LSU started week two of fall camp on Monday as we get closer and closer to the season starting up.
LSU’s offense is finding common ground, position battles are tightening up and the pads are getting ready to come on. Head coach Lane Kiffin has been excited about how things are going now that things are starting to come together.
Here are some takeaways from Kiffin’s presser on Monday.
Lane Kiffin says tackling is coming along for LSU
LSU has been avoiding tackling early on in fall camp, but with the season opener against Clemson only three weeks away, it's needed.
Kiffin noted that full pads come on this Saturday, testing the physicality of the lines and evaluating how skill players handle contact as fall camp progresses.
“We gotta tackle, which we avoided a lot in the spring, just trying to get things done and stay healthy. You have to at some point because we’ve got to make sure that we’re ready, especially with our schedule set up, you have an extremely hard opener, one of the best programs in the country. You don’t really have a progression to try to maybe treat that game a little bit differently, where you can start tackling in the game more and maybe be a little bit rusty. We can’t afford that in this opener, so this will be a week in pads where we see them tackle on Saturday and also see them go against tackling,” Kiffin said.
Damien Shanklin sidelined, Jaiden Braker embraces new edge role
Damien Shanklin has not been practicing with the team, according to Kiffin, but he did not give a specific answer as to why. While he didn’t play much in his freshman season in 2025, Shanklin could have been a quality depth piece, and it was starting to look like that during the spring.
While that is going on, Jaiden Braker has converted from linebacker to edge, and Kiffin did expand a little on the reasoning behind that specific move.
“Just really looking at him and his length, you know, wanted to try to see how he looked rushing and playing on the edge. He’s done a really good job there. A lot of times, how the players move size-wise, if you get that frame and can run like he does, as they continue to put on years, they put on weight and then they grow into that spot. So it’s been a really good project so far,” Kiffin said.
Lane Kiffin says position battles on receiving corps are tight
With several new faces competing for roles, LSU did not have a predetermined pecking order in the receiving corps. That leaves an open battle for all spots in the receiving corps with Kiffin, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. and wide receivers coach George McDonald evaluating not only potential starters, but also the depth needed to strengthen the roster and raise the level of competition in practice.
"No one had a head start on anybody - so they're all basically new. We retooled that room almost from top to bottom. It's been very competitive. It's really one of the better rooms from the bottom of it.
"The competition down there and the quality of it, which is important because not just do those guys play, but even below them, that's what makes your practices better because they serve the team that you're going against.
"So we try to really make every slot on the roster better every chance that we have."
Sam Leavitt, LSU’s offense has seemingly found its groove
With Sam Leavitt healthy and getting more comfortable in LSU’s offense, Kiffin has seen encouraging progress from the quarterback. His accuracy, timing and decision-making have particularly stood out as the Tigers move deeper into fall camp.
"Sam had a great practice today - taking care of the ball,” Kiffin said. “He's really throwing the ball really accurately and on-time. Extremely pleased with his week and how he's looked. We have really high standards on how we want things and what we want them to look like… Now that he's healthy - he's had a great week. We're really excited."
Kiffin also acknowledged that Leavitt’s relationship with Weis has been growing by the day and the trajectory is continuing upward.
"I think that Charlie and Sam have done a great job - they have a great relationship," Kiffin said. "I think in our trajectory of how it happens - usually that happens right when you get here - there's more interaction with his play-caller… Then mine comes more in the fall now. Those guys are doing really well - communicating really well."
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