Lane Kiffin, LSU Lose Quarterback During College Football Offseason

Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Lane Kiffin, LSU Lose Quarterback During College Football Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated May 24, 2026 1:23 PM ET

The LSU Tigers completed a full roster facelift ahead of the 2026 college football season under new head coach Lane Kiffin during his first few weeks at the helm.

The program was active in the transfer portal, adding multiple quarterbacks and landing 41 players overall, while seeing 34 players enter the portal to leave Baton Rouge after the 2025 season.

Regarding the quarterback position, LSU added the No. 1 transfer in On3's rankings, former Arizona State standout Sam Leavitt, as well as Husan Longstreet from USC, and Landen Clark from Elon.

All of those transfers and a legitimately crowded QB depth chart have led to a departure within the quarterback room, as one of the team’s younger players has decided to move on.

LSU Tigers' new head coach Lane Kiffin © Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

According to LSU reporter Matt Moscona, redshirt freshman quarterback Emile Picarella has left the program after spring practices concluded. Picarella confirmed the decision in a statement made to Moscona of Louisiana Sports.

“I’ve decided to move on from LSU,” Picarella told Moscona. “I’ll always appreciate my teammates, the old and new staff, and the opportunity I had there. I wish the program nothing but success.”

The Baton Rouge native redshirted during the 2025 season and did not see any game action, spending the year developing within the program and under starting quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier and Michael Van Buren Jr.

QB Emile Picarella has left the LSU football team, he confirms to me.

“I’ve decided to move on from LSU. I’ll always appreciate my teammates, the old and new staff, and the opportunity I had there. I wish the program nothing but success.”

His departure left an opening LSU…
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) May 23, 2026

According to Moscona, Picarella participated in spring practice under Kiffin but was positioned behind all three incoming QB transfers at LSU.

In a related move, Picarella's exit coincided with another roster move involving the quarterback room, as Middle Tennessee transfer Kaden Martin committed to LSU on Friday, filling the available scholarship spot.

With expectations rising under Kiffin, LSU is gearing up for its 2026 season opener on Sept. 5 against the Clemson Tigers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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