Six LSU football players make ESPN's top-100 list for 2026

Head coach Lane Kiffin put together a talented roster ahead of his first season leading LSU football. Six of those players, returners and transfers, were recognized as being among the best in the game on ESPN's top-100 college players list.

LSU signed the nation's top transfer portal class, bringing in over 40 transfers. The new crop includes the portal's top player in quarterback Sam Leavitt and the top offensive lineman in Jordan Seaton. Kiffin also brought Princewill Umanmielen and others over from Ole Miss, where he coached for six seasons.

The Tigers also retained some of their biggest weapons from last year. Tight end Trey'Dez Green and linebacker Whit Weeks will run it back as well as freshman All-American cornerback DJ Pickett. The future NFL stars will attempt to take LSU back to the postseason for the first time since 2019, when Joe Burrow led the program to the national championship.

Offseason buzz puts LSU among the best programs in the nation with College Football Playoff expectations. Whether it can knock off some of the SEC titans on its schedule remains to be seen but the talent on the team is undeniable.

Here are the six players named to ESPN's top-100 college football players list.

The portal's top offensive lineman, Seaton started for two seasons at Colorado. The former five-star recruit earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 as a sophomore. Here is what ESPN said about the junior offensive tackle.

"One of the top transfer portal players in the country, Seaton left Colorado to play for Lane Kiffin at LSU -- immediately upgrading an offensive line that struggled to get its run game going and protect the quarterback in 2025. LSU ranked No. 124 in the country in rush yards (104 per game) and No. 94 in sacks allowed (29). Seaton should upgrade that group immediately."

The former Arizona State gunslinger took the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoffs two years ago. Leavitt recovered from an injury suffered last season throughout the spring but is a full go for the Tigers. Here is what ESPN said about the junior passer.

"Leavitt had a breakout year in 2024, leading Arizona State to the College Football Playoff, before a foot injury in October 2025 derailed his season. Now he is at LSU, playing under Kiffin, trying to help perhaps the most notorious coach in college football win right away in Baton Rouge. Leavitt is fully recovered from the foot injury and has plenty of talented receivers to help him get the job done and an offensive system that allows quarterbacks to thrive."

Benefield comes to Baton Rouge as the portal's No. 2 safety. He fills an immediate need as a starter with experience in a depleted secondary. ESPN highlighted his Boise State statistics and how he will fit at LSU.

"While offensive transfers have drawn most of the on-field headlines for LSU in 2026, a new defender is poised to be a star. Benefield comes to Baton Rouge from Boise State, where he was a two-year starter, a three-year contributor and racked up 220 career tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss (nine in 2025), 18 run stops (12 in 2025), five interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He can lineup deep or in the slot, and he has even recorded three sacks and 10 pressures in 45 career pass rushes."

Weeks was on track for a career season and NFL Draft selection before suffering an injury. He returns for his senior year with championship and first-round aspirations. ESPN called him "the unquestioned leader of the LSU defense."

"Weeks plays with an impressiveness -- and a flair -- that is hard to beat. Weeks played through an ankle injury for parts of last year and ended up missing five games, something that has fueled his motivation headed into this season. When he is healthy, he is something else to watch -- as evidenced by his sophomore year in which he had 125 total tackles."

Green is perhaps the most exciting player on LSU's offense as a tight end who can line up out wide. ESPN believes he can "benefit significantly" from the system Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis run.

"An elite red zone target and a major target at 6-7, 237 pounds, Green was a bright spot for a struggling LSU offense in 2025. He caught seven red zone touchdowns, but he was also second on the team with six catches of over 20 yards."

Umanmielen played well in Oxford last season and he'll look to continue that momentum playing under Kiffin at LSU. He was one of the country's top pass rushers last year. ESPN likes his upside in 2026.

"He had a tackle for loss in 11 games, including the final eight of the season, as he played in 15 games with one start. In addition to the sacks and tackles for loss, he had 13 quarterback hurries. The potential to have a career season with the Tigers is high."

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Six LSU football players make ESPN's top-100 list for 2026