Greg McElroy breaks down spring intel coming from LSU, Lane Kiffin era

There’s a new energy in Baton Rouge, and according to Greg McElroy, it’s impossible to ignore. Speaking on Always College Football, McElroy pointed to LSU as one of the most fascinating programs in the country this spring, as Lane Kiffin begins his tenure with a clear vision and an immediate shift in identity.

“The most exciting spring practice arguably is taking place in Baton Rouge,” McElroy said, regarding the Tigers. “It’s a brand new era for LSU football.”

From the jump, that new era looks drastically different. Everything coming out of early practices has centered around tempo per McElroy, not just in games, but in how LSU is operating day-to-day. He described a pace that’s already pushing players to adjust, with reports of the Tigers running four or five plays in under a minute during practice sessions.

“That’s not just a new offense. That’s a completely new operating tempo,” McElroy added. “That’s Lane Kiffin telling his players, we’re going to practice at the speed we intend to play with.”

It’s a full program reset, and one that reflects Kiffin’s offensive DNA taking hold quickly. But while the tempo is grabbing headlines, the personnel storylines are just as intriguing, especially at quarterback.

Transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, who’s working his way back from an ankle injury, has been a limited participant but showed encouraging early signs: “Sounds like he’s throwing sharp and some long distance shots,” McElroy said. “Footwork looked okay. … It’s encouraging.”

Alas, Leavitt isn’t expected to take full reps just yet, but his early progress offers optimism as LSU builds toward the fall. Around him, however, the offense is undergoing a complete overhaul, particularly at wide receiver.

LSU returns just one player who caught a pass in 2025 in Philip Wright, who had a single reception. That leaves Kiffin and his staff essentially rebuilding the passing game from scratch, leaning heavily on transfers to fill the void.

Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown has emerged early as a potential go-to option, while Old Dominion transfer Tre’ Brown is generating significant buzz: “He’s been described as kind of an aerial assassin,” McElroy noted, a label that immediately turns heads.

On the defensive side, there are also early signs of youth breaking through. True freshman Richard Anderson has reportedly been working with the first team on the defensive line, a development that raised eyebrows among those watching closely. Either way, it points to ongoing evaluation within Blake Baker’s defense: “They haven’t really figured out who’s going to play there just yet,” McElroy delineated.

Still, the biggest takeaway might not be scheme or personnel, but their mindset. McElroy emphasized Kiffin’s understanding of LSU’s magnitude, noting the coach has openly reflected on the responsibility of leading one of college football’s most storied programs: “This isn’t just a job,” McElroy said. “LSU football is an institution.”

With better tempo, talent and a new tone already established, one thing is clear at LSU. They’re going to be must-watch in 2026, even if there’s still work to be done in Kiffin’s first spring.