Media Days in mid-July are the unofficial kickoff to the college football season every year. They are a time of optimism, excitement, and positivity. No one has lost a game yet. And everything seems possible.
For LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, however, the good vibes are not just rooted in a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, but also in the feelings around campus in Baton Rouge.
“Everybody’s fired up. I can feel it throughout the city. I feel like every fan is so bought in this year and invested. It’s fun to be in Baton Rouge right now,” Weeks said during his media availability at the Omni Hotel, the site of SEC Media Days 2025.
Weeks quickly became a fan-favorite last season, enjoying a breakout season as the team’s top tackler. The love he has received from the fans does not get lost with the junior.
“The best fans in the world are in Baton Rouge. And LSU’s fan base is second to none. Getting to play in front of them on Saturday nights in Death Valley, that’s a special moment. Getting to play in front of my classmates in Death Valley, it’s the best feeling in the world to be able to play in front of 102,000 fans who are screaming the whole time.”
While it was a season full of highs and big moments for Weeks, including a First-Team All-SEC selection, the campaign ended on a low note. Weeks was injured during the Texas Bowl against Baylor and spent most of his off-season trying to recover.
However, all of that seems to be behind him.
“It was a long road to get back, but I’m feeling better than I ever have. And I credit that to the training staff and strength coaches. They spent a lot of time with me this offseason getting my body right and getting my ankle healthy,” Weeks mentioned about his recovery process.
There is a lot of excitement around the 2025 LSU defense, and plenty of it centers around Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr, who is also returning from injury.
Weeks isn’t shy to talk about how special of a talent his teammate is.
“The sky’s the limit for Harold. He’s the best athlete I’ve probably ever seen in my whole life. If you let Harold be Harold, he’ll be a superstar. It’s not going to be hard for him to be a superstar.”
Perkins Jr’s usage has been a popular topic of discussion. He broke out as a freshman rushing off of the edge, but has moved to off-ball linebacker as LSU has searched for his ideal role.
Expectations for this LSU defense are high, and Weeks will be the focus of plenty of that attention. If he has the year many think he is capable of, chances are that unit can take another step in the right direction as well.