Sam Leavitt: The Rising Star Quarterback
Sam Leavitt, born on December 20, 2004, is an American college football quarterback currently playing for the LSU Tigers. His journey through college football has been marked by impressive performances, transfers, and high expectations.
Early Life and High School Career
Leavitt's high school career saw him attend multiple schools, showcasing his talent across different states. He began at Westview High School in Washington County, Oregon, as a freshman and junior. As a sophomore, he played for Pleasant Grove High School in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He concluded his high school career at West Linn High School in West Linn, Oregon.
During his senior year in 2022, Leavitt was named the Gatorade Oregon Football Player of the Year after an outstanding season where he passed for 3,184 yards and 36 touchdowns. His exceptional performance led West Linn High School to a 12-1 record and the Class 6A state championship, earning him the MaxPreps Oregon High School Player of the Year award. In the state championship game against Sheldon, he completed 13 of 21 passes for 131 yards and rushed for 171 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown. In the state semifinal win over Central Catholic, he threw for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Leavitt was highly regarded as a prospect, earning a four-star rating from On3 and being ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the state of Oregon in the Class of 2023 by On3. He was also considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation by On3 (No. 7), 247Sports (No. 17), ESPN (No. 20), and Rivals (No. 29).
College Career
Michigan State (2023)
Leavitt initially committed to Michigan State, where he redshirted during the 2023 season. He appeared in four games, completing 15 of 23 passes for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 13 times for 67 yards. His best showing was against Minnesota, where he connected on 8 of 12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 6 times for 52 yards.
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Arizona State (2024-2025)
In 2024, Leavitt transferred to Arizona State, where he quickly made an impact. He was named the starter for the season opener against Wyoming. In his first season, Leavitt led the Sun Devils to an 11-3 record, a Big 12 championship, and a first-round appearance in the College Football Playoff. He completed 216-of-350 passes (61.7%) for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 433 yards and 5 touchdowns on 110 carries. Leavitt set a program record for total offense by a freshman with 3,328 yards and ranked second for a freshman with 2,885 passing yards. He had 6 games with at least 3 touchdown passes, including a career-best 4 in a win over Kansas. He was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week three times and the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week once.
Leavitt's sophomore season in 2025 was cut short due to a foot injury sustained in a game against Baylor on September 20, 2025. He started all 7 games he appeared in, completing 145-of-239 passes for 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also rushed 73 times for 306 yards and 5 scores. Despite the injury, Leavitt showcased his talent and leadership, guiding Arizona State to a 5-2 mark in his starts.
LSU (2026-Present)
In early December, Leavitt entered the transfer portal and committed to LSU, becoming the cornerstone of the Tigers' 2026 portal class under Lane Kiffin. He is expected to lead LSU's offense and contribute to the team's pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth.
Key Statistics and Achievements at Arizona State
Leavitt's time at Arizona State was marked by several notable achievements and statistics:
- Finished his first year in Tempe as the school record holder for total offense by a freshman with 3,328 yards and second in program history in passing yards by a freshman at 2,885.
- His 88.9 grade for the season is the eighth-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 400 snaps played).
- Was one of just four with 20+ touchdowns (24) with six or fewer interceptions (six) AND turnover-worthy throws (5) (min.
- Only 20 of his passes were broken, good for the 20th-lowest total in the FBS.
- First ASU quarterback to have six games in a season with three or more touchdown passes (6) since Mike Berocovici in 2015 (6).
- Named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week following his four touchdown effort against Kansas, including the game-winner with less than a minute remaining.
Strengths and Abilities
Leavitt has demonstrated several key strengths throughout his college career:
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- Composure Under Pressure: Leavitt has shown the ability to maintain his composure under pressure, with 708 passing yards while pressured. His 7.8 yards per attempt while under pressure were 12th-best in the country. His 74.8 NFL QBR while under pressure was 30th in the nation.
- Rushing Ability: Leavitt is a dual-threat quarterback, showcasing his ability to make plays with his legs. He had the nation's sixth-best rushing grade when scrambling.
- Accuracy and Decision-Making: Leavitt has demonstrated accuracy in his passes and good decision-making, as evidenced by his low interception rate and turnover-worthy throw rate.
Personal Life
Sam Leavitt's father, Jared, played football at BYU, earning two letters for the Cougars in 1990-91.
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