ESPN: ASU’s Sam Leavitt among the most important players in college football in 2025

As Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt enters his redshirt sophomore season, questions linger if he can carry the offensive load after the Sun Devils lost Cam Skattebo to the NFL.

Leavitt’s 24 passing touchdowns and five rushing scores indicate he’s capable of doing it and putting up similar stats this season would play a big part in whether ASU can contend for a Big 12 Championship again.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly listed Leavitt as the 34th-most important player in college football in 2025 under the “most important players in the Big 12 race” category. He noted Leavitt’s production went under the radar last season due to Skattebo’s play.

It was almost lost in the Skattebo hysteria, but Leavitt was absolutely dynamite during ASU’s late-2024 hot streak. From November onward, he ranked second among all FBS starters in Total QBR, averaging 7.9 yards per dropback with a 16-to-2 TD-INT ratio (and scrambling beautifully) despite losing his go-to receiver, Jordyn Tyson, to injury.

Connelly noted that even without Skattebo, ASU’s offense is set up for Leavitt to have another strong season.

Having Skattebo next to him helped in obvious ways, but with a deeper receiving corps and a still-decent set of RBs, Leavitt could pilot an exciting Sun Devils offense and lead a second straight conference title charge.

How Sam Leavitt, ASU offense look headed into 2025

Despite losing Skattebo, Leavitt and the offense are set up nicely this season with several starters on offense returning including Tyson, tight end Chamon Metayer and NFL-hopeful offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.

ASU also added several offensive options through the transfer portal this offseason, including receivers Jaren Hamilton (Alabama) and Jalen Moss (Fresno State) along with running back Kanye Udoh (Army).

The Sun Devils will hold a scrimmage open to fans to conclude the annual Camp Tontozona trip on Saturday before they kick off their regular season at Mountain America Stadium against Northern Arizona on Aug. 30.

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