Weeks limited in spring but excited for fall

By Hunt Palmer

LSU is working. Whit Weeks is watching.

The Tigers began their first spring under new head coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday, and while his teammates buckle chin straps, weave through cones and pop sleds, Weeks observes as his foot heals.

For LSU, that beats the alternative. He could be prepping for the NFL Draft at the moment. Instead, he decided to return for a fourth year.

“I’ve been grinding in the weight room,” Weeks said. “I don’t like not being out there with the guys, but the No. 1 goal for me right now is just to is to get healthy to be able to roll into fall camp.”

December invited chaos at LSU. Brian Kelly was dismissed, and Lane Kiffin was hired. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker was courted by Memphis and Tulane before deciding to remain at LSU. The transfer portal opened days later, and players arrived and departed.

Amid the chaos, Weeks announced his return. Before Kiffin or the public knew, he told his girlfriend who just happens to be the new coach’s daughter.

“She wanted me to come back, but I don’t think that really affected my decision at all,” Weeks said with a smile. “I made the best decision for me, and I’m so glad that I did decide to stay because there’s nowhere else that I’d rather be than LSU.”

What’s it like playing for your girlfriend’s dad?

“Well, I guess I haven’t really figured that out yet because I haven’t been able to be out there,” Weeks said. “But I’m looking forward to camp. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back out there at the end of spring. I started running again, and everything is feeling good, so hopefully by the end of spring I’ll be able to get back out there.”

A fourth spring is not a necessity for Weeks who has called Baker’s defense for two years. Rising junior Davhon Keys can also help newcomer TJ Dottery who led the SEC in tackles in 2025.

There is continuity on the defensive side unlike the offense which has been totally overhauled.

“The defense, with Coach Baker at the head, it’s still the same defense that we’ve had, so we have a lot of fun together,” Weeks said. “I love that dude to death. He’s one of my favorite humans in the world. For us, bringing him back, once I knew he was coming back, I was like, alright, I’m coming back, too.”

When he returns to practice from his foot injury, Weeks will spearhead the Tiger defense. That group figures to be tested by LSU’s new-look offense in practice. That competition excites LSU’s defensive captain, but the fall to come brings more. The root of that injury comes from that Saturday afternoon in Oxford chasing Kiffin’s offense.

“I’m excited he’s on our side now, for sure,” Weeks said. “But I’m excited to get out there and practice against him…it’s only going to make us better.”