2026 SEC Media Day Series: LSU Tigers

LSU got their man, stealing Head Coach Lane Kiffin away from SEC rival Ole Miss, and arming him with a bevy of transfer portal talent. But can the coveted coach get his new players in sync in time to compete in a loaded SEC this year? Time will tell. 

Team Snapshot

Conference: SEC
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
2025 Record: 7-6 Overall, 3-5 SEC
Key Games: Clemson, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Texas

Season Outlook

If the newbies on the LSU offense come together quickly, this season could be one to remember. It all starts with transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), who’s coming off a November foot surgery that shortened his 2025 season. The wide receiver corps will be led by newcomer Eugene Wilson III (Florida transfer), but the biggest offseason victory was convincing running backs Harlem Berry and Caden Dunham to stay in Baton Rouge. But the Tigers’ true strength in the passing game is the versatility of tight end Trey’Dez Green, who can line up anywhere in the formation, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. 

Regardless of their offensive explosiveness, it will be useless if the guys in the trenches don’t play better than last year. The offensive line will be led by another transfer, in offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (Colorado), who has the job of protecting Leavitt’s blind side.

New additions on the defensive side of the ball will be key too.  Many followed Kiffin from Ole Miss, including defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker TJ Dottery. Both are expected to step in and start immediately, joining Boise State safety transfer Ty Benefield. 

Two LSU holdovers from last season will also be counted on to be key pieces to the 3-3-5 scheme employed by defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Cornerback DJ Pickett and linebacker Whit Weeks will remain the heart and soul of the Bayou Bengals defensive corps.

2026 Prediction: Projected Record: 11-1 Overall, 8-1 Conference

The Tigers have built a roster and coaching staff led by Kiffin that is second to none. With just over half of the projected starters coming out of the transfer portal, it will take time to mold this collection of elite talent into three cohesive units. With September games against Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, that transformation needs to happen quickly. If it does, LSU could be the surprise of the SEC, punching its ticket to the CFP. If it doesn’t, another middle-of-the-pack finish will undoubtedly lead to a whole bunch of unhappy Geaux Tigers fans.

Top NFL Prospects

Sam Leavitt was the top-rated quarterback in the transfer portal. The 6’2”, 215-lb junior arrives in Baton Rouge after two seasons at Arizona State as QB1.  In 2024, he made an immediate impact, leading the Sun Devils to an 11-2 log and a berth in the CFP. He was 16-4 as a starter in Tempe, with career marks of 34 TDs with only 9 INTs. His 2025 season was cut short with an injury that required surgery, so health will be a concern. 

Leavitt comes from a football family with his father, Jared (BYU), and brother, Dallin, playing 4 seasons with the Raiders and 2 years with the Packers. He’s extremely accurate with a 61.4 career completion percentage, and a great season could help his 2027 draft stock. 

Trey’Dez Green is the top tight end prospect in the nation, and scouts expect him to be a first-day pick. His measurables are off-the-charts, even at his size (6’6” and 240 pounds). The junior is considered a generational talent with extraordinary size and strength along with a huge catch radius. He’s the proverbial headache for defenses, lining up not only in-line but in the slot, and has even lined up as a wide receiver at times. He’s got sticky hands and generates huge YAC numbers because he’s a load to bring down. He’s improved his blocking ability, and Green already holds the career Tigers record for receiving TDs by a tight end with 11. 

Jordan Seaton is another new arrival to Baton Rouge, and at 6’5”, the 330-pound junior was considered the top offensive tackle in the portal (Colorado). He started 22 games for the Buffaloes as the quarterback’s blind side protector, logging 1,421 snaps, all at left tackle.

Dominic McKinley stepped up to become a key contributor in the trenches for the Tigers in 2025. Expect the 6’5”, 305-lb junior to be a linchpin for the defensive line in 2026. He earned more playing time with exemplary week-after-week play last season, in part due to a great work ethic and a super high motor that forces offenses into double teams. He’s likely a late second day or early third day draft selection. 

Linebacker Whit Weeks enters his fourth season with the Tigers with the chance to leave a legacy as one of the best linebackers in school history. At 6’2” and 225 pounds, the senior is recovering from a lower leg injury that forced him to miss the last 5 tilts of 2025. He plays with high energy and a passion for the game, never taking a play off. He ranges from sideline to sideline, shedding blockers, and has a nose for the pigskin. And he makes the players around him better. 

Weeks made LSU history last year when he was on the gridiron with brothers West and Zach, marking the first time in program history three brothers were on the field at the same time. Weeks is likely to be a day-three pick in next year’s draft. 

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