The LSU Tigers have pressure to start the season strong as a whole, but these individuals will feel a little bit extra pressure.
The LSU Tigers are not underdogs by any means heading into this season, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a lot still left to prove. This is an amalgamation of talent all over the country; some are looking for a chance to show that they belong at the top.
There will be pressure on everyone on the Tigers' roster to produce right away, but some stars are going to feel even more pressure because of what happened at their previous stops. For some, it will be because they know if they start to struggle, there is someone right behind them waiting to take their snaps.
Here are the LSU standouts who are going to feel that extra pressure to begin the year strong against the Clemson Tigers is Week 1:
QB Sam Leavitt
Leavitt's job won't be in jeopardy in the first few weeks of the season, but his doubters will only get louder if he stumbles against Clemson. He was great in 2024, but the minds of football fans forget quickly.
While the redshirt junior was the highest-rated quarterback in the portal, he is still a fairly polarizing talent. After the Arizona State Sun Devils offense struggled without Cam Skattebo, some began to question how much of a load that Leavitt can carry. If he has as much success in the Lane Kiffin/Charlie Weis offense as Trinidad Chambliss did, though, he will end up being a Heisman candidate.
LB Whit Weeks
Like Leavitt, Weeks is out to get off to a quick start after injuries hampered him all last year. Back in his last healthy season, Weeks was one of the best linebackers in all of the country. He missed a few games due to his injuries, but even when he was on the field, he wasn't the same player.
At his best, Weeks provides three-down upside as a linebacker. He can stop the run and step back into coverage, and the snap never feels wasted. His receiving the No. 7 jersey over the No. 18 shows just how important he is going to be to keeping LSU's defense rolling.
WR Eugene 'Tre' Wilson
No one doubts what Wilson brings to a football team, but he's always been better in theory than in action. He has had flashes to begin his college career, but injuries have kept him from realizing his potential.
Now Wilson gets a fresh start in Baton Rouge with a chance to establish himself as the No. 1 option in a high-powered offense. Kiffin and his staff built the receiver room from the ground up this offseason, and there is no one player who is already the star. If Wilson starts strong against Clemson, he'll set himself up to have the massive season that he has seemed destined for.
