LSU football needs these backup defenders to emerge in 2026

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The LSU football defense will be a force in 2026. ESPN’s SP+ projections rank the Tigers as the No. 2 defense in America, and in year three under defensive coordinator Blake Baker, this group should be playoff-caliber.

The cornerback duo of DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland is arguably the best in the SEC, and few teams in college football can match LSU’s experience at linebacker with TJ Dottery and Whit Weeks leading the charge.

There are little concerns about what LSU’s starters on all three levels. The Tigers have All-SEC caliber players in the secondary and on the front seven. But if LSU is going to reach the heights it imagines in year one under head coach Lane Kiffin, depth needs to emerge on defense.

Today, we’ll look at three players who need to provide key depth for Baker’s unit. Strong depth can be the difference between making the playoff and sitting at home, especially as the SEC schedule grows to nine games. Let’s jump in.

Ja’Keem Jackson, Cornerback

Pickett and Woodland form an elite cornerback duo, but LSU lacks proven options once you get past the starters. LSU is thin at cornerback, making Ja’Keem Jackson’s job important. Jackson figures to be CB3, which should mean he sees significant playing time. And he’s one injury away from being thrust into a starting role.

Jackson only played 84 snaps last year after transferring from Florida. The former blue-chip recruit was coming off a season-ending injury in 2024 and just couldn’t find a consistent role. But Jackson’s decision to stick in Baton Rouge indicates he’ll have a role in 2026. If Jackson didn’t think this staff was going to play him, he’d likely hit the transfer portal.

LSU kept Jackson for a reason. He’s worked with LSU’s secondary coach Corey Raymond for over three years now, and Jackson is entering his fourth year of college football.

Davhon Keys, Linebacker

It might be a slight to refer to Keys as a depth player, because he’ll see nearly as many snaps as some starters. He’s been a consistent producer at linebacker for two seasons now and figures to take another step in 2026.

LSU’s starting linebackers — Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery — each have a few questions. Weeks is injury-prone and Dottery was inconsistent on the field with Ole Miss in 2025. If Weeks gets hurt or Dottery struggles, Keys could find a starting role.

And even if Keys isn’t technically a starter, get used to seeing him on the field in 2026. LSU’s linebacker depth is the strongest in the SEC thanks to the presence of players like Keys.

Kolaj Cobbins, Edge defender

Depth at defensive end is a major concern for LSU football in 2026. LSU feels good about transfers Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross in the starting lineup, but Gabriel Reliford tore his ACL in the spring, damaging LSU’s depth.

The Tigers need someone to step up, or Umanmielen and Ross will run out of gas. Defensive end is a position where rotation is mandatory, especially in the modern era of college football and faster tempo offenses. Kolaj Cobbins’ emergence is one possibility.

Cobbins has only played 24 defensive snaps in two years with the Tigers, but he didn’t transfer. That’s a positive signal. Cobbins was a four-star prospect in 2024, ranking as the No. 11 player in Louisiana. After Reliford went down in the spring, Cobbins saw time with the second team. If you’re betting on a talented DE to emerge, Cobbins is a solid choice.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Three backup defenders LSU football needs to perform in 2026

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