The No.1-rated QB in the transfer portal, Sam Leavitt, has committed to LSU after a lengthy visit to Baton Rouge last week that was followed up by Kiffin visiting him in Tennessee. Leavitt led Arizona State to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth in 2024. Michelle Gardner with the Arizona Republic covered Leavitt at ASU.
“He’s definitely a quarterback who has the ‘X’ factor. Guys have it or they don’t have it. And he has always had, from the day he arrived on campus, a knack for delivering in the clutch,” Gardner said.
Leavitt threw for 4,600 yards, 36 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 816 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns during his career at ASU. Gardner says Leavitt takes his craft seriously.
“He’s going to put in the dark hours, when you’re not on the field. Are you studying film? What are you doing off the field? And he’s one of those guys that’s going to put in all the hours and do everything absolutely in his power,” Gardner explained.
LSU fans hope history repeats itself. Jayden Daniels also transferred from Arizona State to LSU and ended up winning the Heisman in 2023. Gardner says Daniels was an elite runner and Leavitt is also dangerous running the football.
“Usually, there was at least one play a game where you were going ‘How did he just do that?’ How he got out of some tackler. He’d run for a first down,” Gardner said.