By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
It is not seen very often in college or pro football, but it happened during LSU’s 63-14 win over McNeese State Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
A quarterback dropped back … to return punts, or at least catch them.
LSU quarterback Husan Longstreet, a redshirt freshman from USC who was No. 4 in the nation at QB in the 2025 class from Corona, California, made two fair catches of punts in the second half with no problem after practicing that recently.
He is believed to be the first LSU quarterback to play as a punt returner since Carl Otis Trimble of Tallulah in the 1975 season. Trimble, who was called the black Joe Namath, returned four punts for 65 yards that season and seven kick-offs for 124 yards. He had moved from quarterback to split back ahead of that season, however.
Former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann returned punts while at Notre Dame from 1967-70 and with the Washington Redskins in the NFL while he was a backup to Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer in the 1974 season. He returned 15 punts for 157 yards and two the next season for five yards before starting in 1976 and ’77 and becoming the regular starter from 1978-85.
LSU running backs coach Kevin Smith, an All-American back at Central Florida in 2007 who played five seasons with the Detroit Lions, suggested Longstreet return punts.
“Kevin brought that up,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said Sunday afternoon on his weekly teleconference. “And Kevin’s the best running backs coach in the country. That was his idea. Husan has good hands. He’s quick with the ball, and he’s been great in practice doing it.”
Longstreet also played quarterback on Saturday, completing 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards after starter Sam Leavitt and Landen Clark played. Longstreet added 32 rushing yards on four carries.
Kentucky in Rare Air as it preps for visiting LSU on Saturday. Fired LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Tiger transfers WR Nic Anderson and DL Ahmad Breaux await. https://t.co/thXCOHp4WT
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 4, 2026
The No. 10 Tigers (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) play at No. 25 Kentucky (4-1, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN).
Leavitt stayed in the pocket throughout Saturday’s game as he continues to nurse a minor hamstring injury suffered last week in the win over Texas A&M. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
“Sam’s had some great throws the last two weeks,” Kiffin said.
Asked what he expects to see out of Leavitt when he is completely healed from the hamstring, Kiffin said, “Play in rhythm, set his feet and throw. We’ll be playing better defensive fronts than we have the last two weeks.”
Kentucky is the first of seven straight SEC games for LSU to finish the 2026 regular season, including four on the road.
BEST OF THE BACKUPS
With Kiffin emptying the bench early and often on Saturday as the Tigers took a 35-0 lead in the first half, he was asked what backups performed the best.
After a long pause, Kiffin mentioned sophomore running back Harlem Berry having his “second good game in a row” as the No. 2 back behind Dilin Jones. And he said he was impressed with true freshman wide receiver Corey Barber, who took advantage of his opportunities after starting wideout Winnie Watkins Jr. dropped two passes.
Berry gained 125 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown after gaining 58 yards on seven carries in the win over Texas A&M last week.
“That gives you a lot of confidence in your second back,” said Kiffin, who added that Berry is getting better as a pass blocker. Jones’ pass blocking ability that Kiffin called “elite” is one of the reasons he is the No. 1 back.
Barber caught seven passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns in his first significant action of the season. His only catch before Saturday was a 15-yard reception in the opener against Clemson.
“That was great to see,” Kiffin said. “Those are the ones that come to mind.”
LEFT GUARD ROTATION
William Satterwhite II, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Tennessee, started his second straight game at left guard ahead of fifth-year senior Bo Bordelon, who started the first three games.
“Yeah, he’s done well,” Kiffin said. “We’re still rotating. They’ve both done well. They don’t wear down as much, and that makes us better.”
LIKE NICK SABAN BEFORE HIM
Kiffin said he has been compared to former LSU and Alabama coach Nick Saban since the end of the McNeese State game. Kiffin was seen chewing out his players, Saban style, with a 49-14 lead in the third quarter. Saban was famous for ripping his players regardless of the score.
LSU’s defense had just allowed back-to-back touchdowns on 43- and 64-yard passes on blown coverages.
“Two people said today that my rant reminded me of him,” Kiffin said. “Except I was on the other end. One of our cornerbacks had just given up an outside touchdown. Then a safety gave up an outside touchdown. We had two (backup) quarterbacks not ready to go into the game. I don’t care what string you are, you can’t do that. When I went to Alabama (2014-16 under Saban), it definitely changed the way I thought.”
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