ESPN names under-the-radar player for LSU entering 2026 season
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The LSU Tigers are entering a bold new era under head coach Lane Kiffin.
The Tigers have spent a ton of money on the 2026 roster, so the pressure to produce results will be intense and immediate. Nearly every position group on the field has received reinforcements.
Of course, there are high-profile additions like QB Sam Leavitt, who comes to Baton Rouge from Arizona State. But there are also some guys flying under the radar.
On Wednesday, ESPN released its list of under-the-radar players for each of the top 25 teams, and analyst Andrea Adelson picked safety Ty Benefield as LSU’s representative:
Under-the-radar player: S Ty Benefield. Granted, Benefield was among the top additions Lane Kiffin made through the portal, but he did not generate as much buzz as Sam Leavitt or Princewill Umanmielen. Early in spring, Kiffin praised Benefield as having an “ultra-elite” skill set and mindset, and that should serve him well as he makes the transition to the Power 4 level. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound safety from Boise State started 33 games for the Broncos — including 28 straight — and was the first defensive player to commit to Kiffin out of the portal. LSU has several holes to fill in the defensive backfield, so his addition is huge for a unit looking for experience and consistency.
Benefield joins a defensive backfield that features budding star DJ Pickett. Kiffin managed to keep DC Blake Baker on his first LSU staff, too, which was huge. Now we’ll see if the LSU defense can become an elite unit in 2026.
Will LSU surprise some people and win an SEC championship in 2026? Kalshi gives the Tigers an 11% chance:
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Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
