LSU’s new coaching staff and celebrated transfer class have brought optimism, but now it’s time for the dirty work. With Spring camp starting on March 24th, we’ll soon get a glimpse of LSU’s most intriguing position battles.
There’s no shortage of competition when a combined 58 scholarship players are added from the transfer and high school ranks. We eventually whittled the list down to three positions that are both critical to the season and exciting to talk about. Keep in mind that sometimes the most important positions, like offensive line, aren’t the most captivating from an entertainment standpoint. On that note, let’s dig into the battles.
LSU Position Battles
The Team’s Most Popular Player
The popularity of the backup quarterback is a common running joke, as every starting quarterback will inevitably struggle at some point. Regardless of how incoming transfer and presumed starter Sam Leavitt performs this season, he won’t be available to fully participate this Spring. His injury recovery has created a great opportunity for fellow quarterbacks Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet to get more practice reps.
Longstreet went to USC as a very highly regarded true freshman in 2025. The former five-star threw only 15 passes last season while playing behind established starter Jayden Maiava. But he was accurate and efficient in completing 87 percent of his throws in limited action.
Longstreet’s arm talent surpasses his six-foot frame, flashing one of the strongest arms in the 2025 class. He’s also a dynamic runner, which makes him an ideal fit in a Lane Kiffin-led offense. ESPN analyst and former NFL scout Louis Riddick described Longstreet as “legit crazy talented”. In one of the bigger surprises of the quarterback cycle, the California native has taken his talent from one quarterback whisperer in Lincoln Riley to another in Kiffin.
Elon’s Landen Clark wasn’t a five-star recruit and didn’t have his choice of blue-blood programs to attend out of high school. That changed after passing for over 2300 yards to go along with 600 yards rushing as a freshman. Clark chose LSU over Michigan. He’s similar to Longstreet in size but obviously holds the edge in experience. Clark was surprisingly good at pre-snap reads as a freshman and very effective in pushing the ball down the field. We think Clark could be one of the biggest surprises of Spring practice, and this position battle will be the most fun to watch.
Who Catches on at Wide Receiver?
LSU’s wide receiver position battle could be the fiercest competition. The Tigers added nine transfers and three high school receiver recruits to their roster in 2026. In a completely revamped room, redshirt freshman Phillip Wright is the only returning receiver from 2025.
Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown is the safest bet to start. The versatile threat can excel on the outside or in the slot, and he averaged 44 catches over the past two seasons. We expect Jackson Harris of Hawaii to emerge as a key player on the outside. The 6’-3”, 202-pound rising junior excels at using his body in traffic and averaged roughly 20 yards per catch in 2025.
Old Dominion’s Tre Brown is an explosive receiver who made spectacular catches look routine. He could make a significant impact, but Roman Mothershead of Troy is our wild card on the outside. Mothershead is the tallest receiver on the roster at 6’-5”, but he’s shown surprising acceleration considering his height. True freshman Jabari Mack and McNeese transfer Josh Jackson will also figure into the competition as outside receivers.
Kiffin has multiple explosive slot options, and Florida’s Eugene Wilson will battle it out with Winston Watkins, who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU. Wilson’s versatility adds to his value as an offensive weapon, but we think Watkins is the more well-rounded receiver. Tyree Holloway transferred from West Florida, and his speed could help him earn opportunities as a downfield threat.
Life on the Edge
LSU aggressively addressed the edge of its defensive line, as the entire group combined for only eight sacks in 2025. Kiffin brought the top-ranked edge defender in the portal, Princewill Umanmielen, from Ole Miss. His 2025 sack total alone surpassed the whole group of LSU’s defensive ends last season. The Tigers also added former five-star Jordan Ross from the University of Tennessee. Ross made the All-Freshman SEC team but is still working towards his breakout season.
Nothing is promised to the newcomers, as former Evangel star Gabe Reliford is set to return after an injury-shortened sophomore season. Reliford flashed an impressive burst off the edge that separated him from his teammates at the position last season. Local product Dylan Carpenter will also return, but Damien Shanklin was productive in limited action with two sacks last year.
South Alabama’s Achilles Woods and South Carolina’s Jaylen Brown are out to prove they’re more than mere depth pieces. Brown is an imposing player at 6’-6” and 270 pounds, but was injured for the 2025 season. This group is deeper and more explosive than what LSU had last year. We expect the edge talent to make Blake Baker’s life easier, allowing the defense to create more pressure with the front four.
Main Image: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
