Offense
Lane Kiffin handpicked the quarterback he wanted and even got his future replacement via the transfer portal. Sam Leavitt comes to Baton Rouge from Arizona State where he helped the Sun Devils to the Big 12 Title and the College Football Playoff in 2024. He is coming off some injuries, but his dual threat ability will be utilized. USC transfer Husan Longstreet will wait his turn.
The running back room returns Hariem Berry and Caden Durham. Quite the job by Lane Kiffin to retain them. The additions of Stacy Gage (UCF), Dilin Jones (Wisconsin), and Raycine Guillory Jr. (Utah) provide solid depth to this unit. Expect production to increase with the rushing attack.
The wide receiver room is very transfer heavy. The return of 6-foot-7 tight end Trey’Dez Green (All-SEC) is a dream come true. The additions of Winston Watkins Jr. (Ole Miss), Roman Mothershed (Troy), Eugene Wilson III (Florida), Tre Brown III (Old Dominion), Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Jackson Harris (Hawai’i, All-MWC), Josh Jackson (McNeese), Tyree Holloway (West Florida), and Malik Elzy (Illinois) are crucial to this team’s success.
The offensive line room returns two starters in Braelin Moore and Weston Davis. The additions of Aliou Bah (Maryland), Jordan Seaton (Colorado, All-Big 12), Devin Harper (Ole Miss), Darrin Strey (Kentucky), William Satterwhite II (Tennessee), Ja’Mard Jones Jr. (Nicholls), Sean Thompkins (Baylor), and Ja’Quan Sprinkle (North Carolina Central) are key to this unit’s success.
Defense
The defensive line returns some experience in Dominick McKinley and Dylan Carpenter. The additions of Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss), Jordan Ross (Tennessee), Jaylen Brown (South Carolina), Stephiylan Green (Clemson), Malik Blocton (Auburn), and Achilles Woods (South Alabama), along with multiple 5-star and 4-star true freshmen, make this a very solid unit.
The linebacker room returns experience in Whit Weeks (former All-American), Davhon Keys, and Tylen Singleton. Watch out for redshirt freshman Zach Weeks. The addition of TJ Dottery (Ole Miss) provides another very productive player to this unit. Whit Weeks is returning from an injury and should return to his All-American form.
The secondary returns experience in Tamarcus Cooley, Deshawn Spears, DJ Pickett, and PJ Woodland, among others. The additions of Mason Dossett (Baylor), Faheem Delane (Ohio State), Ty Benefield (Boise State, All-MWC), and Treylan Jams (Southern) are absolutely massive for this unit.
Specialists
The punting duties will belong to Grant Chadwick, one of the best in the SEC and all of college football. Arkansas transfer Scott Starzyk should handle the kicking role. He was on the SEC’s All-Freshman team last season.
2026 Schedule
- 9/5 Clemson
- 9/12 Louisiana Tech
- 9/19 at Ole Miss
- 9/26 Texas A&M
- 10/3 McNeese
- 10/10 at Kentucky
- 10/17 Mississippi State
- 10/24 at Auburn
- 11/7 Alabama
- 11/14 Texas
- 11/21 at Tennessee
- 11/28 at Arkansas
Final Analysis
Lane Kiffin has assembled a great staff, and the best roster money can buy. He knows it will take a ton of work to build this roster up and for it to gel. The schedule is a gauntlet, but this team has been built for this. An argument can be made if this team goes 9-3 that they should make the College Football Playoff. The schedule is that tough.
