LSU Leads ESPN's List Of College Football's Top 100 Newcomers For The 2026 Season

ESPN recently ranked college football's top 100 newcomers for the 2026 season, with LSU leading the way with the most players (7) on this list.

Texas had six players on the list, and Michigan, Ohio State, and USC each had five.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen all landed in the Top-10 for the Tigers. Other LSU transfers on the list include safety Ty Benefield and wide receiver Jayce Brown.

Freshmen defensive linemen Deuce Geralds and Lamar Brown were also included in the rankings.

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3. Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU Tigers
Year: Junior

Pos. rank: 2

Need: Leavitt is the centerpiece of Lane Kiffin's No. 1-ranked transfer portal class and a major addition for a Tigers team with CFP expectations. After leading Arizona State to a Big 12 title in 2024, Leavitt is capable of elevating the offense in Kiffin's first season. With improved talent around him and Jordan Seaton anchoring the offensive line, LSU is counting on Leavitt to stabilize and maximize the offense during its championship push.

Value: In 2024, Leavitt accounted for 29 total touchdowns during Arizona State's Big 12 title and CFP run, throwing for 2,885 yards while adding 443 rushing yards. He brings dual-threat ability and toughness, which he displayed in a 319-yard performance against Texas Tech while playing through injury before ultimately undergoing foot surgery. Leavitt is an aggressive, confident passer who thrives off-platform while keeping his eyes downfield under pressure. Those traits should fit naturally within Kiffin's offensive system. Despite a 61% career completion percentage, his arm talent, mobility and playmaking instincts give him first-round NFL upside if he stays healthy and continues improving his efficiency.

5. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU Tigers
Year: Junior

Pos. rank: 1

Need: Seaton fills both high value and need for LSU because of his plug-and-play ability at a premium position. LSU's offense must replace multiple starters up front while protecting Leavitt and jump-starting a deep skill group. Seaton is the centerpiece of that offensive line rebuild and provides immediate stability at tackle. Paired with experienced interior transfers, Seaton projects as a potential future first-round pick and a foundational piece for LSU's 2026 playoff push and long-term offensive identity.

Value: A former five-star and the No. 1 offensive tackle in 2024, Seaton spent his freshman and sophomore campaigns as a starter at Colorado and now brings SEC-ready size, length and movement skills to Baton Rouge. At roughly 6-5 and 300-plus pounds, he combines light feet with a powerful punch that allows him to win in both pass protection and the run game. He has the tools to stabilize a tackle spot immediately and eventually develop into a long-term offensive line anchor.

7. Princewill Umanmielen, Edge, LSU Tigers
Year: Senior

Pos. rank: 1

Need: LSU's portal additions on offense generated much of the buzz, but the Tigers also added impact players on defense. Umanmielen followed Kiffin from Ole Miss and is expected to headline a talented mix of new and returning players along the defensive front. LSU's defense will play a major role in how far the Tigers can climb in 2026 and Umanmielen is positioned as a key impact player with his pass rush ability.

Value: Umanmielen is coming off a productive season in which he totaled 45 tackles and nine sacks. He is a long defender with good functional strength who consistently impacts the quarterback on film. He generated 40 hurries last season using a combination of bend, active hand usage and quickness off the edge. He also has good closing speed and plays with consistent effort when chasing plays from the backside. In addition to his pass rush ability, he is a capable run defender with the strength to set the edge.

13. Ty Benefield, S, LSU Tigers
Year: Senior

Pos. rank: 2

Need: After striking gold with portal pickup A.J. Haulcy, LSU is banking on Benefield as its next veteran anchor in the secondary. He arrives as one of the most proven safeties in the country after three seasons at Boise State, where he quickly became a multiyear starter. Like Haulcy, he'll be moving up a level, but his traits and scheme versatility translate well. LSU is looking for the same level of reliability and communication on the back end that he brought to Boise State.

Value: Benefield played immediately at Boise State and became a 32-game starter, finishing with 235 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, five interceptions and two forced fumbles. He's coming off his best season yet in 2025 with 107 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Mountain West honors and defensive MVP of the conference title game. At 6-3, he brings good length and box safety traits, with solid range and reliable open-field tackling ability. His greatest strength is his football IQ, as he diagnoses plays quickly, communicates effectively and helps align the defense pre-snap, providing LSU with an experienced and dependable presence in the secondary.

36. Deuce Geralds, DT, LSU Tigers
Year: Freshman

Pos. rank: 3

Need: Geralds, a onetime four-star recruit, already has a disruptive interior skill set that is exactly what LSU and modern defenses covet. Ranked No. 2 among defensive tackles and No. 40 overall in the SC Next ESPN 300, he arrives in Baton Rouge with an elite profile and a clear opportunity to earn early rotational snaps in a defensive front that still has room for additional pass-rush impact.

Value: At 6-2 and 280 pounds, Geralds is a compact, explosive interior defender who wins with first-step quickness and gap penetration rather than simply occupying space. He recorded 56.5 sacks in high school, showcasing rare production for an interior lineman along with the burst of a much smaller edge rusher. His game is built around leverage, flexibility, and relentless effort as a backfield disruptor. While LSU returns experience up front, Geralds has the tools to carve out an early role as a pass-rush specialist capable of collapsing the pocket from the interior.

54. Jayce Brown, WR, LSU Tigers
Year: Senior

Pos. rank:16

Need: The departures of Zavion Thomas, Barion Brown, Aaron Anderson and Chris Hilton Jr. to the NFL left a significant void in LSU's wide receiver room entering 2026. Brown, who had 1,972 receiving yards over three seasons at Kansas State, provides much-needed proven production and experience. He projects as an important complementary piece for Leavitt alongside tight end Trey'Dez Green.

Value: Brown's game is defined by quickness, burst and the ability to separate from defenders and he should become a favorite target for Leavitt as the offense adjusts to new personnel. He wins with polished route running and efficient releases to help create separation at all levels. Expect Brown to reliably operate within the structure of Kiffin's explosive offense given his speed to stretch the field and big-pay ability after the catch.

88. Lamar Brown, DT, LSU Tigers
Year: Freshman

Pos. rank: 8

Need: LSU enters the 2026 season with a solid group of returners, incoming transfers, and incoming freshman along the defensive front, though it did lose Patrick Payton, Jack Pyburn, and Jacobian Guillory II to the NFL along with Gabriel Reliford who tore his ACL this spring. With a retooled defensive front, the Tigers have depth to play with a rotation of talented players. One of those players is Brown who was the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.

Value: Though the LSU defensive line stocked, Brown adds value with his talents cracking into the rotation early in his time in Baton Rouge. Brown plays with very good bend and flexibility along with proper pad leverage while also having the quickness to shoot gaps. He also has very good hand usage to shed and keep blockers off his frame. He is an effective player against the run and the pass. Though he might play in more of a rotational role as a true freshman, his role will only grow.

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