LSU Country

LSU Football Announces Multiple Game-Changing Players Set to Return Amid Portal Buzz

Lane Kiffin and Co. will retain multiple game-changers, myriad of promising youngsters announce returns to Baton Rouge.
Zack Nagy|
Courtesy of PJ Woodland's Instagram.

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Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are gearing up for a critical stretch in the NCAA Transfer Portal, but player retention also remains a priority for the coaching staff.

It's no secret the LSU program will unleash a treasure chest full of roster cash in the free agent market, but there are multiple members of the current roster that will also receive significant paydays with the Tigers seeing financial alignment amid Kiffin's arrival.

“[LSU AD Verge Ausberry] and his team had a really, really good plan,” Kiffin said on Dec. 1. “Even talking to some donors that are part of that plan here to see exactly, how does that work? There’s a great plan here.

"There’s a great plan here of how we can come together with what we bring and with what players around the country want to play for us and our systems, and then have that support to do that, so that they want to play for us and they get taken care of financially.

“Obviously, nowadays, it’s the world of college football and it’s important and it’s critical to them. It’s important to them. This was the best setup. That definitely played a factor into it. I don’t care what your systems are. Without good players, they don’t work.”

LSU Tigers Football.
Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

Fast forward to Thursday night and the LSU Tigers have announced multiple game-changing defensive players that will return in 2026:

- Zach Weeks: Linebacker (Fr.)
- Aidan Anding: Cornerback: (Fr.)
- PJ Woodland: Cornerback (Soph.)
- DJ Pickett: Cornerback (Fr.)
- Ja'Keem Jackson: Cornerback (Jr.)
- Michael Turner: Cornerback (Soph.)
- Dashawn Spears: Safety (Soph.
- Charles Ross: Lineabacker (Fr.)

Kiffin and Co. will retain a myriad of young pieces to the depth chart after making their announcements on Thursday evening.

Now, as more players reveal their intentions to return in 2026, LSU will also be gearing up for a pivotal Transfer Portal stretch.

"Then go to the portal, which I have zero concern about the interest of players with that, because I know what the interest was of players nationally to come play for us where we were just at, and now when you put that with this stadium and with that logo, I mean, makes me want to get on the phone right now, but the portal is not open," Kiffin said on Dec. 1.

More LSU News:

LSU Football Wide Receiver, Oklahoma Transfer Labeled 'Biggest Bust' in Portal

Lane Kiffin Pulls Off Historic Recruiting Feat Amid First Month With LSU Football

Lane Kiffin Reveals How Nick Saban, Pete Carroll Influenced Decision to LSU Football

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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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