By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
In LSU’s 63-14 win over McNeese State on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, 73 Tigers took offensive or defensive snaps.
Coach Lane Kiffin said it was an opportunity to evaluate the depth of the roster before the final seven Southeastern Conference games of the season, beginning Saturday at Kentucky (4-1, 2-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
So, who did the most – and the least – to improve their stock, according to Pro Football Focus grades?
The No. 1 spot went to safety Tamarcus Cooley, who finished the night with a 91.4 defensive grade. That rating was carried by a 91.8 coverage grade. The redshirt junior ended McNeese’s first drive with an interception, and he had one tackle in his 21 total snaps.
The highest rated Tiger on offense was running back Stacy Gage, who started the season as the backup to Dilin Jones before Harlem Berry took the No. 2 position. Gage was the fourth LSU back to see the field and made a bid to return to No. 2 as he recorded a 91.1 grade. He rushed six times for carries for 110 yards with an 18.3-yard average and two touchdowns.
Starting left tackle Jordan Seaton came in next at an 84.4 grade. The Colorado transfer had an 84.3 pass blocking grade and a 79.8 run blocking mark as he allowed zero pressures and helped pave the way for a rushing attack that went for 65 yards in the first half and averaged 5.4 yards a carry.
The No. 4 spot was shared by two players. Defensive tackle Dominick McKinley and wide receiver Corey Barber Jr. each received 83.9 grades.
McKinley, who was a starter on the defensive front last season but has been a backup this year, made the most of his 16 snaps. He finished with two total tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Barber had a breakout night as he took over Winston Watkins Jr.’s spot in the slot after Watkins dropped two would-be touchdowns. The freshman caught all seven of his targets for 83 yards and two scores – the first of his collegiate career.
The impressive performance could go a long way for Gage, McKinley and Barber, who are all competing for playing time behind the regular starters. PFF also liked linebackers Tylen Singleton (82.9) and Zach Weeks (82), who will need to step up with Whit Weeks sidelined after surgery to a broken fibula.
But there were just as many players who hindered their chances of seeing the field more. All five of the lowest-graded Tigers came on offense.
West Florida transfer receiver Tyree Holloway finished with a team-worst 45.2 grade thanks to two penalties called against him and an incompletion on his only target.
Illinois transfer wideout Malik Elzy’s 49.6 was next to the bottom. He hauled in just one of his four targets for 25 yards and was credited with a drop, his second in six targets this season.
Next, somewhat shockingly, is quarterback Sam Leavitt with a 50.8 grade. Leavitt completed 18 of 23 passes for his highest completion percentage in a game this season (78.3 percent) and threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns. He did also throw his seventh interception of the season and was limited as a runner as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered against Texas A&M.
Running back Caden Durham’s slow start to 2026 continued with a 51.6 grade against the Cowboys. After leading the Tigers in rushing last season, he added five carries for 13 yards against McNeese to bring his season totals to 14 yards on nine carries.
Tight end Zach Grace was fifth-to-last. The blocking specialist was given a 52 grade after dropping his only target. The Oregon transfer redshirt junior is still searching for his first collegiate catch but will continue to play a big role on the offense as a blocker with Trey’Dez Green sidelined with a knee injury.
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