They don't call him the Portal King for nothing.
Lane Kiffin has wasted no time in revamping LSU's roster heading into his first season in Baton Rouge. Kiffin has brought in a whopping 40 players through the portal, including some of the biggest names on the market.
LSU fans rejoice as 5-star transfer OT Jordan Seaton announces his commitment
With 5-star OT Jordan Seaton announcing his commitment to Kiffin and the Tigers on Friday night, LSU has now landed 3 of the top-5 players in the portal according to On3's transfer portal player rankings.
That’s three of the top-5 players in the portal coming to #LSU.
— Preston Guy (@PGuy77) January 24, 2026
Incredible haul by Lane Kiffin. https://t.co/8kxAH3Bj4w
LSU lands 3 of the top 5 players in the transfer portal
With no scholarship quarterbacks on the 2026 roster after both Michael Van Buren and Colin Hurley entered the portal, Kiffin made a signature addition by signing former Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt.
Leavitt was ranked as the top player in the portal by On3, and bringing him to Baton Rouge is a monster win for Kiffin. Leavitt has racked up over 5,400 total yards and 46 total touchdowns in his collegiate career, and is already among the Heisman favorites for 2026.
Leavitt is coming of a season-ending ankle injury he suffered on October 25, so keeping him protected is a major priority for the Tigers. The LSU offensive line was asbolutely gutted by the portal, with Brealin Moore as the only returning starter. Kiffin added several offensive lineman in the early days of the portal being open, but it took until Friday night to land his biggest prize.
The addition of 5-star Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton fortifies an LSU offensive line that was the team's biggest weakness this past season. Seaton is arguably the best pass-blocker in the country, and is projected to be a future First Round draft pick. Ranked as the top offensive lineman and No. 4 overall player in the portal, he makes a perfect protector for Leavitt in 2026.
On the defensive side, Kiffin's biggest win came in the form of Ole Miss transfer EDGE Princewill Umanielen. The 6’5", 245-pound EDGE is the No. 3 overall player in the portal according to On3, and is coming off a season in which he led Ole Miss with 9.0 sacks to go along with 45 tackles. For his efforts, he was named All-SEC Third Team in 2025.
The sky is the limit for LSU in 2026
Expectations are already soaring for Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge. LSU's new head coach has signed 14 players in the Early Signing Period, retained top playmakers such as TE Trey'Dez Green, RB Caden Durham, RB Harlem Berry, and LB Whit Weeks, and has now signed a transfer portal class that is ranked No. 1 in the country by 247Sports.
On paper, LSU's roster in among the best in the country for 2026, and fans are eager to see what Kiffin can do in his first season.