Former ASU QB Sam Leavitt transferring to LSU

Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has signed with LSU after multiple visits around the country with potential suitors, according to ESPN’s Max Olson.

“Geaux Tigers!!” Leavitt later wrote on Instagram Monday evening.

 

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Leavitt’s recruitment trip included stops at Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee and Miami before he landed on the Tigers. He was also slated for a Texas Tech visit before the Red Raiders ended up with Brendan Sorsby, formerly of Cincinnati.

While he was visiting Kentucky, things seemed to be heading towards a QB swap after ASU started its transfer portal cycle by bringing in Kentucky transfer quarterback Cutter Boley.

Leavitt was sitting courtside at an LSU basketball game later in the week with first-year head coach Lane Kiffin when news came down that Demond Williams Jr. was leaving Washington just days after re-signing with the Huskies. Williams was immediately linked to LSU; he had initially committed to Kiffin and Ole Miss during his high school recruitment.

The former ASU signal caller then pivoted to a Tennessee visit, which began Wednesday night.

Following the trip to Knoxville — and additional conversations with LSU before the Tigers looked into USC transfer Husan Longstreet — Leavitt began a visit to Miami while the Hurricanes were preparing for the national championship.

Despite the Longstreet report, Leavitt and LSU linked back up.

Leavitt marks the latest ASU quarterback to transfer to LSU following Jayden Daniels’ move to the Tigers in 2022. Daniels went on to win the Heisman in 2023.

Sam Leavitt’s peaks while at ASU, transfer timeline

Leavitt’s time at ASU comes to an end after two seasons with the program. He became a Sun Devil ahead of the 2024 season after transferring from Michigan State.

As a redshirt freshman, Leavitt had a breakout season in 2024, passing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, while adding 443 yards and five scores on the ground. Along with running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, Leavitt was one of the top offensive stars on a team that won the Big 12 Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Leavitt’s 2025 campaign was plagued by injuries as he missed ASU’s Week 7 game against Utah due to a foot injury. He returned the following week against Texas Tech, throwing for more than 300 yards in an upset win over the Red Raiders.

Leavitt then exited the next game against Houston with a foot issue and later underwent season-ending foot surgery, missing the Sun Devils’ last five games.

Signs of Leavitt’s departure started on Nov. 18 when it was reported his camp was shopping his services to other teams.

Another sign of his departure was when head coach Kenny Dillingham reportedly wished him well at the team’s end-of-year banquet that Leavitt did not attend.

ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti reported on Dec. 9 that Leavitt informed Dillingham he intended to enter the transfer portal.

SunDevilSource.com’s Chris Karpman reported on Friday that Leavitt officially entered the transfer portal with On3’s Pete Nakos adding he entered the portal with a “do not contact” tag.

Arizona Sports’ Bailey Leasure contributed to this story.

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