Lane Kiffin’s first fall camp at LSU is beginning to take shape. After using the opening week to install schemes and gradually increase the workload, LSU turned up the physicality during Week 2 and held its first practice in full pads on Wednesday. The Tigers practiced in shells Friday and are scheduled for their first major scrimmage Saturday, when Kiffin and his staff should get their best evaluation yet of a roster filled with new faces.

The clock is already ticking toward a huge opening night. LSU hosts Clemson on September 5 in Tiger Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC, with ESPN College GameDay coming to Baton Rouge. That gives the Tigers three weeks to turn an impressive collection of talent into a team capable of winning immediately.

Sam Leavitt Looks Healthy and Sharp

Perhaps nothing matters more to LSU’s 2026 season than the health and performance of Sam Leavitt, and the news from camp has been encouraging. The Arizona State transfer entered LSU recovering from the foot injury that required additional surgery and limited what he could do during the spring.

Leavitt said this week that the injury is no longer something he thinks about while playing and that he considers himself fully healthy. That is significant for a quarterback whose mobility is an important part of his game.

More importantly, Leavitt has looked sharp throwing the football. During an early camp viewing period, he completed 13 of 15 passes. In another practice, observers saw him complete roughly a dozen consecutive throws without an incompletion. His timing and chemistry with tight end Trey’Dez Green have also drawn attention during Week 2.

Kiffin has been pleased with what he has seen from his quarterback, particularly his accuracy, timing and command of the offense. After an offseason in which Leavitt’s health was one of LSU’s biggest questions, the concern has shifted toward how quickly he can master Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s system. So far, the answer looks promising.

Dilin Jones Keeps Making His Case

One of the best stories of LSU’s offseason continues to be Dilin Jones. The Wisconsin transfer impressed Kiffin during spring practice and has carried that momentum into August.

Jones has looked physical in running back drills, and his ability in pass protection continues to stand out. During Friday’s practice, the running backs spent significant time working on blitz pickup, and Jones again drew positive attention for his technique and physicality.

Jones should not yet be called LSU’s starting running back. There has been no official announcement that he has moved ahead of Caden Durham or Harlem Berry, and the evidence available from limited media viewing does not justify declaring a winner.

What can be said is that Jones has forced himself into a serious three man competition. Durham brings proven SEC production, Berry brings exceptional speed and Jones provides a physical presence with experience as a Big Ten starter. Jones also offers the pass protection ability that can keep a running back on the field in almost any situation.

That competition could continue well into the season. Rather than having a problem at running back, LSU appears to have three legitimate options.

Freshman Defensive Tackles Are Forcing Their Way Onto the Field

Perhaps the biggest surprise of camp has come in the middle of LSU’s defensive line. True freshmen Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson have repeatedly worked with the first unit during periods open to reporters.

That continued into Week 2, although Friday brought an interesting development when veteran defensive tackle Dominick McKinley also worked with the first group. Geralds arrived at LSU with a head start after participating in spring practice, while Anderson has made an especially rapid impression since arriving.

The important point is that neither freshman appears to be receiving ceremonial repetitions. They have consistently appeared with the top defensive group during media viewing periods, putting both squarely in the competition for meaningful snaps against Clemson.

That is an encouraging development for LSU’s future, although relying heavily on true freshmen against a major opponent also comes with obvious risk. Talent is not the question. Experience is.

LSU Has Talent Coming Off the Edge

The edge group has also been worth watching. Princewill Umanmielen gives LSU a veteran presence with the size and athletic ability to become a major part of Blake Baker’s defense. Jordan Ross has also worked prominently with the group, while freshman Lamar Brown has generated significant attention because of how physically prepared he looks for college football.

Brown’s development has been one of the more intriguing stories of camp. Coaches have continued giving him substantial work, and reports from practice have consistently noted his effort, physical ability and improvement.

LSU does not need Brown to become an immediate star. If he can contribute meaningful snaps as a freshman while Umanmielen and the older players handle the bulk of the workload, LSU suddenly has considerably more flexibility on the edge.

The Safety Competition Looks Different Than Expected

The most consistent first unit safety combination observed during camp has featured Ty Benefield and Faheem Delane. Delane has repeatedly worked with the top group and has been praised for his fundamentals, while Benefield has continued to show the physical traits that made him an important addition from Boise State.

Tamarcus Cooley remains a significant part of the competition and has also shown encouraging signs during camp. Rather than being a clear two player race, LSU appears to have useful depth and several combinations available to Baker.

That is particularly important for a defense that will face sophisticated passing attacks throughout the SEC schedule. LSU needs more than two dependable safeties, and the early evidence suggests the Tigers may have them.

Jordan Seaton Looks Like the Real Deal

Few LSU newcomers arrived with greater expectations than Jordan Seaton, and nothing from fall camp has lowered them. The Colorado transfer has established himself at left tackle and has repeatedly impressed observers with his combination of size, movement and athletic ability.

During LSU’s first practice in full pads, Seaton again stood out during offensive line work. The larger question remains the four positions around him, as LSU rebuilt much of its offensive line during the offseason and the staff continues evaluating combinations in search of the best five.

Seaton is the piece LSU appears least concerned about. That matters because protecting Leavitt’s blind side will be critical to everything Kiffin wants to do offensively.

Wide Receiver Remains Crowded

LSU’s wide receiver room may take longer to sort out. Jayce Brown has generated positive attention during camp and remains one of the experienced options in a room that underwent major offseason changes.

Tre Brown, Tre Wilson, Jackson Harris, Winnie Watkins, Tyree Holloway and others give LSU a large collection of possibilities. With so many new receivers learning a new offense alongside a new quarterback, the competition may not produce a simple depth chart immediately.

Kiffin and Weis have enough different skill sets available that roles could ultimately matter more than whether a player is technically listed first or second. The next few weeks should provide a much clearer picture of which receivers Leavitt trusts most when the offense begins operating in more competitive situations.

Whit Weeks Is Back in the Middle of It

Whit Weeks remains one of the most important returning pieces of LSU’s defense. After dealing with limitations during the spring, Weeks has been active during fall camp and has continued working prominently with the linebackers.

During the first full pads practice, Weeks and TJ Dottery again looked like central pieces of Baker’s linebacker group. A healthy Weeks changes the personality of LSU’s defense because his experience, instincts and aggressive style give a young defensive front an established player behind it.

LSU has added an enormous amount of talent through recruiting and the transfer portal, but Weeks remains one of the players most capable of giving the defense continuity and leadership. His presence becomes even more important if Geralds, Anderson and other young defenders earn significant playing time.

Kiffin Is Surprisingly Pleased

Perhaps the most interesting development of Week 2 has been Kiffin’s assessment of the entire team. Kiffin is not known for handing out meaningless praise during camp, yet he has acknowledged being unusually pleased with where LSU stands at this stage.

That optimism comes with an important qualification. LSU still has significant work ahead in physicality, execution and developing chemistry among a roster with a large number of newcomers. That is why Saturday’s scrimmage matters.

Much of what reporters have seen so far has come from individual drills and short practice windows. Those periods can reveal who is working with which group, how players move and who appears to be developing, but they cannot replicate live football. Saturday should give Kiffin and his staff a much better idea of what they actually have.

Week 3 Should Bring More Answers

The first two weeks have produced plenty of encouraging signs. Leavitt appears healthy and increasingly comfortable. Jones has strengthened an already deep running back room. Geralds and Anderson have emerged much faster than most freshmen, while Seaton looks ready to anchor the offensive line. LSU’s defense also has intriguing competition at safety, linebacker and along the defensive front.

There are still questions to answer. The offensive line must settle around Seaton, LSU has to determine how to distribute touches among its running backs and receivers, and a young defensive front has to prove that practice success will translate when the hitting becomes real. Saturday’s scrimmage represents the next major test and should begin separating legitimate depth chart movement from the inevitable August practice buzz.

Three weeks from Saturday, Clemson walks into Tiger Stadium. By then, Kiffin needs the collection of talent LSU assembled during the offseason to look like a football team ready to win.