HARSH TRUTHS & FOOTBALL EROTICA: LSU 2026 SPRING THOUGHTS SO FAR
- Lonn Phillips Sullivan
- Apr 14
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 15
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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
LSU'S 2026 OFFENSE NEEDS A VETERAN, DUAL THREAT QUARTERBACK. THANKFULLY, LSU JUST MIGHT KNOW A GUY...
Offensively, the Tigers started two rotating backup QBs throughout Spring (in lieu of Sam Leavitt's injury recovery), January transfers Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark....
While both possess strong to elite right arms, neither could be classified as true dual threat quarterbacks, plus their 5 combined interceptions during this past weekend's Spring Scrimmage, as well as reports & film of other Spring Camp picks, errant throws, and miscommunication with receivers / offensive line, it is no doubt Sam Leavitt is considered QB1.
Despite the incredible ceiling for both Longstreet and Clark, alongside a litany of skill position firepower, this team will need Leavitt in 2026 to fully unleash the Kiffin/Weis offensive pyramid and truly contend.
THE O-LINE: A FEW ANCHORS, BUT A LOT OF QUESTIONS...
Outside of center Braelin Moore and left tackle Jordan Seaton, there are major questions about right tackle and each guard position.
The right & left guard spots have mostly been filled by a trio of 2nd year guys like Devin Harper, William Satterwhite (also backup center), and Darrin Strey, though the experienced guard Aliou Bah retained his 1st team spot for the duration of Spring Camp, looking like a devastating force, and longtime Tiger Bo Bordelon usurped Harper in a recent practice, so there is more depth & competition than meets the eye.
However, this is a line that skews inexperienced or, when discussing right tackle Weston Davis, major surprises followed by question marks...
It was a massive shock when the poor performing 2025 starting right tackle Weston Davis returned under Lane Kiffin, one of the few remaining O-linemen who stayed during the ousting of former OL Coach Brad Davis and hiring of Eric Wolford....
But the shock was nearly supernatural when Davis began making consistent appearances as LSU's fixed starting right tackle, retaining the spot across all of Spring Camp thus far.
He's looked okay, usually getting help via combo blocks & tight end help, yet I admire Davis's character...fighting through a truly awful 2025, earning the respect & starting nod from his coaches, and now looking to be a different, more mature, more cerebral version of himself.
I need to see him perform in a few games first, but to say I'm intrigued by Weston Davis' wild turnaround is an understatement.
This was the most criticized and maligned player on the team last season, giving up sacks or dangerous QB hits / pressures, and yet here he is, perhaps transformed, holding his own so far through Spring, and even looking solid at times.
Will he keep his spot???
BLAKE BAKER'S 2026 DEFENSE MAY BE BETTER THAN 2025'S TOP 20 UNIT...
Oh my God, I think LSU have an elite defense for the 2nd straight season, improving in an upward trajectory ever since Blake Baker took the Tigers' defensive coordinator gig 3 years ago, there is now a legitimate argument Baker's Year 3 defense could very well be his best:
The names, coaching pedigree leading them, and Baker's aggressive, hell bent for leather playcalling all form a triumvirate of pain for opponents in 2026:
Dashawn Spears.
Dominick McKinley.
Stephiylan Green.
PJ Woodland.
Rich Anderson.
Jaylen Brown.
Deuce Geralds.
CJ Jimcoily.
Tylen Singleton.
Lamar Brown...
Talent & grit everywhere you look...
Is 2026 LSU about to produce the first top 10 Tigers defense since 2017???
Baker's Bayou Bandits 3.0 already asserted themselves early in Spring, making plays and supplying suffocating defense, as well as working on the Tigers' biggest defensive issue of the post-2019 era: stopping rushing quarterbacks.
Thanks to the RPO-heavy nature of Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis' offensive setup, Baker's defense are getting in the reps vs the same playcalling that hurt their defense during critical losses over 2024 and 2025.
Following their gap assignments, blessed with a good mix of veterans & youth, steely tackling prowess through the spine & plenty of pace on the outside, practicing daily against QBs in this system, 2026 is LSU's best chance at finally stuffing dual threat opposition quarterbacks.
Due to their incredible secondary & linebacking corps, if LSU's 2026 defensive front can merely limit or contain the plethora of dual threat quarterbacks they'll face on their schedule, Baker's group will be the SEC's best defense and among the best in America.
DBU IS BACK...AND IT FEELS SO GOOD...
For the 2nd straight season under DBU mastermind Corey Raymond, LSU currently fields a potent secondary full of playmakers, hard hitters, ball hawks, based around a highly promising mix of proven youth & established experience.
Led by standout transfer safety Ty Benefield, returning stars Dashawn Spears, Tamarcus Cooley, cornerback tandem DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland, backed by key depth shining brightly in Spring (Jakheem Jackson, Aidan Anding, and safety Faheem Delane), Corey Raymond's 2026 secondary may just be the crowning achievement of his 2nd LSU stint (since 2024).
Everywhere you look there is length, size, grade A ball skills, solid to elite coverage, short memories, and battle-hardened contested catch warriors...plus, it's highly likely defensive coordinator Blake Baker, DBs Coach Corey Raymond and Safeties Coach Jake Olsen already know their Week 1 starters (Benefield, Cooley, Pickett, Woodland, with Spears at star).
AVOIDING INJURIES...
After news of some offseason repair surgeries for key starters Sam Leavitt and Whit Weeks, it rang home the slightly worrying fact that some of LSU's best players are still recovering from past injuries.
While both participated during Spring in limited fashion until their operations, it still reminds everyone of what these two young men are battling physically to get back on the field, their definitive importance for either side of the ball, as well as the saddest part of football: injuries.
LSU already lost 2025 starting defensive end Gabe Reliford to a 2nd straight long term injury, breaking his arm last fall before tearing his ACL on the 3rd day of Spring Camp....yet, even more injuries are beginning to creep to the surface:
Exploding up the depth chart with a downhome asskicking of a Spring showing, DT Rich Anderson wasn't able to take part in the weekend scrimmage, backing up Head Coach Lane Kiffin's own media report that Anderson practiced through an injury the day before.
I have no information on his injury, but we don't want to see such a powerful specimen sidelined just as a key developmental period is starting to flourish.
Cornerback Aidan Anding may not be as high on the depth chart, but his 2 interceptions were impressive during this past Saturday's scrimmage...although shortly after snagging his 2nd pick, he hurt his ankle, an injury that ended up with Anding sidelined, wearing a protective boot.
We should find out Wednesday from Coach Kiffin about their statuses.
Sickeningly, injuries will happen, but you don't want to see a mostly healthy team start to pile up absences in addition to physically debilitating problems heading into a murderer's row schedule....
Key injuries have decimated LSU seasons of the recent past, specifically 2025, and Kiffin's staff must do everything possible to avoid a repeat injury crisis.
KEVIN SMITH'S RUNNING BACK ROOM IS HIGHLY PROMISING...
In 2026, Kevin Smith will be able to call upon a variety of running back profiles, from the stately athleticism and all around finesse game of Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, or former Wisconsin Badger Dilon Jones' thunder and lightning combo, although the under the radar Rod Gainey Jr is also cooking in Spring, and Raycine Guillory could be another solid contributor among the rotation.
If anything, whether you have reservations about LSU being able to run the ball in 2026 or not, you'd have to agree this running back room is a massive upgrade from last season, while Lane Kiffin's offenses historically deliver a strong ground game, never ranking outside the top 40 nationally during any collegiate season as a Head Coach or Offensive Coordinator.
We've already seen the embryonic seeds of a swift, flexible RPO running game being planted, though the rough edges, lack of a reliable offensive line connection, and an overall inability to fully gel against Baker's tough defensive front are also creating some questions heading into summer & Fall Camp....
One last thing:
The legs of Sam Leavitt will also help this rushing game fully explode...wearing and tearing, gnashing as well as gashing defenses from all corners of the field.
MORE TO COME!!!!
BIG SHOUTOUTS TO:
LOUIS CORONA, DON CANNON, CBD, JAMER, GEAUXGRRRL & RYAN FOR THE AMAZING PEOPLE THEY ARE & THEIR BELIEF.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
©️ 2026 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
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