When the transfer portal opened, LSU football was without a scholarship QB. Head coach Lane Kiffin was tasked with rebuilding the entire room.

That can be a tall task, especially in this era. Most QBs in the portal are there because they're looking for a place to start. LSU knew it was going to land a high-profile QB1 and did just that, signing Arizona State transfer QB Sam Leavitt.

With Leavitt having a clear path to be LSU's starter, the tricky part is finding QBs willing to sit. LSU is LSU, and because of that, there will always be players wanting to wear the purple and gold. LSU can always swoop in and offer a player without much Power Four attention and be the best offer on the table. Finding depth isn't hard, but finding quality depth is.

Kiffin's staff hit it out of the park. After signing Leavitt, LSU added two more QBs to the fold. The Tigers signed Elon transfer Landen Clark, along with USC transfer Husan Longstreet. Clark and Longstreet were both coveted QBs who could have gone somewhere with a much better chance of starting in 2026. They still choose LSU. Whether it was money, the coaching staff, or the chance to compete for the QB1 job in 2027, LSU closed the deal.

Here's a closer look at where LSU's quarterback room stands now.

Sam Leavitt -- QB1

Leavitt is the headliner. On3 ranks Leavitt as the No. 1 QB and No. 2 overall player in the transfer portal. Only WR Cam Coleman ranks higher.

LSU is Leavitt's third school. The veteran QB began his career at Michigan State before transferring to Arizona State. In Tempe, Leavitt emerged as one of the best QBs in the Big 12. He led Arizona State to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth in 2024. He began 2025 with high expectations, but an injury cut his season short.

Leavitt was inconsistent before the injury and wasn't matching his efficiency numbers from 2024, but the talent was still evident, and LSU is banking on the 2024 version of Leavitt showing up.

There's a good chance that happens. Leavitt's skill set was made for the Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. offense. He's not that different from Jaxson Dart or Trinidad Chambliss, and Kiffin scored a bunch of points with both of those QBs.

LSU paid a pretty penny to land Leavitt, outlasting Tennessee and Miami in a bidding war. That's what it takes to get a top QB from the portal and it doesn't always work. But when it works, it really works. Indiana and Miami spent on quarterbacks in the transfer portal last year and are now preparing to square off in the national championship.

Sam Leavitt Stats

Passing

Rushing

Husan Longstreet -- QB2

There was a moment where it appeared Longstreet could be LSU's headlining QB addition. The smoke connecting Leavitt to LSU dissipated and the Tigers turned their attention to Longstreet.

Even as LSU clawed back into the Leavitt sweepstakes, Longstreet and LSU maintained mutual interest.

Longstreet, a five-star in the 2025 recruiting class, spent one year at USC, not playing much aside from a few snaps in blowouts. When Longstreet entered the portal, his intentions weren't clear. Was he looking to be a starter or would he be fine sitting for a year?

It turns out that a guarantee to start was not a condition for Longstreet, which kept LSU on the table after the Leavitt signing. On3 ranked Longstreet at the No. 20 overall player and No. 7 QB in the portal. LSU secured a strong insurance option and (maybe) found its QB of the future.

Landen Clark -- QB3

Longstreet is not a lock to be LSU's backup -- don't count out Elon transfer Landen Clark.

Clark was Elon's QB1 in 2025 and has the experience edge over Longstreet. Clark was pursued by other Power Four programs, including Michigan. Clark wasn't looking for a spot where he'd be promised the starting job, he just wanted a place to compete.

LSU gives Clark that opportunity. Leavitt is expected to miss most of spring practice, leaving Longstreet and Clark a chance to get most of the reps. He'll battle it out with Longstreet for QB2.

Last time Kiffin took a QB from the lower level, it worked out pretty good for Kiffin and the QB. That would be Trinidad Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss from D-II Ferris State and ended up leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff. You just never know.

In 2025, Clark threw for 2,314 yards and 18 touchdowns with Elon. He ran for 826 yards with 11 scores on the ground. He's a playmaker who can get it done with his arm or his legs.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Updating LSU football's QB depth chart after transfer portal additions