LSU Football Teases Potential Return of Star Linebacker Amid 2026 NFL Draft Buzz

Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are preparing to make a myriad of important roster decisions this month with several moving parts in Baton Rouge.

The NCAA Transfer Portal will officially open for business on Jan. 2 for a two-week stretch, but player retention is also a critical component for the program.

LSU is set to hit the reset button on offense, but there are Tigers on defense that are priorities to keep in Baton Rouge amid the return of defensive coordinator Blake Baker in what became a major storyline in December.

Across the 2025 season under Baker's watch at LSU, he brought the Tigers into the Top-25 of total defense while also sitting among the Top-15 in turnovers gained with 21 in total over 12 games this fall.

LSU’s defense ranked in the top half of the SEC across the 2025 campaign after allowing 319.7 yards per game.

Bakers unit also held teams to 18.3 points on average, which ranked fourth in the conference.

LSU Tigers Football: Whit Weeks. — Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

Those were both improvements from 2024 when LSU gave up 364.4 yards and 24.3 points per game in Baker’s first season as defensive coordinator.

Now, after withdrawing from consideration for the Tulane and Memphis jobs, Baker is back for the 2026 season where he's looking to keep his star linebacker in town alongside him.

The priority for LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin and Baker: Retain linebacker Whit Weeks.

During an interview last Saturday night during LSU's Texas Bowl clash against Houston, Kiffin revealed the importance of keeping Weeks while speaking with LSU radio.

Baker will give them an advantage in their pursuit as Weeks mulls over 2026 NFL Draft conversations and a return to LSU where he's now teased a decision via social media:

🤔 pic.twitter.com/zCN2M5fU1e
— Blake Baker (@CoachBlakeBaker) January 1, 2026

"I think our trust in Coach Baker, our buy-in to what he's teaching us and what he's preaching to us. He brings energy every single day, so it's hard not to bring energy when the boss man is bringing it," Weeks said this season of what Baker provides the Tigers.

The All-SEC linebacker shined across his sophomore campaign in 2024 after compiling 125 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks amid his breakout season in Baton Rouge.

But Weeks' junior campaign saw a decline in production after suffering an ankle injury midway through the year where he was sidelined for a majority of his third year with the program.

Now, after playing in just eight games in 2025, Weeks is preparing to make a decision on his future. Will he return for the 2026 season at LSU or declare for the 2026 NFL Draft?

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers Football program take down Baylor behind Garrett Nussmeier and Whit Weeks. — Courtesy of LSU Football.

"I wish I knew, I really do wish I knew. I'm trying to figure that out right now," Weeks said. "We've had those conversations already so now I'm taking all the outside factors out of it and really making the decision for myself because I have to.

"Some people telling me to leave, some people telling me to stay but at the end of the day, it's what's the best decision for Whit?"

Now, Baker has teased a potential return via social media as Weeks prepares to make his decision.

More LSU News:

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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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