LSU fans are eager to see what starting quarterback Sam Leavitt can do this season, and coach Lane Kiffin’s latest comments about the former Big 12 Freshman of the Year will only add to the anticipation.
The Tigers’ defense has been ahead of the offense for much of preseason camp, but Kiffin said Thursday he’s encouraged by the progress he’s seeing from Leavitt and the offense.
“Sam has been awesome, and I don’t say that very often,” Kiffin said. “He made two throws back-to-back today that I call ‘adult throws,’ throws that not many people in the country can make. So really pleased with him, and now we’ve got to make more plays around him.”
That last comment is notable. Kiffin appears to be challenging LSU’s skill-position players to match the level of execution Leavitt is showing.
Leavitt didn’t get much of an opportunity to show what he could do during the spring. He was limited while recovering from the Lisfranc injury that ended his 2025 season and required surgery.
“Going through spring, where he couldn’t really push off and move around, that’s hard to throw and be in rhythm,” Kiffin said. “Now you see all these things. Soit’s like they’re new. We’d seen them on film, and then they were gone, and then they came back. And it’s just been great.”
Leavitt isn’t the only player who has caught Kiffin’s attention during preseason camp.
Umanmielen making an impact
Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen has been a disruptive force for LSU. The 6-foot-4 senior from Austin, Texas, finished third in the SEC with nine sacks at Ole Miss last season before following Kiffin to Baton Rouge.
Kiffin said Umanmielen’s ability to get to the quarterback has stood out.
“Especially in the ability to catch the quarterback, which I think is very important nowadays, not just being good rushers,” Kiffin said. “I feel more people have turned to athletic quarterbacks in college football, and a big part of third down is, can you get there and get them down?”
McKinley responding to Kiffin’s challenge
Former five-star recruit Dominick McKinley is another defensive lineman who has made significant progress during camp.
The junior from Acadiana High School in Scott struggled to meet Kiffin’s expectations during the spring, but the coach said McKinley has responded to that challenge.
“Dom’s had a really good camp,” Kiffin said. “Really kind of challenged him at spring. Didn’t really have a good spring, in my opinion, of what he should for his size and his ability, and really has stepped up, especially in the last probably week and a half. And it’s been great to see. He’srun with our ones and done a really good job.”
Gage emerging in crowded running back room
Kiffin also singled out running back Stacy Gage, a transfer from UCF, for his performance during camp.
LSU has plenty of depth at running back, with Dillon Jones and Harlem Berry among the top options. Kiffin’s comments suggest Gage has also put himself firmly into the competition for playing time, potentially moving ahead of Caden Durham.
“Stacy’s done really well. He’s had a really good camp,” Kiffin said. “Really done things well for kind of not a marquee name coming in, and that’s how we do it. We just open it up and evaluate guys from scratch regardless of what they’ve done before, so we’re pleased with him and he’s gotten reps to show that.”
While LSU appears to have plenty of options at running back, Kiffin remains concerned about depth along the offensive line.
The Tigers have settled on a starting five of Jordan Seaton at left tackle, Bo Bordelon at left guard, Braelin Moore at center, Aliou Bah at right guard and Weston Davis at right tackle.
William Satterwhite II, a transfer from Tennessee, and Sean Thompkins, a transfer from Baylor, are among the key backups. But Kiffin is still waiting for some of the other offensive linemen LSU brought in through the transfer portal to emerge.
With the season opener against Clemson about two weeks away, Kiffin appears increasingly comfortable with what he is seeing from several key pieces of his roster. The biggest question may be whether the rest of the offense can catch up to Leavitt before the Tigers take the field in Death Valley on September 5th.
