LSU’s roster is in the middle of an unprecedented situation as head coach Lane Kiffin continues to explore unorthodox routes to build his team. After securing commitments from multiple former college players who recently exited NFL training camps, the Tigers find themselves facing strict roster limits.
One rumor suggested LSU could cut as many as six current players to make room for incoming additions before its Sept. 5 matchup with Clemson.
Lane Kiffin’s Potential NFL Additions Trigger Strong Reactions
The rumor on WJOX focused on the dynamics of adding six players who were not on the initial fall camp roster. Analyst Pat Smith explained the situation by asking what would happen to the existing roster spots if those additions became official.
“This is a business: Six players will be given their walking papers at LSU,” Smith said. “One of those players on the roster has been supposedly, potentially indefinitely suspended off the team for breaking team rules.”
Smith noted that if one departure comes from a disciplinary suspension, LSU leadership would still need to make five additional roster cuts to accommodate the incoming players.
The possibility soon drew criticism from college football fans.
A fan named JaVOL Lewis posted, “Lane doesn’t give a [expletive] about the guys. Lane cares about Lane.”
Another fan questioned whether players could trust Kiffin after such a move, writing, “If Kiffin does this, no players should ever trust him again… it is purely transactional to him.”
LSU could cut as many as 6 current players to make room for former NFL/CFB players… pic.twitter.com/HlzQv3as05
— Jox 94.5 (@WJOX945) August 24, 2026
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If Kiffin does this no players should ever trust him again… it is purely transactional to him
— D_Dubb (@ATLien64669873) August 24, 2026
The reactions kept coming as another fan questioned the state of LSU’s locker room, writing, “Yep. That locker room is going to be a bigger mess than what’s going on inside Kiffin’s brain on the daily.”
Another fan tied the situation to Kiffin’s previous NFL experience, posting, “Lane trying to redeem himself for being a [expletive] NFL coach by getting NFL guys on his college roster.”
Yep. That locker room is going to be a bigger mess than what’s going on inside Kiffin’s brain on the daily.
— DoctaJones (@DavidJo94885687) August 24, 2026
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Lane trying to redeem himself for being a 💩 NFL coach by getting NFL guys on his college roster 😂😂
— Teehay (@DTich16) August 25, 2026
Another fan focused on the potential effect on LSU’s current players, writing, “Good way to kill a locker room.”
Analyst John Williams also criticized the possibility, saying, “This would be some shady ish… These guys work their tails off for you for the last 8+ months to fulfill their dreams of playing for LSU, and then a couple of weeks before the season starts, you’re going to cut them… Broken culture.”
This would be some shady ish…
These guys work their tails off for you for the last 8+ months to fulfill their dreams of playing for LSU and then a couple of weeks before the season starts, you’re going to cut them…
Broken culture. https://t.co/LjfhDdg1uN
— John Williams (@john9williams) August 24, 2026
The unusual roster situation comes from a Louisiana court ruling that gave select players from the 2022 high school class a possible fifth year of eligibility. LSU has used that opportunity to pursue former college players who recently went through NFL training camps, including Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.
Kiffin defended the approach at the press conference Monday, saying, “At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you, or they’re going to play for someone else around the country.”
The SEC has pushed back against players returning to college after signing professional contracts.
With LSU preparing for its matchup against Clemson, Kiffin now faces the challenge of accommodating those athletes while managing the locker-room fallout from potential player departures.
