TOP 5 TIGER PERFORMANCES VS LOUISIANA TECH (2026)

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by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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5. SAM LEAVITT

25/38

344 PASSING YARDS

1 PASSING TD

3 RUSHING TDs

50 YARDS (22 SACK ADJUSTED)

11 CARRIES

4 MISSED TACKLES FORCED

2 RUNS OF 10+ YARDS

3 rushing touchdowns...

A career high 344 passing yards...

And yet his trio of 1st half interceptions on three consecutive drives drove the fans crazy, brought on the hyper-critical online anti-Leavitt melt, and worst of all, allowed Louisiana Tech to turn a "gimme game" into a 10-7 scoreline at halftime (Tech's only points stemming from a 100 yard interception return from a Leavitt pass inside the red zone).

Despite ending 25/38 for his highest single game passing total ever in Leavitt's career, at 344 yards. which doesn't look too bad on paper, Leavitt's passing (specifically in the 1st half) was a horrorshow, somehow overthrowing Trey'Dez Green's towering magnificence on a couple of his 3 picks (also failing to feed Green more often), unable to see the field at times, and usually looking more comfortable running for his life during a broken down play rather than dropping back in the pocket, taking 3 steps, and delivering a dart.

Regardless of his turnovers & passing game issues during the first 2 quarters, Leavitt turned it on during the 2nd half, throwing a touchdown to Green, feeding LSU's record-breaking tight end often enough for Trey'Dez's first 100 yard game of the season, generating a stunted rhythm through some big gain plays to Jackson Harris & Winnie Watkins over the middle, in the shallow or finding Tre Wilson in stride, Leavitt rebounded in the 2nd half and meant business, completing 3 passes on plays that hit 23-53 yards respectively, including a bomb downfield on one of his final throws of the night.

Leavitt was disjointed and even reckless at times on Saturday night, then suddenly, Sam was transcendent, making 4 would-be-tacklers miss on his way to the end zone for 3 game-defining scores, edging around, pulsing through, bouncing off or crossing over LA Tech's defenders from point blank range to finally cash in all these red zone opportunities.

The first year Tiger will need to show a lot more poise and precision if LSU is to win on the road in Oxford this coming Saturday night....still, the fact remains: when LSU really needs a play, Sam Leavitt is likely going to produce.

4. TJ DOTTERY

9 TACKLES

2 QB PRESSURES

2 FORCED FUMBLES

0.5 TFL

Despite leading the SEC in tackles last year for Ole Miss, TJ Dottery had a lot to prove entering LSU's campus this winter...

Following Chris and Lane Kiffin to his 3rd school, Dottery was trying to usurp LSU's 2025 leading tackler, linebacker Davhon Keys, who had plenty of experience playing alongside Whit Weeks....there were still questions about his Clemson past...and, among a couple Draft scouts I've spoken to, a lot of skepticism regarding if he "has the measurables to be a NFL level linebacker"..

Some assumed Dottery got the starting job through favoritism from Chris and Lane, but it was actually because he happens to be one hell of a fleetfooted, playmaking machine, as evidenced over the past 2 weeks:

Week 1 vs Clemson, the former Ole Miss captain racks up 5 QB pressures, makes a play in the backfield, and barely drops an interception, then, Week 2 vs Louisiana Tech, Dottery leads the team in tackles (9) & produces 2 forced fumbles, punching the ball out with brutal ferocity....

Sideline to sideline, Dottery is extremely versatile, leading LSU's defense in tackles (14), ranking 3rd on the team with 7 QB Pressures, while his 2 forced fumbles leads the SEC currently.

TJ Dottery's side to side pace and playmaking is starting to really win me over, however, I still think there's a few tests I need to see him pass.

First: how will he hold up in coverage compared to Davhon Keys, and

Second: can TJ make that 4th and inches goal-line stop vs a power back, i.e this week vs Ole Miss' Kewan Lacy?

Something interesting to me, we've only really seen one big play from Whit Weeks through 2 games of 2026, and simultaneously, Dottery is stuffing the stat sheet...

Does that mean Dottery's presence is so overwhelming, he's making all the plays? Or is he a player that can get the best out of Whit Weeks, too?

It's still early days on whether the Dottery-Weeks pairing works, we have to see these two, as well as this entire team, take on a true test first....but right now, they're looking solid as a tandem.

3. DEUCE GERALDS

4 TACKLES

4 QB PRESSURES

1 SACK

1 TFL

1 FORCED FUMBLE

During his dictatorial debut vs Clemson, Deuce Geralds' stats didn't really reveal his true impact & disruption, which is usually the case for any defensive tackle....however, last Saturday night, Geralds went off in an all-action showcase of his greatest powers:

Only moments into the game, Deuce sacked LA Tech QB Blake Baker on a key 3rd down, adding a tackle for loss, before preparing to chase Baker from one side of the backfield to the other over the next 45-50 minutes....his 4 QB pressures ranking only 2nd to Princewill Umanmielen's 6 on the night.

But his best play???

When Geralds pursued a ball carrier, already locked up by safety Ty Benefield, and stripped the ball out of his hands, leading directly to safety Jhase Thomas' recovery.

Regardless of the fact Deuce Geralds is just a tender teenager and true freshman, #99 is performing like a well oiled veteran, making unselfish decisions at the line that free up space for others, sets up plays for teammates, or unlike many traditional defensive tackles, load up his own box score.

Right now, we're witnessing history....

2. TREY'DEZ GREEN

104 RECEIVING YARDS

6 CATCHES

9 TARGETS

1 RECEIVING TD

7 RUSHING YARDS

2 CARRIES

Leaving it all out there on the field as he ran over / through numerous LA Tech defenders for one 1st down after another, fighting off tackles, breaking through the grasp of opponents time and time again, it's almost unthinkable Green was only fed the ball 9 times through the air & 2 times on the ground as a running back.

Making the game look effortless and easy, while also displaying all the grit and toughness to fight for a critical 1st down after getting knocked back 3 or 4 yards, Trey'Dez physically punished every single defender willing to attempt a tackle, plus, Green additionally made routine yards after catch plays now a firm part of his repertoire...cooking & wearing down defenders over the middle & shallow areas of the field.

Finally, it was wild how Green was featured in the running game, taking direct snaps in the backfield & smashing through defenders before falling forward for an automatic 3 yards, no matter what.

It may become an almost Tush Push-esque playcall after delivering a hardnosed 1st down in short yardage.

1. PRINCEWILL UMANMIELEN

6 QB PRESSURES

5 TACKLES

4 TFLs

3 SACKS

Notching a hat trick of sacks in just his 2nd game at LSU, defensive end Princewill Umanmielen now leads the country in that category (5) as well as ranking #1 concerning tackles for loss (6.5), and has produced a team-leading 10 QB pressures alongside 11 tackles (leading the team in stops vs Clemson), the former leading sack artist at Ole Miss is now doing the same at LSU...only this time at a much higher rate:

Celebrated for his 9 sacks last season, Princewill already has 5 after just 2 games wearing purple and gold, and even if his form drops considerably, he is still on pace to break Arden Key's program record of 12 sacks.

Not only is Princewill the best pass rusher in the country, and possesses the potential to become the best we've seen rush the backfield at LSU in at least a decade, Umanmielen is, above all else, an incredible all around defender.

Utilizing his outrageous wingspan length to shut down passing lanes or catch fleeing quarterbacks by the toes, while his general reading of the game is also elite, he's rarely in the wrong place; his tackling is extremely strong, Umanmielen is stout vs the run, and next up on Saturday night, we'll get to see how well he can set the edge & contain his former teammate, dual threat QB Trinidad Chambliss.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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