simply a product of Lane Kiffins system. One anonymous SEC coach pointed to Chamblisss natural talent and playmaking ability as the bigger reason for his success, a reminder that the quarterback himself has done more than just benefit from the right play sheet.
That angle matters even more now that Kiffin has left Ole Miss for LSU, where the Rebels new offensive playcaller will be John David Baker. For LSU, the move created an unexpected subplot to keep an eye on, because Chambliss is no longer tied to the coach many people associated with his rise. The question hanging over the next chapter is whether his production travels with him when the architect of the old offense is gone and the new one takes over. [Read more 🡒]
LSU No. 25 Connects Rising Talent With A Tigers Legacy
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The jersey also ties back to a name that still resonates around Baton Rouge: YA Tittle, who wore 25 during his LSU days from 1944 to 1947 before going on to a Hall of Fame NFL career. For a program that leans heavily on tradition, having a number shared by a backup back and a prized defender gives LSU another reminder of how its current roster keeps brushing up against the schools history. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces An Early Receiver Concern As Clemson Prep Intensifies
LSU moved into its sixth fall-camp practice with the first full-pads session Wednesday, a useful checkpoint as the Tigers keep sharpening things for the season opener against Clemson. The wide receiver group is already getting a close look, and junior Malik Elzy has been a steady target as LSU works through its early camp rhythm. Elsewhere, injured players Gabriel Reliford and Aidan Anding were seen on stationary bikes, while freshman Jaiden Braker has been adjusting to a new home on the defensive side of the ball after switching from linebacker to defensive end.
The more immediate concern is at receiver, where Winston Watkins Jr. was absent again for a second straight practice. LSU does not have much time to let any camp absence linger with Clemson looming, so every rep matters now, especially as the Tigers try to sort out who is ready to handle the load when the opener arrives. Watkins availability will be worth watching as camp intensity rises and the depth chart starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]