PALMER: Even sidelined, Leavitt's importance to LSU is apparent

By Hunt Palmer

Two hours in April hardly represent three months in the fall.

For LSU’s offense, that’s a good thing. The Tigers struggled to block, run the ball or complete passes in Saturday’s scrimmage. That should come as little surprise. Lane Kiffin suggested the defense was well ahead of the offense. The defensive staff is largely back, and only two of the 11 offensive starters on Saturday were on LSU’s roster last year. Everyone on that side of the ball is learning a new scheme.

I’m not here to sound any April alarms. What I do believe is that a lot of LSU’s 2026 offense is going to rest at the feet of Sam Leavitt. And I phrase it that way intentionally. Leavitt was at Saturday’s scrimmage. He wore tennis shoes on his surgically repaired foot that had screws removed over the weekend.

Kiffin’s quarterbacks have to manage the play calling, tempo and the other 10 players on the field. Leavitt won’t have that opportunity this month.

As the backups ran for their lives most of Saturday and fired five interceptions, I couldn’t help but consider Leavitt’s importance to the team.

His skillset is tailored to Kiffin’s offense. He’s agile and capable of making all the throws. He’s also been in the fires of a conference title game and the College Football Playoff. This is not about a repertoire. It’s about repetitions.

Leavitt will be a little bit short of them this fall.

In a bygone era, expectations in year one were non-existent. When more than $40 million goes into a roster, that no longer applies.

Kiffin and his staff worked the transfer portal excellently. Talent drips from every position group on the roster. That’s even true at quarterback were Huson Longstreet has twice been one of the most coveted players in the country at the position. Still, he doesn’t come with the college pedigree Leavitt brings, and he struggled on Saturday.

This is Leavitt’s team, and his performance will largely dictate what LSU’s record looks like. His 29 touchdowns and 3,400-plus yards two years ago inspire confidence. Last season’s dud in Starkville and his absence from the huddle this spring create doubt.

April is not the time for prognostication or concern. August breeds positivity. September presents challenges, opportunity and outcomes. The hope is that the resolution comes in January.

I walked out of Tiger Stadium on Saturday not wondering about wins and losses. I just felt confident in the player whose performance will most separate them.