Portal Profile: USC QB Husan Longstreet

By Hunt Palmer

Shopping for a backup quarterback presents challenges.

LSU actually pulled it off last year when the Tigers pried Michael Van Buren from Mississippi State where he had started eight games. No one was going to mistake Van Buren for a Heisman winner, but recruiting a quarterback to sit on the bench isn’t exactly a stellar sales pitch.

This time around, LSU needed a starter and two backups at the position. Sam Leavitt inked to start. Landen Clark was already in the boat to add some depth. From that point, LSU had to look for someone else to fill the gap between the two.

WHAT WE KNOW

Husan Longstreet was dubbed the No. 3 quarterback in the country when he came out of Centennial, Calif., in the class of 2025. He was once committed to Texas A&M and eventually landed with Lincoln Riley at USC.

He’s 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, and On3 said he had the strongest arm in his high school class.

As a freshman, he played in four games and completed 13-of-15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in mop up duty. He also ran for 76 yards and two scores.

THE FIT

LSU could not have done much better here.

Longstreet is a huge talent with a skillset that fits Kiffin’s system perfectly. He’s got a rocket for an arm and plenty of mobility. Talent is the best attribute for a backup quarterback, but remaining eligibility is a great one, too. And Longstreet has four years left.

Husan Longstreet makes it look too EASY 😮‍💨 Second rushing touchdown of the game for him. His running ability is ELITE as a freshman QB. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/YRNbCvWbUP

— Trojan Football ✌️ ᶠᵃⁿ (@TrojanFBx) August 31, 2025

He and Clark will get all the reps this spring to learn the offense and improve while Leavitt heals from Lisfranc surgery.

Longstreet has the upside, and Clark has a year of starting experience. Both guys are average size and above average athletes.

HUNT’S PROJECTION

I think Longstreet becomes the backup with eyes on becoming the starter in 2027. Leavitt does have two years left, but the thought is that he will enter the draft after three years as a college starter.

Husan Longstreet take it in himself for 6! TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/0mwdXCAkN8

— Trojan Football ✌️ ᶠᵃⁿ (@TrojanFBx) August 31, 2025

Projecting anything in college football beyond one season is foolish. So many things can change in terms of coaches and the transfer portal. But Longstreet was basically typecast for Kiffin’s offense which prioritizes big plays and benefits greatly from a quarterback who can eat up some ground yards. Jaxson Dart and Trinidad Chambliss both can.

The hope is that Longstreet sits and waits this season, but if he’s called upon, he’s got the toolbox to get it done.

It’s not out of the question to think that Longstreet will quarterback the Tigers in 2027 and 2028. However, that’s not the point of this exercise. For 2026, Longstreet is an extremely capable backup with tantalizing upside behind Leavitt. And he’ll get to prove that in the spring with a ton of reps with LSU’s first team.