Ranking the top 5 most important players for LSU in 2026
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The air in Baton Rouge feels different this spring. Yes, there’s still the unbearable humidity and the scent of crawfish boils wafting from the tailgating lots, but it’s also the palpable energy building toward Lane Kiffin‘s debut with the LSU Tigers. After a major shift in the SEC landscape that saw Kiffin trade the Grove for the Bayou, the Portal King has wasted no time remodeling the LSU roster in his image.
With 40 transfer additions and a complete philosophical overhaul, the 2026 LSU Tigers are the most fascinating experiment in college football. But for this first year to be more than just a social media circus, a few specific names have to deliver on the field. LSU moved on from the Brian Kelly era because it wanted a higher ceiling. To reach it, these 5 players must be the pillars of the Kiffin revolution.
5. Whit Weeks, LB
While Kiffin’s arrival is largely heralded for the offensive fireworks he brings, you cannot survive a Saturday night in the SEC without a linebacker who can erase mistakes. Whit Weeks returns as the undeniable leader of a defense that has undergone significant surgery.
Weeks is the “glue guy” in a room filled with new faces like Ole Miss transfer Princewill Umanmielen. Last season, Weeks proved he could go sideline-to-sideline with the best of them before injuries cut his year short, but in 2026, his importance triples. Kiffin’s up-tempo offense often puts the defense back on the field quickly, requiring a linebacker with elite conditioning and the high-IQ ability to adjust the front 7 on the fly. If Weeks isn’t playing at an All-SEC level, the middle of the field will be a weakness for the Tigers.
- Why he’s vital: He provides the continuity needed to blend 40 newcomers into a cohesive unit.
- Key Stat: Needs to improve on his 8.0 tackles for loss from last year to keep LSU’s defense aggressive.
4. Trey’Dez Green, TE
If there is one thing Lane Kiffin loves more than a viral tweet, it’s a physical mismatch. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, Trey’Dez Green is exactly that. Green emerged as a breakout star in 2025, leading the Tigers with 7 touchdown receptions, and he is projected to be perhaps the most targeted weapon in this new-look passing game.
Kiffin’s offense excels at creating 1-on-1 opportunities, and there isn’t a safety or nickel corner in the country who can comfortably body Green in the end zone. He the safety valve of all safety valves for LSU’s new QB (who, spoiler alert, I’ll mention here in a bit). If Green can level up to All-American status, the LSU offense becomes nearly impossible to scheme against.
- Why he’s vital: He takes the pressure off a revamped wide receiver room that saw double-digit departures to the NFL and portal.
- Key Stat: Green’s 6-foot-7 frame makes him the primary target for a team that struggled with red-zone efficiency last year.
Will LSU make it to the Playoff in Kiffin’s first year at the helm? Kalshi gives the Tigers a 45% chance to make the field of 12:
3. Harlem Berry, RB
Kiffin has never met a running back he couldn’t turn into a superstar, and despite failing to convince Kewan Lacy to join him in Baton Rouge, he still has Harlem Berry. The former 5-star recruit flashed brilliance as a freshman, totaling nearly 500 yards in a limited role, but 2026 is his time to potentially be the bell cow.
In the Kiffin system, the run game sets up the vertical shots. Berry’s ability to turn a 3-yard cloud of dust into a 60-yard house call is what makes the offense go. With a stable of backs behind him — including Caden Durham and Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones — Berry doesn’t have to carry the ball 30 times a game, but he does have to be the most explosive player on the field every time he touches it.
Berry will also benefit greatly from the next player on our list…
- Why he’s vital: A reliable, explosive run game is a quarterback’s best friend.
- The Kiffin Effect: Look for Berry to be used heavily in the screen game to exploit his speed in space.
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2. Jordan Seaton, OT
You can have all the skill players in the world, but if your quarterback is staring at the sky every third down, it won’t matter. Landing Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 offensive lineman in the transfer portal, was the biggest win of the offseason for the LSU staff.
Seaton is a massive talent at tackle, possessing the rare combination of size and light feet. He is tasked with protecting the most valuable asset in Baton Rouge (Second Spoiler Alert: more on him in a second). Transitioning from Colorado to the SEC trenches is a big jump in weekly physicality, but Seaton has the pedigree to handle it. If Seaton locks down the left side, the playbook remains wide open. If he struggles, the Kiffin offense could struggle, especially early in the season.
- Why he’s vital: LSU’s offensive line lost significant veteran leadership; Seaton has to be the new cornerstone immediately.
- The Mission: Keep the pocket clean for a quarterback coming off a major lower-body injury.
1. Sam Leavitt, QB
There was never any doubt about who would occupy the top spot. When Kiffin secured Sam Leavitt as the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal, he found the face of the program for his first year in Baton Rouge. Leavitt’s talent is undeniable — he led Arizona State to the CFP in 2024, after all — but the question marks are just as large.
Leavitt is coming off a 2025 season that was cut short by a serious foot injury requiring surgery. His recovery is the most-watched storyline in Louisiana. For Kiffin’s system to work, the quarterback must be a point guard: quick decisions, accurate deep balls, and the ability to extend plays with his feet. If Leavitt returns to his pre-injury form, LSU is a Playoff contender. If the foot hampers his mobility or the chemistry isn’t there, the ceiling for 2026 drops significantly.
Everything in Baton Rouge rests on Leavitt’s shoulders.
- Why he’s vital: He is the engine of the team. In the modern SEC, you are only as good as your signal-caller.
- The Bottom Line: As Sam Leavitt goes, so go the Tigers.
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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.
