LSU is still early in camp and hasn’t gone full pads or full contact yet, but Sam Leavitt is already making the quarterback conversation impossible to ignore.
The new Tigers QB kept rolling through LSU’s third practice on Saturday, hitting short throws to tight ends, back-shoulder routes near the sideline, slants across the middle and shots downfield. His only two misses were overthrows on deep balls and one throw that came off after a drop.
So far, the receivers who have seen the most work with Leavitt are Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown and Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris. Brown is listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, while Harris checks in at 6-2 and 202.
Saturday brought another name into the mix: Illinois transfer Malik Elzy. The redshirt junior joined the group of likely top targets and gives Leavitt another body type to work with at 6-2 and 214 pounds.
That size range is part of the appeal. Brown brings the smaller, quicker look. Harris and Elzy give Leavitt bigger targets on the outside.
Tight end also had a different look on Saturday. Pittsburgh transfer Malachi Thomas, a junior, handled much of the work while starter Trey’Dez Green wore a gold jersey, which usually signals an injury.
Defensively, LSU’s rotations are starting to take shape too. Junior Dominick McKinley seemed to be in the top five at tackle, alongside true freshman Deuce Geralds, junior Auburn transfer Malik Blocton, true freshman Richard Anderson and redshirt junior Clemson transfer Stephiylan Green.
At linebacker, sophomore CJ Jimcoily got a run with the No. 1 star spot ahead of expected junior starter DaShawn Spears. At safety, projected junior starter Tamarcus Cooley was working with senior Boise State transfer Ty Benefield among the first-team group. Freshman Jhase Thomas had been with the first team in the previous two practices.
LSU is off Sunday and returns to practice Monday, when player interviews are scheduled along with a Lane Kiffin press conference.
In Other News...
LSUs Defensive Front Is Already Fueling Serious Fall Camp Buzz
LSUs defensive front has been one of the early storylines of fall camp, and it is easy to see why. The group blends veteran pieces with a wave of new transfers and arrivals, giving the Tigers a deeper and more varied rotation up front than they had a year ago. Dominick McKinley, Malik Blocton, Deuce Geralds, Lamar Brown, Jordan Ross, Princewill Umanmielen, Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery are among the names drawing attention as the staff sorts out how all the pieces fit.
Several of those players have already landed on the Bronko Nagurski early watch list, a sign of the respect the unit is earning before the season even begins. Early camp reports have been encouraging on both the returning and incoming sides, and that matters for LSU because the defensive line is expected to be a major strength if the group can carry this momentum into September. The talent is there, the depth looks real, and now the Tigers are trying to turn that buzz into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins First LSU Offense Comes With One Huge Question
Lane Kiffins first LSU offense is already taking shape in familiar fashion, with the new head coach leaning into the kind of up-tempo, multiple attack that made his Ole Miss teams so difficult to prepare for. Kiffin has long paired quick pace with a serious commitment to the run game, a blend shaped in part by his defensive-minded upbringing and the coaches who influenced him along the way. At LSU, the broad outline is clear enough: the Tigers want to play fast, stay physical and keep pressure on defenses.
The bigger question is how that vision will look when the season opens against Clemson. Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are still sorting through personnel and refining the plan, trying to match the scheme to a roster that features a rebuilt offensive line, new receivers and a backfield led by returning runners Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, along with transfer Dilin Jones. For LSU, the idea is familiar enough, but the exact shape of the offense is still a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Still Has Two Big Offensive Battles Brewing Before Clemson
With fall camp now four practices deep, LSU is still sorting out a couple of the biggest questions on offense before the Clemson opener. Mondays session brought media a little closer to the unit, and the most immediate competition remains up front, where Lane Kiffin and offensive line coach Eric Wolford are still piecing together the starting five. Tennessee transfer William Satterwhite II has been getting first-team work at right tackle, a sign the Tigers are continuing to test different combinations as they try to settle the line.
The uncertainty does not stop there. Wide receiver and tight end are both still being evaluated, with several players making cases to be part of the rotation or even push for starting roles. For LSU, that means camp is already carrying some real stakes, because the offense still has more sorting to do than it would prefer this close to a high-profile opener. [Read more 🡒]