Lane Kiffin just pulled off what might go down as the most impressive transfer portal haul in college football history - and he did it in his first offseason at LSU.
Forty new players. The No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 edge rusher in the country.
Nine top-100 transfers. And the final piece?
A five-star offensive tackle who could anchor the line for years to come. This wasn’t just a good portal class - it was a full-blown roster revolution.
And after all the recruiting battles, the roster reshuffling, and the late-night calls that come with rebuilding a program on the fly, Kiffin took a moment to reflect. On Saturday, he posted a quote from Shaquille O’Neal to his Instagram story - a fitting nod to LSU’s most famous alum, but also a window into where Kiffin’s mindset is after pulling off what many thought was impossible.
“The older you get the more you realize how precious life is,” the quote read. “You have no desire for drama, conflict, or stress.
You just want good friends, a cozy home, food on the table, and people who make you happy.” Kiffin added a “💯” emoji - a subtle but clear message: mission accomplished, and now it’s time to enjoy the moment.
The timing of the post was no coincidence. It came just after LSU secured the commitment of Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, the final - and maybe most important - addition to a class that 247Sports ranks No. 1 in the nation.
Even On3’s rankings, which factor in transfer departures, still have LSU sitting fourth. Either way, it’s a massive statement about the direction of the program - and why Kiffin made the leap from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge.
At Ole Miss, Kiffin built his brand as the “Portal King,” and he’s now taken that title to a whole new level. LSU fans were hoping he’d bring back the edge, the swagger, the relentless talent that defined the Tigers at their peak. He’s done that - and he did it faster than anyone expected.
Let’s break down what makes this class so special.
Start with the quarterback: Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, the top-ranked transfer in the country regardless of position. Leavitt was electric in 2024, leading the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff before an injury derailed their 2025 campaign. Now healthy, he steps into a system tailor-made for his skill set - and he’ll have no shortage of weapons around him.
On the defensive side, Kiffin reloaded the front seven with serious firepower. Princewill Umanmielen, who notched nine sacks last season at Ole Miss, reunites with his former coach and teams up with Jordan Ross, a former five-star edge rusher from Tennessee. That duo alone gives LSU one of the most dangerous pass rushes in the SEC.
At linebacker, Kiffin added TJ Dottery - the SEC’s leading tackler - to a group that already includes Whit Weeks and Davhon Keys. That’s a trio with speed, instincts, and the kind of versatility that can cause headaches for opposing offenses.
And then there’s the offensive line. It didn’t just get better - it got a complete overhaul.
Seaton headlines the group, but he’s joined by a wave of talent: Devin Harper, Darrin Strey, William Satterwhite, and Sean Thompkins. That’s five potential starters brought in through the portal, all capable of reshaping the trenches in Baton Rouge.
Out wide, Kiffin didn’t hold back either. Ten new receivers are on the way, including big names like Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Eugene Wilson III (Florida), and Winston Watkins (Ole Miss). It’s a deep, dynamic group that gives Leavitt plenty of options - and gives defensive coordinators across the SEC plenty to worry about.
On Friday night, just before Seaton made it official, Kiffin sent out a tweet to fans: “Hope you enjoyed the finale.” It was a fitting way to close out a whirlwind portal season - part showman, part architect, part recruiter-in-chief.
But make no mistake: this wasn’t just about putting together a flashy class. This was about building a contender.
Kiffin didn’t come to LSU to rebuild slowly. He came to win - and judging by this transfer haul, he’s wasting no time getting to work.
Now the question becomes: how fast can all these pieces come together? Because if they do, LSU won’t just be back - they’ll be dangerous.