By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
PJ Woodland has seen a lot of new LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Mainly because Woodland plays cornerback for the Tigers and remains with the first team after starting all 13 games last season after playing in 13 and starting two in his freshman season in 2024.
Woodland has allowed one touchdown pass in two seasons. He didn’t say how many Leavitt has thrown off him in the two scrimmages the Tigers have had so far in camp, but he clearly likes what he sees from the junior transfer from Arizona State.
“Sam is an excellent quarterback,” said Woodland, who was eighth in the Southeastern Conference last season with 11 passes defended while also intercepting two passes. “He does little things well – looking off and throwing the ball, or just flicking the ball sometimes.”
Woodland also likes new coach Lane Kiffin’s approach, which includes some trash talking.
“Specifically for me, I’m not much of a trash talker,” Woodland said. “I just go out there and play my game. But coach Kiffin, he’ll be like, ‘Hey, we’re coming after you today.’ So, he just has a competitive edge. He just wants the best out of me.”
Woodland has been impressed by a new leader on defense as well – transfer senior safety Ty Benefield of Boise State.
“Ty – that’s the quarterback of the defense,” he said. “He’s always talking, communicating, helping the defense. He’s an excellent player.”
No. 11 LSU opens the season a week from Saturday against No. 23 Clemson in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).
“We have a lot of structure on defense,” Woodland said of defensive coordinator Blake Baker, secondary coach Corey Raymond and safeties coach Jake Olsen all back for their third consecutive seasons at LSU.
“We’re all very familiar with our defense,” he said. “The next step for us is finishing.”
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