Since Junior Tuihalamaka transferred to LSU from Notre Dame, he’s played an interesting role in the Bayou Bengals’ first two wins of the season.
The defender, who has played linebacker and defensive end throughout his college career, has played almost no defense so far in 2026. However, LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has found a way to get the veteran player onto the field. What’s interesting is that so far, Tuihalamaka has played all but two snaps this year on special teams.
Kiffin putting Junior Tuihalamaka on his special teams unit is most interesting because it’s been a few years since he did that. He didn’t appear in that group at all in 2025. All 286 of his plays with Notre Dame last year were on the defensive side of the ball.
Of course, Tuihalamaka isn't totally unfamiliar with special teams. During his career in South Bend, he tallied 397 combined ST plays from 2022-24. It makes sense that LSU would try him out on kick and punt teams to work him into the game plan for the Tigers, without having him learn the defense forwards and backward right away.
Notre Dame football transfer Junior Tuihalamaka seeing nearly all LSU snaps on special teams
Tuihalamaka joined the SEC school just over a week before the regular season kicked off. He’s had to get up to speed fast after originally hoping he could return to Notre Dame. Unfortunately for both sides, Marcus Freeman said the timing didn’t work out for them to bring him back.
Against Louisiana Tech, Tuihalamaka made his first official appearances on LSU’s defense. Although he got just two snaps, he recorded a tackle. Just how many more snaps he’ll get on the front line of Kiffin’s squad is still very much up in the air.
Tuihalamaka joined an already elite group of pass rushers on the LSU defensive line, which includes other transfers and some promising freshmen. LSU's defensive line has five other transfers: Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss), Malik Blocton (Auburn), Jordan Ross (Tennessee), Stephiylan Green (Clemson), and Jaylen Brown (South Carolina).
The Tigers are also working with a star-studded freshman trio of Lamar Brown, Deuce Geralds, and Richard Anderson, who will be vital in both stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. He will most likely add depth at a position where Kiffin and his defensive staff can be among the best in the SEC.
For now, Junior Tuihalamaka appears to be enjoying his time, even if his role has been small so far. Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry recently talked about his former teammate, saying that he spoke to him by phone a few days before the season opener and that Tuihalamaka is happy in Baton Rouge.
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