TOP 5 POSITION BATTLES | LSU SPRING 2026 PREVIEW SERIES

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by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

With LSU's first Spring Camp under Lane Kiffin set to start in mere days, the Tigers possess a plethora of intriguing roster additions and returning stalwarts to review, which naturally tees up a battle of wills at many key positions.

While expected starters like Sam Leavitt, Whit Weeks, DJ Pickett, Braelin Moore, and Jordan Seaton are taken out of the running for our top 5 (so is any consideration for the wide receiver position, which is a 9 man race rather than a mano e mano duel), every position group is still under heavy scrutiny entering Spring ball, as I expect a few personnel surprises to arise over the next few weeks:

1. LINEBACKER

DAVHON KEYS

vs

TJ DOTTERY

It's not often your returning leading tackler faces stiff competition for his starting role....but that is the situation Davhon Keys finds himself in after 2 fantastic seasons as a Tiger entering Year 3, playing an impact role from the bench replacing either Whit or West Weeks in 2024 & 2025 for key stretches...often with strong results.

TJ Dottery is also a high volume tackler, who also shares the Ole Miss history with Kiffin and Co, and could potentially unseat the expected, and previously utilized pairing of Whit Weeks alongside Davhon Keys.

The ultimate question remains:

Which linebacker will elevate Whit Weeks to the Butkus level where he belongs??? Cast as the steady compass allowing defensive coordinator Blake Baker to draw up blitzes for his defensive captain, who will take over the job???

I think it will all revolve around which one of Keys or Dottery can make the routine shoe-string stops in space and plays against the passing game....or, could we be looking at a snap-sharing situation between these two, playing time decided by the matchups???

2. EDGE RUSHER

GABE RELIFORD

vs

JORDAN ROSS /

JAYLEN BROWN

For some, Princewill Umanmielen may not be an unquestioned, undisputed starter, however, I feel he is all but slated for 1st team reps, not only due to his voluminous production or outrageous combination of length and strength, Umanmielen also earned a lot of trust in the world of Lane Kiffin last season.

So, moving beyond Umanmielen, LSU has a few strong options for the other edge role, from returning starter Gabe Reliford, or a pair of young, high ceiling transfers Jordan Ross and Jaylen Brown.

Brown may "have the edge", pun totally intended, due to DL Coach Sterling Lucas' history with the pass rushing phantasm when Lucas coached Brown in South Carolina last season.

3. RUNNING BACK

CADEN DURHAM

vs

HARLEM BERRY

The question of running back should become an epic battle royale of returning Tiger backs, Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, both enjoying stellar freshman campaigns, although in Durham's case, also a sophomore slump blighted by injuries and the worst offensive line in LSU history.

Each back produced despite the worst offensive circumstances since Cam Cameron held a clipboard, proving their resilience, and at their best, both returning backs perfectly fit the Lane Kiffin offense....and yet I wonder, which Tiger will feature more over the course of 2026???

Never ranking outside of the top 40 concerning his ground attack, Kiffin's offense leans heavily on the running game to set a pulsating, "NASCAR on meth" tempo, designed to open up the passing game and wear down opponents in equal measure, slathered in foot to the throat abandon.

While both Durham and Berry would slot in nicely within Kiffin and Weis' set up, GM Billy Glasscock signed on a variety of skilled and high pedigree backs to push the duo, including Dilon Jones from Wisconsin, Raycine Guillory out of Utah, and Rod Gainey Jr....meaning this is now an open ended competition, snap by snap, throughout the offseason and full fall campaign ahead...

4. SAFETY

DASHAWN SPEARS

VS

TAMARCUS COOLEY &

TY BENEFIELD

Looking up at the two more experienced safeties on roster (Tamarcus Cooley returning for his second season as a Tiger & Boise State transfer Ty Benefield), Tigers fan favorite Dashawn Spears faces serious competition at either safety spot entering his junior year.....but interestingly, it may not even be a competition, rather just a strong, stacked collection of talented hellions for defensive coordinator Blake Baker to move around like pieces to a jigsaw until finding the perfect fit:

Though there is serious consideration surrounding a move to the star position, wherever he plays, one thing is a necessity: Dashawn Spears must see the field, either starting at the specialized star position within Blake Baker's defensive set up, backing up Tamarcus Cooley at free safety, perhaps even winning an offseason battle for the position.

Regardless, I don't think free safety brings out his best qualities:

Playing him at star is the proper place to showcase Spears' special versatile sorcery, transforming into an absolute beast against the run, proving himself as a playmaker against the passing game via his epic 2 interceptions vs DJ Lagway & Florida, including a game-changing pick six in a low scoring win, displaying elite level tackling abilities on the edge, in the secondary, and between the tackles.

Benefield and Cooley appear all but set to start as LSU's two experienced starting safeties (71 appearances, 366 tackles, 20 PBUs, 10 INTs, 22 TFLs, 4 fumble recoveries, 4 forced fumbles & 4 sacks).

5. O-LINE ATTRITION

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER FOR GUARD & RIGHT TACKLE

Darrin Strey (left) lifting with Jordan Seaton (right), ©️ LSU Sporfs

In honor of the latest Best Picture winning film, One Battle After Another, I submit to you an offensive line that may have two starters in Jordan Seaton and Braelin Moore, O-line Coach Eric Wolford's unit is still under heavy flux at right tackle and the two guard spots.

Vying for right tackle, Darrin Strey and Weston Davis will go toe to toe, while we could see some surprises at each guard spot, former Ole Miss youngblood Devin Harper and another transfer from Tennessee, William Satterwhite should be favorites going into camp, but don't sleep on Nicholls State wantaway Ja'Mard Jones, returning 5 star Solomon Thomas, or Ja'Quan Sprinkle to fight tooth and nail for snaps.

At a major spot like offensive line, Kiffin can't afford to carry any passengers, yet you wonder just how good is LSU's 2026 offensive line???

William Satterwhite

My opinion: We won't know that answer until Week 1 vs Clemson and Week 3 @ Ole Miss....

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

©️ 2026 Uninterrupted Writings Inc