I went 0-for-3.
I gave it a guess as to who LSU would bring to SEC Media Days, but my assumptions proved wrong. We don’t have a track record on Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge, and teams change so drastically year-over-year that it’s hard to determine who makes the most sense.
In a bygone era, those answers were clearer.
LSU has landed on Trey’Dez Green from the offense, and Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery from the linebacking corps as its trio. They’ve all got different stories and personalities, so it makes sense to a degree.
Here’s what to expect from all three as they head to Tampa a week from Thursday.
WHIT WEEKS, LB
This is round two for Weeks who attended the event in Atlanta last summer. Most would have suggested at that point that Weeks was entering his final season in college. Injuries and a disappointing season lured Weeks back for a fourth season and now a second trip to the July kickoff event.
Weeks is a gregarious figure with an infectious smile. He’ll light up every room he’s in once again. No one will bring a more appropriate disposition to The Sunshine State than Weeks who will undoubtedly be asked about his relationship with Landry Kiffin and her father taking the reins of the football program.
He’ll also be asked about facing Kiffin’s offense both in the regular season the last few years and in practice this spring. His injury history will come up. Weeks has said on record that he’s 100 percent and was just taking things easy in the spring.
TREY’DEZ GREEN, TE
If there’s a Tiger whose smile rivals Weeks’, it’s Trey’Dez Green.
I’ve had several interactions with Green in the media setting. He’s always willing to answer and often times give great thought to his answers. He’s not especially long-winded, though. He gets to the point.
Green is probably LSU’s most dynamic player and could play himself into the highest draft pick on the roster. Jordan Seaton and Ty Benefield may have something to say about that.
Green set the LSU record for single-season touchdown catches by a tight end last year, and he should add to that this year. The Mackey Award is not an unrealistic goal based on his skillset and the offense he now finds himself in. Events like this do elevate players in the eyes of the media who do vote on those awards. Ultimately, Green’s play will have to do the talking, but this gives him a leg up.
TJ DOTTERY, LB
This was a bit of a surprise.
It makes sense the more I think about it, but Dottery would have been down my list for a few reasons. First, LSU is already bringing a linebacker in Weeks. Second, Dottery is a transfer. Third, he left the Clemson program amid a situation that resulted in the dismissal of another player from the program. Kiffin has suggested multiple times that Dottery was a victim in the incident. I have every reason to believe that, but the fact remains that questions can still come up about it. That ran its course in Baton Rouge. This just allows regional and national reporters to bring it back up.
That said, Dottery led the SEC in tackles a season ago, so his play on the field merits the trip. He’s also a very polished speaker that Kiffin knows he can trust after a couple of seasons in Oxford.
Dottery is going to be an integral part of the Tiger defense in 2026. His selection for this honor suggests he’ll fill a leadership role, too.
