Five players LSU would like back in 2026

By Hunt Palmer

Attrition is here. More is coming.

LSU has incurred the usual portal push from seldom-used players with eyes on more playing time. There have also been some players who have showed real promise that have their eyes elsewhere, Ahmad Breaux on the defensive front and Carius Curne at offensive tackle.

They won’t be the last, and the issue isn’t exclusive to LSU or the transfer portal. This is college football, and teams undergoing coaching transition generally feel it the most.

Here’s a list of five players Lane Kiffin and his new staff would do well to keep around in 2026.

BRAELIN MOORE, C

The redshirt junior center will have NFL opportunity, but unlike 10 years ago, his financial situation may be better in college depending on what LSU offers in revenue sharing and NIL possibilities.

Moore played very well when he was healthy, which was less than half the season. He sprained his ankle in Week 2 and hurt his foot against Western Kentucky.

LSU’s offensive line is going to get a significant overhaul before the 2026 opener, but Moore would provide a really nice veteran presence in the middle if he decided to return.

WHIT WEEKS, LB

This is the other NFL Draft risk. Weeks is probably a better pro prospect than Moore, but he’s already got multiple NIL deals, including Raising Canes, that likely pay him quite well to be LSU’s team captain on defense.

Weeks got hurt at Ole Miss in September and never really recovered. He only played in eight games, and his tackle total dipped from 125 last season to 31 this year.

Blake Baker is back, and Weeks has a great relationship with his defensive coordinator. And no Tiger knows the new head coach better, although it’s in a far different capacity — “my girlfriend’s dad” — as he told Gordon McKernan on his podcast.

Older brother West is out of eligibility, but younger brother Zach will still be around. This will come down to how much Whit wants to play college football.

TREY’DEZ GREEN, TE

Green is likely to return. Why? He was one of the 10 athletes to join Team Nike last week, and LSU is the only place, currently, where that is in place. It will spread quickly, but it probably means the Jackson, LA., product is back next year.

Kiffin has coached a lot of talent in his career, but none probably mirror Green’s from a size and athleticism perspective. It will be fun to watch how much more Green can get involved in a new offense.

DJ PICKETT, CB

Here’s another member of Team Nike. DJ Pickett had a huge freshman season and was named On3’s National Defensive True Freshman of the Year.

He had three interceptions, including one in each of the last two games and became a formidable second option across from Mansoor Delane as the season wore on. As of today, he’s now LSU’s top corner as Delane has decided to rest during bowl preparation.

Pickett came to Baton Rouge to play for Corey Raymond. That’s already paying off for the 6-foot-5 corner. Raymond should be back next fall, and so should Pickett.

HARLEM BERRY, RB

This one got more complicated on Tuesday.

Frank Wilson is headed to Ole Miss. That could mean a move for the former five-star who plays Wilson’s position and hails from his recruiting territory. That’s especially true if Kewan Lacy comes down from Oxford with his 20 rushing touchdowns and 1279 yards.

Berry showed real promise late in the season for a terrible rushing offense that once again ranked dead last in the SEC in rushing.

Berry would be a great piece to keep considering JT Lindsey’s status is up in the air and Ju’Juan Johnson is going into the portal. Berry and Caden Durham are all that’s left.