ASU’s Sam Leavitt ‘not tripping’ but knows there’s much to clean up

TEMPE — Quarterback Sam Leavitt said Arizona State’s loss to Mississippi State showed him what needs to be cleaned up and how potent Arizona State can be when things are firing the right way.

Leavitt took some blame and said that his confidence in himself hasn’t wavered.

“There’s a lot of things I gotta clean up. Quite frankly, I didn’t play very well, and I take a lot of things on me, but it’s things I can clean up,” Leavitt said. “Just knowing the game plan better and fixing my footwork, being more calm.

“It’s a lot of the same things that was early in the season last year, so I’m just excited to go to work and fix it up.”

He began 1-for-7 and was just 5-for-15 in the first half.

Leavitt finished with a career-worst completion percentage in Starkville as he went 10-for-22 (45.5%) for 82 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

“I do this for me at the end of the day, my team and everyone around me,” Leavitt said. “I don’t really care about the outside noise. It’s one game. I’m not tripping at all.”

ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said after the loss — and again took some blame on Monday — that he didn’t do a good enough job getting Leavitt in a rhythm.

So how does the quarterback find that rhythm?

“I feel like for me, I just gotta know the game plan better, you know, every in and out within it,” the quarterback said.

“I spent a lot of time studying the defense we were going up against and last year, I remember I did the same thing, and I kind of laid back on watching film and more diving into what we need to do as an offense. Then I started playing better and as a team we kind of came along more like that. So, just to get in rhythm, I think I just gotta start banging stuff early, playing underneath and then eventually work down the field as the game goes on.”

Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo has compared it to basketball, Leavitt said.

“When you come out, you’re not just pulling deep 3s, you’re getting to the rack and getting a free throw, stuff like that,” Leavitt said.

ASU shifted to more of a run-heavy approach in the second half (31 rushes to seven pass attempts) and turned what once was a 17-point deficit into a 20-point rally to take the lead in the final minutes.

Raleek Brown and Army transfer addition Kanye Udoh each finished with over 100 rushing yards after Kyson Brown suffered an ankle injury in the first half.

“It was really good to see our backs grinding out there,” Leavitt said. “Guys who haven’t played on this team like that and really toted the rock.

“And up front, we’re pushing big guys in the SEC, so I was really proud of them, and I just got to step it up on my end.”

Sam Leavitt looking to get more Arizona State WRs involved

Through two games, Malik McClain is the only ASU wide receiver not named Jordyn Tyson to have a catch. McClain has two receptions for five yards.

“I just got to start feeding the ball to my other guys and trusting them to make plays and trust them to play overall, just in terms of packaging, not putting everything on (Tyson’s) hands,” Leavitt said. “It’s going to be within the game plan and myself just feeding them the rock.”

Jaren Hamilton (Alabama) and Jalen Moss (Fresno State) both impressed as newcomers in camp and have continued to do so in practices. They’re each still looking for their first reception after two targets.

McClain, meanwhile, had some good opportunities early on Saturday, but Leavitt’s throws to the big-bodied receiver were off target or off-timed.

Tyson has accounted for 209 of Leavitt’s 339 yards (61.7%) through the air, well above his share in 2024 (38.2%).

Tyson’s only 100-yard game in the first half of last season came at Texas State, so the Bobcats will be well aware of how he can hurt a defense. It will be up to Arroyo, Leavitt and the other receivers to capitalize on that.

Catch ASU-Texas State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the Arizona Sports app, ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2. It will be televised on TNT.

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