Who’s who; 2026 LSU Football roster

We are just hours away from kickoff between LSU and Clemson to open the 2026 season. The Lane Kiffin tenure is set to begin and the hype levels around the football program are as high as they've been since 2019.

With over 60 new players on the roster and only around 34% of their returning snaps, the Tigers have a lot of new faces. It will take some time to get used to who is wearing what number, but the goal of today is to present a quick guide and short breakdown of what to expect from each player.

I'll go number by number from #0 through #99. At the end of the season, we can look back at this and see how much changed based on today's expectations and how the year plays out.

Without further adieu, let's get started.

#0 Tamarcus Cooley – Entering his redshirt junior year, Cooley is in his second season at LSU. He'll be heavily involved in the safety rotation after starting all 13 games for Blake Baker in 2025 and playing 700+ snaps.

#1 Princewill Umanmielen – Transferring over from Ole Miss for his 5th season, the defensive end finished 3rd in the SEC with 9.0 sacks and 8th in tackles for loss with 13.0. He's the most likely candidate to lead the team in sacks.

#1 Jayce Brown – One of 10 wide receivers that LSU added in transfer portal and expected to be one of the most productive. He was a third-team All-Big12 in 2025 with 41 receptions for 712 yards and 5 touchdowns.

#2 Ty Benefield – Fully expected to be the next great member of the LSU secondary, Benefield transfers in from Boise St. He's played in 41 games at safety through his first 3 seasons, all with the Broncos. He very well could be a finalist for the Thorpe Award.

#2 Tre' Brown – 5th year wide receiver transferring in from Old Dominion who figures to be heavily involved in rotation. Spent his first 3 seasons in community college, then became third-team all conference in the Sun Belt with 13 starts that led to 38 receptions for 762 yards and 4 touchdowns.

#3 Eugene Wilson III – With potentially the most upside of any receiver on the team, Wilson transferred in after 3 years at Florida. After a freshman All-American year, he battled injuries in '24 and '25. If he stays healthy, he could lead the Tigers in receiving categories.

#4 Jackson Harris – Transferring in from Hawaii, Harris led the Mountain West in yards per reception with 19.65. He's a big play threat, something he did often in '25 with 12 touchdowns. Expect a lot of Harris on the outside.

#5 DJ Pickett – Played in all 13 games as a true freshman after arriving at LSU as a 5-star cornerback. Moves in to a full time starter role opposite of PJ Woodland.

#6 TJ Dottery – As a 5th year senior coming over from Ole Miss, Dottery adds another level of experience and leadership to a defense already full of it. He's a tackling machine, leading the SEC in tackles in 2025.

#6 Winston Watkins Jr – Another of the Ole Miss transfers and one that is extremely trusted by Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. That will likely lead to a lot of early playing time as the wide receiver rotation is figured out.

#7 Trey'Dez Green – In the conversation for best player on the roster, Green will be the focal point of the offense. He earned the #7 as the offensive playmaker and is set for a massive season that could set him up as a 1st round draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

#7 Whit Weeks – The heart and soul of the defense. After a season of a lingering ankle injury, Weeks looks to get back to his 2024 form in which he recorded 125 tackles. He's the quarterback of the defense and will wear the green dot helmet for communication with Blake Baker. He and Green are the first ever duo to be awarded #7.

#8 Husan Longstreet – Highly talented transfer from USC where he spent his freshman season as a former 5-star quarterback and one of the top in the 2025 class. He appears to be the future after Leavitt and is presumably the QB2.

#8 Ja'Keem Jackson – After spending his first two seasons at Florida, Jackson transferred over and is set to begin his second season with the Tigers. Although he appeared in 11 games in 2025, he only played 84 defensive snaps. He is one of the candidates to fill the nickel cornerback role.

#10 Sam Leavitt – After two seasons at Arizona St, one in which he led them to the playoff, Leavitt has the keys to the Kiffin/Weis Jr offense. He's dynamic, has a strong arm, and can run. Coming off of a Lisfranc injury that ended his 2025 season early, the hopes of a playoff run largely rely on the redshirt junior getting back to his 2024 form.

#10 Dashawn Spears – Although he had trouble seeing the field behind AJ Haulcy and Tamarcus Cooley as a sophomore last year, Spears made his impact felt when he got the opportunities. His 2 interception game against Florida included a pick-6. He is now set to be an every down starter at the STAR position.

#11 Landen Clark – As a redshirt sophomore, Clark comes over after two years at Elon. He was highly productive with 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns, but will likely sit back and learn FBS football. He could get some snaps as the QB3 against the lesser non-conference opponents.

#11 PJ Woodland – After blossoming as a sophomore in 2025, Woodland now becomes the top cornerback on the team heading in to the season. He ranked 8th in the SEC in passes defended a year ago and offers exceptional man-to-man coverage skills.

#12 Malachi Thomas – Transfer from Pittsburgh after playing two seasons and appearing in 26 games. He'll compete for time as one of the backup tight ends to Green.

#13 Faheem Delane – After spending his freshman season at Ohio St, Delane followed the lead of his brother, Mansoor, and transferred to LSU. He was a top 4-star safety in the 2025 class and is highly talented, but in a crowded safety room.

#13 Dilin Jones – After transferring from Wisconsin, Jones has seized control of the starting running back spot as the season gets underway. He'll concede some time to players like Harlem Berry and Caden Durham, but he didn't grab the attention of the coaching staff in both the spring and fall for no reason. He's extremely talented and came in as an under-the-radar signing due to his season being cut short by turf toe in 2025.

#15 Phillip Wright III – After redshirting as a freshman, Wright III is the only wide receiver that returned from last year's roster. He has made some highlight plays during fall camp and could find himself useful due to his blazing speed as a former track athlete.

#15 Jaiden Braker – With LSU deep at linebacker a year ago, Braker only appeared in 5 games as a true freshman. He's a talented 4-star, but will likely need to make his impact on special teams with the LB room re-loaded.

#17 Damien Shanklin – Back for his second season as a Tiger, Shanklin was a 4-star out of high school. He played sparingly, but made his impact against Southeastern Louisiana with 2 sacks. He was briefly away from the team during fall camp, but has since returned and has the chance to add depth to the defensive end position.

#19 Gabriel Reliford – After tearing his rotator cuff in the fifth game of the season a year ago, Reliford was expected to bounce back and be an important piece for the Tigers. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during spring camp and is in rehab. Reports and videos indicate that he is ahead of schedule and could possibly return for a potential playoff run.

#19 Kaden Martin – Son of Tee Martin, Kaden was added as a late transfer in May following the departure of Emile Picarella III. He's a 5th-year senior who transferred from Middle Tennessee, but is unlikely to see the field behind the three quarterbacks ahead of him.

#21 Michael Turner Jr – A third year cornerback in the LSU program. Played in 7 games a year ago, but still just limited time. With the position not being incredibly deep aside from the starters, Turner Jr may have opportunities as the season goes on.

#21 Cayden Jones – As a true freshman quarterback out of Denham Springs, Jones is unlikely to see the field at the bottom of the depth chart.

#22 Havon Finney Jr – A true freshman cornerback that was one of the top in his class. Finney Jr reclassified to the 2026 class, but was previously the #1 corner in the 2027 class. Reports indicate that he looked ahead of schedule in fall camp.

#22 Harlem Berry – The former 5-star #1 ranked running back in the 2025 class got more and more comfortable throughout his freshman season. Berry will be very active in Kiffin's RB rotation and has drawn comparisons to Reggie Bush for his athleticism.

#23 Stacy Gage – Spent two years at UCF before transferring to LSU, but was seldom used. His name started to pop up towards the end of fall camp, so it will be interesting to see just how much he can find the field behind the lead trio of running backs.

#23 Aidan Anding – Anding was a 4-star cornerback in the 2025 class and appeared in 8 games as a freshman, but tore his achilles in spring camp and is set to miss the entire season.

#24 Joseph Ebun – A fourth year running back in the LSU program, but has only made 1 appearance. He would need a lot of unexpected changes to see much time in 2026.

#24 Tylen Singleton – Back for his 3rd year with the Tigers, Singleton has improved over his first two years under Blake Baker. He played nearly 150 defensive snaps a year ago, but his impact comes on special teams.

#25 Rod Gainey Jr – Another transfer running back, this one is from Charlotte. He spent two years there and led the 49ers in rushing with 260 yards last year. He could be a candidate to contribute on special teams.

#25 Aiden Hall – Hailing from Edna Karr, Hall enters the program as a talented 4-star safety. Special teams will likely be his earliest path to the field.

#26 Charles Ross II – Entering his second season as a true sophomore. Ross II appeared in 12 games as a freshman, mostly on special teams. Like some of the other linebackers on the team, he will look to contribute in other ways behind Weeks, Dottery, and Keys.

#26 Nolon Buckels – As a true freshman receiver out of Texas, Buckels is unlikely to see much action behind the slew of wide receivers.

#27 Raycine Guillory Jr – After just one season at Utah, he transferred to LSU as a redshirt freshman running back. Keep an eye out for special teams for Guillory Jr.

#27 Dez Ellis – A true freshman cornerback, Ellis is a former quarterback, as well. The 4-star is incredibly talented, ranked the #15 player in the state of Louisiana in the 2026 class.

#28 Jhase Thomas – Son of former New Orleans Saints Fred Thomas, Jhase redshirted in his freshman year in 2025. His name was one of the hottest throughout fall camp, seemingly passing Tamarcus Cooley as one of the first safeties on the field next to Ty Benefield. Expect Thomas to make a major impact in the secondary.

#29 Jordan Ross – The former 5-star defensive end spent his first two years at Tennessee prior to transferring to LSU. He was the #1 ranked edge rusher out of high school, but was only able to record 1.5 sacks in his two years. He will likely rotate with Dylan Carpenter, as defensive line coach, Sterling Lucas, looks to reach that untapped potential.

#29 Caden Durham – After a fantastic freshman season with the Tigers in 2025 when he led the SEC in freshman rushing with 753 yards, Durham took a step back as the entire offense struggled in 2026. He's proven that he can run the ball against SEC competition, though, so he will be heavily involved with Jones and Berry.

#30 Treylan James – The Baton Rouge native spent his first two years at Prairie View, before transferring to Southern for 2025. He appeared in 11 games and recorded 6 pass breakups at safety. He now joins a very deep position group, likely to find his way on special teams.

#31 CJ Jimcoily – Entering his sophomore season, Jimcoily was one of the biggest contributors on special teams as a true freshman. He played kickoffs, kick returns, punts, and punt returns, likely to do the same in 2026 in a deep linebacker room.

#32 Gavin Higgins – An all-district kicker and punter out of Parkview Baptist, Higgins joins the Tigers as one of the top Louisiana kickers in the 2026 class. He'll likely be next in line behind Scott Starzyk.

#32 Keylan Moses – Brother of former Alabama All-American linebacker, Dylan Moses, Keylan chose to stay home at LSU. He spent 12 years at University Lab on campus, making his debut in the Texas Bowl vs Houston. He's at a deep position, but his talent is likely to give him a chance at some point.

#33 Isaiah Washington – 4-star safety out of Haynesville, Washington joins the program as a true freshman, but is unlikely to see much time, at least early.

#34 Mason Dossett – As a two-sport athlete that excelled in track and field, Dossett transfers in from Baylor after two seasons. He swapped back and forth between safety and wide receiver, but is listed as a safety with the Tigers.

#35 Zach Weeks – As the highest ranked of the three Weeks brothers coming out of high school, Weeks got to LSU in 2025 as a reclassified freshman to be on the team with his brothers before West Weeks graduated. He was the #8 ranked linebacker in the country and despite only playing in 5 games a year ago, is likely the future of the position following Whit.

#36 Emari Peterson – A 3-star cornerback out of Florida, ranked as the #89 at his position. His path to the field in 2026 will be tough.

#36 Aidan Corbello – Entering his fourth season with LSU, Corbello has been a reserve kicker, but has yet to appear in a game.

#37 Craig Walton Jr – Another Tiger heading in to his fourth season, Walton Jr has only appeared in 3 games as a cornerback.

#38 Jackson Williams – Coming out of Shaw, Williams was a 3-star safety in the class of 2026 and a top-25 prospect in the state, but is unlikely to see much time.

#39 Mack Mulhern – Transferring from Florida after his freshman season at Florida, Mulhern looks poised to make his college debut as a long-snapper.

#39 Lavonte Williams – Listed as a defensive back, Williams is a sophomore transfer from junior college and deep on the roster.

#40 John Hurley – Hurley is a graduate transfer from Virginia. Listed as a safety, his best chance to the field will be special teams.

#42 Davhon Keys – Entering his third year at LSU with tons of experience during his first two seasons. Keys was 3rd in the SEC in tackles a year ago and will be the first linebacker in to the game to spell Weeks and Dottery or give them a 4-3 look.

#43 Silas Hall – Back for his second season, Hall appeared as the long snapper on both punts and placekicks as a true freshman. He will compete with Mulhern for the job this season.

#44 Zach Grace – Transferring from Oregon after 3 seasons, Grace provides exceptional blocking from the tight-end position. He can also play fullback, but that's a rare occurrence in for Kiffin. Look for him on short-yardage sets with multiple tight-ends.

#45 Sean Perret – After joining the team as a walk-on kicker out of Catholic High School, Perret is another reserve at the position.

#46 Seth Knothe – As a 5th year senior transfer from Boise St at safety, Knothe's best chance to see the field is special teams.

#46 James Larson – Another tight-end transfer, Larson came over from SMU and would likely see his opportunities in multi tight-end sets.

#47 Malik Blocton – After spending his first two seasons at Auburn, Blocton transferred to LSU and will provide critical depth at the defensive tackle position. He's very experienced, appearing in 24 games with 10 starts.

#47 JD LaFleur – Entering his second season with the Tigers, LaFleur did not see the field as a freshman. He's massive at 6'6, 248 pounds, so it will be interesting to see if he gets any opportunities.

#48 Kolaj Cobbins – A third-year Tiger at the defensive end position, coming off of 7 appearances in 2026. Cobbins has special teams experience.

#49 Theo Grace – After spending his freshman year at North Dakota and only appearing in one game as a linebacker, Grace transferred to LSU to join his older brother, Zach.

#50 William Satterwhite II – After two years at Tennessee, the former 4-star center transferred to LSU to compete for a starting position. As of now, he looks to be the reserve center behind Braelin Moore, but could also line up at guard.

#51 Ryan Miret – Coming out of Florida as a 3-star interior offensive lineman, Miret was ranked #81. Although unlikely to see much action as a freshman, his talent could project for the future.

#52 Ja'Quan Sprinkle – Another of the offensive line additions through the portal that came to compete for a starting position on a rebuilt LSU line. Started 23 games at NC Central and should be a solid reserve option.

#53 Hayes Fuqua – Joined as a walk-on out of West Monroe High for the 2025 season, but has yet to see the field and is behind plenty of the new linemen.

#54 Ja'Mard Jones Jr – More depth for the offensive line. Jones Jr transferred from Nicholls where he appeared in 6 games as a true freshman in 2025.

#55 Aliou Bah – As a 5th-year transfer from Maryland, Bah came to LSU with the intention of competing for a starting job and he did just that. He'll line up at RG and provide tons of experience for Eric Wofford.

#55 Lamar Brown – Brown was the most-touted player in the entire country in the 2026 class coming out of University Lab. He was the #1 ranked player and a consensus 5-star. Although he can play on either side of the ball in the trenches, LSU has put him at defensive end. He missed the last week of fall camp with a minor injury, so they may take it slow early, but expect Brown to make his presence felt before the end of the season.

#56 Jake Ibieta – Entering his fourth season with LSU after joining as a walk-on in 2023. Ibieta has only appeared twice in his career.

#57 JaKolby Jones – Jones is an underrated depth piece on the offensive line. He transferred from community college and was considered one of the top junior college prospects in the portal.

#61 Braelin Moore – Back as a 5th-year senior, Moore provides a tremendous amount of experience and leadership. He was awarded the #18 jersey, but being unable to wear that as an offensive lineman, he'll likely have a patch or sticker to commemorate the honor. He is the anchor of the offensive line at center.

#65 Sean Thompkins Jr – After 3 seasons at Baylor, Thompkins Jr transferred to LSU as an offensive tackle. He was considered one of the options to start at tackle until Kiffin landed Jordan Seaton, but will provide quality depth at the position.

#66 Solomon Thomas – As a consensus 5-star in the class of 2025, Thomas did not appear as a freshman due to a foot injury sustained in fall camp. He was the #2 interior offensive lineman in his class and is likely a starter of the future.

#67 Bo Bordelon – Entering his fifth season with the Tigers, Bordelon had mostly contributed just on special teams. He surprised many by battling his way to the top of the depth chart in spring camp and followed that up with a strong fall camp. He will start at LG for the Tigers.

#68 Brett Bordelon – Younger brother of Bo, Brett joined the program as a freshman in 2025, but did not see the field. His best chance is to become a special teams contributor like Bo.

#69 Darrin Strey – As a 4-star offensive tackle out of Kentucky, Strey stayed home to play for University of Kentucky. He appeared in 4 games as a freshman and came over with Eric Wofford this offseason.

#70 Devin Harper – As a top-10 player coming out of Louisiana in the class of 2025, Harper surprised many by choosing Ole Miss. After appearing in 6 games as a true freshman, he transferred to LSU with his head coach and could be an option as a 6th offensive lineman or replacement due to injury as a tackle.

#71 Brysten Martinez – The 4-star offensive tackle came out of East Ascension ranked #9 in the country at his position. He quickly worked his way up the depth chart during fall camp and is considered the next man up at left tackle behind Jordan Seaton.

#73 Adrian Lamb – As a late add as a transfer in the spring, Lamb comes over from Georgia Military College after playing 10 games on the offensive line. The redshirt sophomore has a ways to go as he works his way up the depth chart.

#74 Braden Augustus – As a former walk-on, he enters his fourth season in the program. He may not play much on the offensive line, but he provides leadership as a member of the SEC Football Leadership Council and the 2026 SEC Student-Athlete Advisory Council Vice-Chari.

#75 Weston Davis – Entering his third year with LSU, Davis played nearly 700 offensive snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He struggled quite a bit while starting 10 games at right tackle. It was a slight surprise to see him avoid entering the transfer portal, but it appears as if Kiffin and Wofford see things they like. Davis has held off challengers for the starting RT spot and looks to blossom in to the talent he was expected to be.

#76 Christian Stamps – Entering his fourth season at LSU as a former walk-on in 2023, Stamps has yet to see the field on the offensive line.

#77 Jordan Seaton – Aside from Leavitt, Seaton was the biggest add from the transfer portal. He was highly coveted by multiple schools, but ultimately chose LSU. He's expected to be a 1st round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and will protect his quarterback's blindside at left tackle.

#80 Scott Starzyk – A 2025 Freshman All-SEC, Starzyk transferred over from Arkansas to replace 4-year starter Damion Ramos. He made 14-18 field goals and all 47 PATs as a true freshman and has reportedly been phenomenal through fall camp and scrimmages.

#80 Brayden Allen – Coming out of Lafayette Christian Academy, Allen was a 4-star wide receiver in the 2026 class. He's buried on a deep roster of receivers, but has a bright future.

#81 Landon Craig – As a former walk-on, Craig is entering his third season as a tight-end with LSU, but has yet to see the field.

#82 Roman Mothershed – One of the most intriguing additions from the portal at the wide receiver position. Mothershed is massive at 6'5, 212 pounds. He spent his first two seasons at Troy before transferring to LSU. During fall camp, he would occasionally fill in for Trey'Dez Green to give the tight-end a break, so it will be interesting to see if Kiffin/Weis Jr choose to try that at any point to give Green a few plays off.

#83 Corey Barber Jr – As a consensus 4-star wide receiver in the 2026 class, Barber Jr was committed to Ole Miss, but immediately flipped to LSU upon Kiffin's hiring. He was the #28 receiver in the country and the #7 player out of Alabama. Even if not this year, he is a future stud.

#84 Tyree Holloway – After becoming one of the top Division II wide receivers at West Florida, Holloway transferred to LSU. He caught 34 passes for 661 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2025, but has a slew of receivers to battle for time with.

#85 Josh Jackson – As an alum of St. Augustine in New Orleans, Jackson spent his freshman year at UAB and then his second year at McNeese where he appeared in 12 games. He transferred to LSU as one of the 10 wide receivers in the portal.

#86 Jabari Mack – Along with Barber Jr, Mack appears to be a wide receiver of the future for the Tigers. He was a 4-star out of Destrehan and ranked in the top-10 in Louisiana in the 2026 class. As a 2026 Under Armour All-American, Mack has been compared to Ja'marr Chase.

#87 JC Anderson – Another of the members of the 2026 class that was committed to Ole Miss, but flipped to follow Kiffin. Anderson was a 4-star tight end out of Illinois, ranked #11 in the country at his position. He made All-State twice and is very athletic. He could see some action in the passing game as a second tight-end.

#87 Joey August – A former walk-on in 2023, August enters his third season with LSU. He's only made one appearance in his career, coming against SLU in 2025.

#88 Malik Elzy – Another of the 10 transfer wide receivers. Elzy spent three seasons at Illinois, appearing in 23 games. He'll fight to be part of Kiffin/Weis Jr's receiver rotation.

#88 Richard Anderson – Affectionately known as "Big Rich", Anderson was the #1 ranked defensive lineman in the 2026 class out of Edna Karr. He was the #2 player in Louisiana, ranked behind only Lamar Brown. Expect to see a lot of Anderson at defensive tackle, as he spent a good bit of fall camp as a starter, but will likely be part of a 3-man rotation with Dom McKinley and Deuce Geralds.

#90 Stephiylan Green – The addition of Green in the portal was massive for two reasons. First, he offers great depth at the defensive tackle position, but also because it weakened LSU's week 1 opponent, Clemson. He spent 3 years with the Tigers totaling 34 tackles, 5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He's offers experience with his 600+ career snaps and will be important in the rotation.

#90 Grant Chadwick – After transferring from Middle Tennessee for his sophomore season in 2025, Chadwick became a weapon as a punter. He made Third-Team All-SEC by the coaches and returns be a key in LSU's special teams game.

#91 Trenton Henderson – Considered an elite edge rusher out of Florida, Henderson was a consensus 4-star in the class of 2026. He was ranked #8 at the position and will add great depth behind the veteran starters.

#92 Brandon Brown – Entering his second season at LSU, Brown will provide extended depth at the defensive tackle position. He appeared in 2 games as a true freshman in 2025.

#93 Jaylen Brown – After two quiet seasons to begin his collegiate career, Brown transferred to LSU to follow Sterling Lucas from South Carolina and hopes to find the promise that he had coming out of high school. He was a 4-star defensive lineman out of Alabama, ranked as the #9 player in the state in 2024.

#95 Shone Washington – Washington is a 5th-year senior entering his third season with LSU. He appeared in 7 games at defensive tackle in 2025, but only recorded 7 tackles.

#96 Dominick McKinley – Coming out of Acadiana High as a consensus 5-star in the class of 2024, there were high hopes for McKinley. His first two seasons have been underwhelming, despite appearing in 23 games. He seemed to be struggling behind Anderson and Geralds early in fall camp, but has since re-emerged as one of the first defensive tackles on the field throughout practices and scrimmages. If it clicks for him, he could become one of the top tackles in the country.

#97 Dylan Carpenter – Entering his fourth season at LSU, Carpenter has a lot of experience with 20 appearances. He played 119 snaps in 2025 and seemed to take control of the other starting defensive end position opposite of Umanmielen by the end of fall camp, but will certainly rotate.

#98 Achilles Woods – After spending his first two seasons at South Alabama, Woods transferred to LSU as a defensive tackle. He played 137 defensive snaps a year ago and offers a solid rotational piece for Baker.

#99 Hayden Craig – A highly-talented punter out of high school, Craig spent his freshman season at Florida, but did not appear in any games. He will be behind Chadwick, but could possibly compete as the kickoff specialist if LSU decides to take some off of the plate of Starzyk or Chadwick.

#99 Deuce Geralds – Coming out of Georgia as a consensus 4-star and #3 overall defensive tackle in the country, Geralds has stepped right in to the starting defensive line during fall camp. He will be on the field for the first defensive snap and grow as a true freshman while on the field.