LSU football’s Aidan Anding will miss the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles. LSU coach Lane Kiffin confirmed the sophomore cornerback’s injury on Tuesday.
Anding’s Injury During Spring Practice
Anding sustained the injury during Saturday’s spring practice. He ended the session in a walking boot.
Kiffin said Anding “was playing great” and was one of the two defensive players of the game on Saturday. Kiffin described the injury as “really unfortunate for him.”
Second Defensive Loss for LSU
Anding is the second LSU defensive player to suffer a season-ending injury this spring. Redshirt sophomore edge rusher Gabriel Reliford also is out for the season.
Kiffin said neither injury was the result of scrimmage-type or contact plays. He described them as “just freak injuries, which a lot of times, that is where they come from in football. Some of them are not from the natural tackling.”
Impact on LSU’s Cornerback Depth
Anding played 92 snaps on special teams last season. According to the 247Sports Composite, he was a four-star recruit and the No. 23 cornerback in the nation.
Anding’s injury depletes LSU’s cornerback depth behind starters DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland. Anding was expected to compete for the third cornerback spot alongside Ja’Keem Jackson.
LSU’s remaining cornerbacks include Michael Turner and three freshmen: Emari Peterson, Havon Finney and Dez Ellis. The team also added Southern transfer Treylan James over the offseason.
Challenges with Spring Portal
Kiffin noted the challenges of not having a spring portal. “You don’t have a spring portal,” Kiffin said. “… You get used to the players that you have, you see things, and you go to the spring and (potentially add players) in the second window. Well, that’s for the first year gone… Just as it is, that makes it more challenging in your first year.”
The loss of Anding presents a challenge for LSU as they prepare for the upcoming season.