While LSU doesn't play its first game until Sept. 5 when it takes on Clemson in the “real” Death Valley, it officially kicks off the 2026 campaign at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility on Wednesday.
Head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff will use the month-long session to determine what the Fighting Tigers need to do to win more games this season, while also figuring out what the team’s strengths and weaknesses are, and who wins the final spots.
One of the biggest things that needs to be established is chemistry among the offense. Most of LSU’s newcomers are on that side of the ball, including its starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, three-fifths of its offensive line, and over 2,300 receiving yards. Because of the massive number of newcomers, there’s only so much we can cover. However, there are three players you should get to know because you’ll be hearing their names a lot once camp gets going.
RB Dilin Jones
Transfer running back Dilin Jones is one of the most interesting additions from LSU’s transfer portal rampage over the offseason. Jones comes over from Wisconsin, where he had 76 carries for 300 yards and two touchdowns in seven games before a season-ending turf toe injury. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, you have to keep in mind that Wisconsin had one of the worst offensive lines in college football, ranking 96th in sacks allowed and 115th nationally in rushing yards.
That didn’t deter Kiffin and Co. from taking him out of the transfer portal, and he became one of the biggest showstoppers of LSU’s spring camp. In a backfield that returns both of its leading rushers in Harlem Berry and Caden Durham, Jones became the No. 1 running back. When LSU rolls out on the Ponderosa, all indications point to him remaining in that spot not only in fall camp, but also when LSU takes on Clemson to start the new campaign.
WR Jackson Harris
Over at receiver, Jackson Harris is a player that the coaching staff has been very excited about going into the season, and he could be the deep threat receiver LSU has missed the past few years.
Harris comes over from Hawaii, where he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore in 2025 after recording 49 receptions for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the Mountain West in receiving touchdowns and yards per reception (19.65). He was also second in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (87.5)
WR Winnie Watkins
Winnie Watkins is a player that everyone should get used to seeing the ball thrown his way and hearing his name called out by the announcer. Watkins is the only receiver who followed Kiffin and wide receivers coach George McDonald to Baton Rouge. Because of that, he has a good sense of what Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. expect of LSU’s wide receivers in their offense.
Watkins had a solid freshman season at Ole Miss with 26 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns. He further flashed his potential in two media-open scrimmages; he had 17 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns. He led all receivers in catches and yards in both.
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