LSU returned to the practice field Tuesday evening with the season opener against Clemson drawing closer, and several themes that have developed throughout fall camp continued to take shape.

Mike Scarborough and Buddy Songy of TigerBait were on hand for the open portion of Tuesday night’s workout and came away particularly impressed with LSU’s wide receivers. They also saw Sam Leavitt continue to show why his mobility could change the LSU offense, while the Tigers worked extensively on creating turnovers on defense.

There were some injury concerns. Harlem Berry remained limited and worked off to the side, while wide receiver Malik Elzy was not observed participating. But the larger picture from Tuesday’s practice was encouraging. LSU appears to have legitimate weapons throughout its passing game, and two true freshmen continue to make a serious push in the middle of the defense.

LSU’s Wide Receiver Room Looks Loaded

The strongest statement from the TigerBait practice report concerned LSU’s receivers.

Songy called the group “absolutely loaded,” and the talent was apparent during the passing work reporters were allowed to observe.

Tre Wilson drew particular praise for how smooth he looked. Jackson Harris continued to show the ability that made him one of the most dangerous deep threats in the Mountain West last season. Winnie Watkins was also mentioned positively after dealing with some physical limitations earlier in camp, while Corey Barber and Louisiana freshman Jabari Mack continued to show their potential.

Harris is especially intriguing because there is already a season of college production behind the hype.

At Hawaii in 2025, Harris caught 49 passes for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 19.65 yards per reception, which led the Mountain West, and earned first team All Mountain West honors. His 12 touchdown catches also led the conference.

That is not simply a possession receiver joining LSU’s roster. Harris has demonstrated that he can change a game vertically.

The larger question may be how LSU distributes the football among so many options. Jayce Brown, Wilson, Harris, Elzy, Watkins, Barber and Mack give the Tigers an unusually deep collection of receivers, while tight end Trey’Dez Green creates another major matchup problem.

Based on what Scarborough and Songy saw Tuesday night, catching the football does not appear to be one of LSU’s major concerns.

Sam Leavitt’s Mobility Could Change the Offense

The discussion then shifted to quarterback Sam Leavitt and one of the most important differences he brings to LSU’s offense.

He can run.

That matters even more after LSU’s first major scrimmage, when Lane Kiffin acknowledged that the first team defense generated pressure and forced the offense to work through some difficult situations.

Leavitt’s ability to escape pressure gives LSU an answer when protection breaks down. Instead of a failed play automatically becoming a sack or throwaway, Leavitt can leave the pocket and force defenders to account for him as a runner.

Scarborough and Songy both liked what they saw from Leavitt during Tuesday’s practice.

His mobility also gives Kiffin another tool when designing the offense. LSU does not necessarily need to turn Leavitt into a high volume runner. Simply forcing defenses to respect the possibility changes how linebackers and defensive ends can attack.

That can become especially valuable if LSU’s offensive line remains a work in progress.

Kiffin Has Answers for Pressure

One of the more interesting points from the TigerBait discussion involved how Kiffin can compensate when opponents generate pressure.

The answer does not always have to be better pass protection.

Sometimes it can be play calling.

If defenses become overly aggressive attacking Leavitt, LSU has players capable of turning short passes into explosive plays. Trey’Dez Green immediately comes to mind because of his unusual size and receiving ability. The running backs can also become weapons on screens and quick throws.

That is where Kiffin’s reputation as an offensive play caller becomes important.

An aggressive pass rush can create sacks. It can also create opportunities behind the rush if LSU gets the football into space quickly enough.

With the receivers LSU has assembled and a quarterback capable of extending plays with his legs, defenses may have to think twice before simply attacking every snap.

Harlem Berry Still Limited

Not everything Tuesday was positive.

Berry remained limited and was seen working with ropes off to the side near the exercise bikes rather than participating fully in the observed practice work.

That continues a recent stretch in which the talented running back has been less than 100 percent.

The important thing is not to overstate what that means. Neither the observed practice period nor the TigerBait report established a specific diagnosis or timetable. Until LSU provides more information, Berry should simply be considered limited.

That is worth watching because Kiffin praised Berry following the recent scrimmage. He said Berry had begun running more physically and broke a long touchdown run.

LSU has enough running back depth that there is little reason to rush him during August. Dilin Jones and Caden Durham provide experienced options, and the Tigers have other backs competing for work.

Berry’s explosiveness, however, gives LSU something special when he is healthy.

Malik Elzy Not Seen Tuesday

Elzy was another notable absence during the observed portion of practice.

The TigerBait report indicated that he was not seen participating Tuesday evening. As with Berry, that observation should not be turned into a diagnosis. An absence from an open media period can happen for a number of reasons, and LSU has not publicly established the cause based on the information available.

It is still worth monitoring because Elzy has been part of LSU’s receiver rotation throughout camp.

The encouraging part for LSU is its depth.

Even without Elzy participating in the observed work, Scarborough and Songy came away raving about the receivers.

That says plenty about how many options LSU has accumulated.

Corey Barber and Jabari Mack Keep Showing Potential

The veterans and transfers are receiving much of the attention, but LSU’s young receivers continue to make themselves difficult to ignore.

Scarborough specifically mentioned how far Corey Barber has come, while Songy highlighted Jabari Mack as a young Louisiana receiver with a bright future.

Barber is a true freshman who has already received opportunities with LSU’s quarterbacks during fall camp. Mack is another member of a freshman class that gives the Tigers significant long term potential at receiver.

Neither needs to become LSU’s primary target this season.

That is the luxury.

LSU can develop its freshmen without asking them to carry the passing game immediately. If one of them proves ready ahead of schedule, Kiffin has another weapon available.

LSU Is Practicing How to Take the Football Away

The most interesting defensive observation Tuesday may have been one of the simplest.

LSU spent significant time practicing how to strip the football.

Scarborough and Songy watched defensive players work specifically on forcing fumbles and then recovering them. It was not merely a generic tackling drill. The Tigers were practicing the mechanics of attacking the football.

That emphasis makes sense.

Creating turnovers is partly about opportunity, but defenses can improve their chances through technique. Defenders have to know when to attack the football, how to secure the tackle while doing it and how to react once the ball is loose.

A forced fumble means very little if the offense recovers it.

LSU is working on both parts.

For Blake Baker’s defense, creating more takeaways could become one of the easiest ways to make a significant jump in 2026.

Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson Continue to Make Noise

The biggest defensive storyline of LSU’s fall camp may be happening in the middle of the line.

True freshmen Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson continue to push for major roles.

Scarborough and Songy went further Tuesday, predicting that Geralds and Anderson could become LSU’s starting defensive tackles when the Tigers open the season against Clemson.

That should be clearly identified as their projection rather than an official LSU depth chart decision.

But the possibility is no longer far fetched.

Both freshmen have received significant work with LSU’s top defensive group during camp. Their emergence has been one of the most consistent stories coming out of practice.

And these are not undersized freshmen being forced onto the field because LSU has no alternatives.

Anderson is listed by LSU at 6 feet 3 and 339 pounds. Geralds is listed at 6 feet 1 and 279 pounds. Both were highly regarded recruits, and both arrived with the physical ability to compete much earlier than most defensive tackles.

LSU’s official roster lists Anderson as No. 88 and Geralds as No. 99.

If they eventually start together, LSU would be putting an extraordinary amount of responsibility on two players who were in high school less than a year ago.

The talent is obvious.

The question is how quickly that talent becomes dependable SEC production.

The Freshman Defensive Tackle Story Is Getting Serious

Earlier in camp, the idea of Geralds and Anderson playing immediately sounded like an interesting August storyline.

It is becoming something more.

Multiple practice reports have documented the freshmen working with LSU’s top defensive personnel. Kiffin has previously praised their development, and their continued presence with the first group suggests this is not simply a motivational experiment.

That does not guarantee either player starts against Clemson.

LSU still has experienced defensive tackles on the roster, including Dominick McKinley, Shone Washington and Stephiylan Green. The rotation can also change considerably between now and opening night.

But Geralds and Anderson have apparently done enough to make the competition real.

For LSU, that is both exciting and a little frightening.

Starting two true freshmen in the middle of an SEC defensive line would create obvious concerns about experience. It would also mean those freshmen were talented enough to beat out older players for the opportunity.

Tuesday Reinforced What LSU Is Becoming

The open portion of practice does not provide enough information to declare winners and losers, and LSU is still keeping the most important team periods away from public view.

But Tuesday offered more evidence about the identity of this team.

LSU has weapons.

The receiver room may be one of the deepest position groups on the roster. Harris brings proven big play production. Wilson has impressed observers with his smoothness. Watkins is another dangerous option, while Barber and Mack give the Tigers young talent developing behind the veterans.

Leavitt changes the quarterback position because defenses must account for his legs. That mobility could become especially important if LSU continues to experience pressure against its first team defense.

On the other side of the football, Baker is emphasizing takeaways rather than simply hoping they happen. And the development of Geralds and Anderson has moved beyond freshman hype. Both are legitimately competing for important roles.

There are still questions.

Berry needs to get healthy. Elzy’s status bears watching. The offensive line has to prove it can protect Leavitt consistently, and LSU may be preparing to depend heavily on freshmen at one of the most physically demanding positions on the field.

But the pieces are becoming easier to see.

LSU has speed outside, a quarterback who can create when plays break down, an offensive coach who understands how to punish pressure and a defense that appears increasingly focused on attacking the football.

Tuesday night did not answer every question about the 2026 Tigers.

It provided a few more reasons to be excited about the answers that are beginning to emerge.

Sources

TigerBait, Mike Scarborough and Buddy Songy, “LSU Practice Report: What We Saw at Tuesday Night’s Tigers Workout,” August 18, 2026
https://youtu.be/FxHLRAM33aU

LSU Athletics, 2026 LSU Football roster
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/season/2026

LSU Athletics, Jackson Harris biography and career statistics
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/jackson-harris

University of Hawaii Athletics, Jackson Harris biography and 2025 statistics
https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-harris/22026

LSU Athletics, 2026 LSU Football Media Guide
https://static.lsusports.net/assets/docs/fb/pdf/26guide.pdf