When the transfer portal opened, LSU football was without a scholarship QB. Head coach Lane Kiffin was tasked with rebuilding the entire facility.
This can be a daunting task, especially in this day and age. Most portal QBs are there because they’re looking for a starting spot. LSU knew it was going to land a top QB1 and that’s exactly what it did, signing of Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt.
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While Leavitt has a clear path to becoming LSU’s starter, the tricky part is finding QBs willing to sit. LSU is LSU, and because of that, there will always be players who want to wear the purple and gold. LSU can still step in and offer a player without too much Power Four attention and be the best offer on the table. Finding depth isn’t difficult, but finding quality depth is.
Kiffin’s staff knocked it out of the park. After signing Leavitt, LSU added two more QBs to the group. THE Tigers signed the transfer of Elon Landen Clark, with USC transfer Husan Longstreet. Both Clark and Longstreet were coveted QBs who could have gone somewhere with a much better chance of starting in 2026. They still choose LSU. Whether it was money, coaching staff or the chance to compete for the QB1 job in 2027, LSU sealed the deal.
Here’s a closer look at the current situation in LSU’s quarterback room.
Sam Leavitt – QB1
September 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, United States; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) looks to pass against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at Mountain America Stadium, home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory credit: Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images
Leavitt is the headliner. On 3 rows Leavitt as the No. 1 QB and No. 2 overall player in the transfer portal. Only WR Cam Coleman ranks higher.
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LSU is Leavitt’s third school. The veteran QB began his career at Michigan State before moving on to Arizona State. In Tempe, Leavitt became one of the best QBs in the Big 12. He led Arizona State to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth in 2024. He entered 2025 with high expectations, but an injury cut his season short.
Leavitt was inconsistent before the injury and didn’t match his 2024 efficiency numbers, but the talent was still evident, and LSU is banking on the 2024 version of Leavitt emerging.
There is a good chance that this will happen. Leavitt’s skillset was designed for Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr.’s offense. He’s not that different from Jaxson Dart or Trinidad Chambliss, and Kiffin scored quite a few points with those two QBs.
LSU paid a pretty penny to land Leavitt, outlasting Tennessee and Miami in a bidding war. This is what it takes to get a top-notch QB from the portal and it doesn’t always work. But when it works, it it really works. Indiana and Miami spent quarterbacks in the transfer portal last year and now prepare to face off in the national championship.
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Passage
|
Size |
Team |
General practitioner |
Cmp |
Att. |
Yds |
T.D. |
Int |
RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
7 |
145 |
239 |
1628 |
10 |
3 |
129.2 |
|
|
2024 |
12 |
216 |
350 |
2885 |
24 |
6 |
150.2 |
|
|
2023 |
4 |
15 |
23 |
139 |
2 |
2 |
127.3 |
|
|
Career |
23 |
376 |
612 |
4652 |
36 |
11 |
141.1 |
Rushing
|
Size |
Team |
General practitioner |
Rushing |
Yds |
Avg. |
Long |
T.D. |
FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
7 |
73 |
306 |
4.2 |
52 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
2024 |
12 |
110 |
443 |
4 |
40 |
5 |
– |
|
|
2023 |
4 |
13 |
67 |
5.2 |
22 |
– |
1 |
|
|
Career |
23 |
196 |
816 |
4.2 |
52 |
10 |
3 |
Husan Longstreet – QB2
September 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, United States; USC Trojans quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) throws a pass during the second half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Images by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn
There was a point where it appeared that Longstreet could be LSU’s headlining QB. The smoke linking Leavitt to LSU cleared and the Tigers turned their attention to Longstreet.
Even though LSU came back in the Leavitt sweepstakes, Longstreet and LSU maintained mutual interest.
Longstreet, a five-star in the 2025 recruiting class, spent a year at USC, not playing much aside from a few snaps in blowouts. When Longstreet entered the portal, his intentions were unclear. Was he looking to become a starter or would he sit well for a year?
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It turns out a guaranteed departure wasn’t a condition for Longstreet, who kept LSU on the table after Leavitt signed. Longstreet ranked out of 3 to the No. 20 overall player and the No. 7 QB in the portal. LSU got a solid insurance option and (maybe) found its QB of the future.
Landen Clark – QB3
August 28, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, United States; Elon Phoenix quarterback Landen Clark (11) gets out of the pocket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Longstreet isn’t a lock to be LSU’s backup — don’t count out Elon transfer Landen Clark.
Clark was Elon’s QB1 in 2025 and has the advantage over Longstreet. Clark was pursued by other Power Four programs, including Michigan. Clark wasn’t looking for a place where he would be promised the starting job, he just wanted a place to compete.
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LSU is giving Clark that opportunity. Leavitt is expected to miss most of spring practice, leaving Longstreet and Clark a chance to get most of the reps. He will face Longstreet for QB2.
The last time Kiffin took a QB from the lower level, it worked out pretty well for Kiffin and the QB. That would be Trinidad Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss from D-II Ferris State and ended up leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff. You never know.
In 2025, Clark totaled 2,314 yards and 18 touchdowns with Elon. He rushed for 826 yards with 11 scores on the ground. He’s a playmaker who can do it with his arms or legs.
This article was originally published on LSU Wire: LSU football QB depth chart update after transfer portal additions
