Another season of LSU Football is almost underway. Like many of you, I am very excited about this year’s team. I am not here to sugarcoat the fact that I am very biased towards LSU, and what is to follow will reflect that. However, I will try to provide evidence of improvement with this year’s team the best I can.
I am going to present my five points of positivity for the LSU Tigers in 2026. Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the rights to the number five nor its likeness.
1. Sam Leavitt’s Scrambling Ability
Anyone who has seen Sam Leavitt play has noticed his inate ability to extend plays with his legs. Leavitt is elusive and it will be a huge benefit as the newly-formed offensive line takes shape as the season progresses.
While Leavitt is coming off a foot injury that cost him most of the 2025 season, he is said to be back at 100% heading into this season.
Leavitt’s rushing numbers in 2025 far exceeded his predecessor, Garrett Nussmeier. Leavitt ran for 306 yards and 5 touchdowns last season while Nussmeier had -57 rushing yards and only 1 rushing touchdown.
Getting out of sacks and making plays with his legs is something to look forward to from Sam Leavitt.
2. Leavitt’s Downfield Passing
Another dimension LSU lacked last season was the ability to push the ball downfield. LSU had only 12 passing plays of 30 or more yards last season. In the SEC, only Missouri had fewer with nine. While Nussmeier’s lingering injury played a role, it limited the Tigers’ explosiveness a season ago.
Leavitt comes in with the ability to throw downfield. In 2024, he was among the nation’s most explosive passers, averaging 13.4 yards per completion.
Last season, Leavitt threw for 319 yards in the Sun Devils’ upset win over Texas Tech. Here are two of his finest throws from that game.
Leavitt combined with incoming receivers Jayce Brown from Kansas State, Jackson Harris from Hawaii, and Tre Wilson from Florida are set to ignite the LSU passing game. Both Brown and Harris led their respective teams in receiving yards a season ago, while Wilson was Florida’s fourth-leading receiver.
And Treydez Green, who needs no introduction.
3. Run the Damn Ball!
You cannot win if you cannot run the ball. LSU fans know that all too well after watching the putrid running game from the past two seasons. Last season, the Tigers ranked last in the SEC in rushing, averaging only 104 yards per game.
Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are here to fix that. Last season, the two helped guide a rushing attack that averaged 176.3 rushing yards per game. Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy played a large role in that, running for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. While Lacy stayed at Ole Miss, Kiffin will have a talented group of running backs to work with in Baton Rouge.
Caden Durham and Harlem Berry were retained this offseason and both have shown flashes in their time at LSU. However, it appears the star of camp may be incoming Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones.
Jones does not have much production to this point in his career. He ran for 300 yards as a Badger in 2025. That was also the case for Lacy prior to playing for Kiffin. The Ole Miss running back had only 104 rushing yards as a Missouri Tiger in 2024.
Will Jones be a breakout star or will one of the incumbent running backs step up? Either way, a significant improvement is expected from the Tigers’ rushing attack.
4. Dashawn Spears at the Star
Finally getting to the defensive side of the ball. While there may not be as many questions to answer, there are still a few things to get settled.
The “star” position has gotten plenty of talk over the past few seasons. That has largely been centered around former Tiger Harold Perkins Jr. For whatever reason, things did not always click for him in that role. In two of LSU’s worst defensive performances, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, Perkins’ play was lackluster. I lived through it and would rather not see that again.
Now that role will be occupied by Dashawn Spears. Spears has been a productive player for LSU, albeit in limited snaps. His most notable play came on a pick-six against Florida last season.
More snaps for Spears in 2026 should be a plus for the Tigers.
5. The Defensive Line
LSU had the 12th highest-rated recruiting class in the country and most of the headliners on the defensive line. Defensive tackles Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson enrolled early and are expected to have an immediate impact on this year’s team. Also in the class is Lamar Brown, a five-star talent at defensive end.
While the youth movement is apparent, they will be joined by veterans up front. Most notably is Ole Miss transfer Princewill Umanmielen. Umanmielen was among the SEC’s leaders in sacks a season ago with nine.
Tennessee transfer Jordan Ross will likely start opposite Umanmielen. While Ross has not matched Umanmielen in production thus far, the former five-star offers plenty of upside.
Dominick McKinley, Auburn transfer Malik Blocton and Clemson transfer Stephiylan Green will be a part of the rotation at defensive tackle to give the Tigers depth in the trenches.
Most recently, LSU added Notre Dame graduate transfer Junior Tuihalamaka, further bolstering their defensive line.
This group gives the LSU defense enough talent and depth to be disruptive throughout the season.
Time to spot the ball! Geaux Tigers!
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 