Sam Leavitt: The Rise of a True Freshman Phenom

Sam Leavitt's story is one of rapid ascent. From an under-recruited high school player to a potential first-round NFL draft pick, his journey embodies the power of self-belief and unwavering commitment. This article delves into the factors that have fueled Leavitt's remarkable rise, exploring his early career, his impact at Arizona State University (ASU), and the high expectations surrounding his future.

Early Career and Recruitment

Despite leading West Linn High School to a 12-1 record and a Class 6A state championship, earning Gatorade Oregon Football Player of the Year and MaxPreps Oregon High School Player of the Year honors, Leavitt's recruitment was surprisingly lukewarm. As Jon Eagle, his former coach, noted, Sam had been the Gatorade and MaxPreps Oregon Football Player of the Year after leading West Linn to a 12-1 record and the Class 6A state championship. He threw for 3,184 yards and 36 touchdowns on 170-of-244 passing (.697) and rushed for 693 yards and eight touchdowns. His father, Jared, and brother, Dallin, reached out to their contacts, but the reception was unenthusiastic. Several coaches said they liked him, but he wasn't their cup of tea.

Ultimately, Leavitt landed at Michigan State, drawn by the allure of a Big Ten school, but found himself as the third-string quarterback. After a coaching change, with Jonathan Smith, who had previously passed on Leavitt at Oregon State, taking over, he entered the transfer portal.

Transfer to ASU and Immediate Impact

Arizona State quickly emerged as an appealing destination for Leavitt, largely due to Kenny Dillingham's track record of success with quarterbacks. Despite initial reservations from his family, Leavitt's official visit to Tempe, particularly a six-hour meeting with offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, solidified his decision. Dillingham has joked that after seeing the interaction between the two, he wasn't going to let Leavitt leave without a commitment.

Leavitt transferred to Arizona State after the 2023 season. He was named the starting quarterback for the 2024 season on Aug. 19 with Sims serving as the backup. He competed against veteran Trenton Bourguet and transfer Jeff Sims for the starting role.

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In his first year in Tempe, Leavitt quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He 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.

A Record-Breaking Freshman Season

Leavitt's redshirt freshman season at ASU was nothing short of spectacular. He threw for 2,855 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions, leading the Sun Devils to an unexpected Big 12 championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He completed 63.16% (192-for-304) of his passes for 2,663 yards with 24 touchdown passes and only five interceptions in 12 games. He also has 383 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. In the past six games, he has 16 touchdown passes and only one interception.

His performance earned him the Big 12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year award. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week three times during the regular season and took home conference Offensive Freshman of the Year honors at season's end.

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). Of the seven players ahead of him, six started an NFL game last season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler). Was one of just four with 20+ touchdowns (24) with six or fewer interceptions (six) AND turnover-worthy throws (5) (min.

He showcased remarkable composure under pressure, accumulating 708 passing yards while pressured, ranking 19th nationally despite missing a game. 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. Had the nation's sixth-best rushing grade when scrambling at 76.4. First ASU quarterback to have six games in a season with three or more touchdown passes (6) since Mike Berocovici in 2015 (6). The six games were tied for second-most this century behind only Andrew Walter's seven in 2004. 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.

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Key Statistics and Achievements

Passing Yards: 2,885 (second in program history for a freshman)
Total Offense: 3,328 yards (school record for a freshman)
Touchdown Passes: 24
Interceptions: 6
Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year
Big 12 Championship
College Football Playoff Berth

Leavitt's Strengths and Attributes

Several factors contribute to Leavitt's success. His former coach, Jon Eagle, highlighted his work ethic, attitude, and team spirit, stating, "He's everything you want in a quarterback. Not just the talent, but he works hard. He has always had a great attitude, and he's a great teammate."

Competitive Spirit: Leavitt possesses a fierce competitive drive, constantly seeking to outperform himself and others.
Composure Under Pressure: He demonstrates remarkable poise in high-pressure situations, making smart decisions and delivering accurate passes.
Work Ethic: Leavitt is known for his dedication to improvement, consistently working to refine his skills and expand his knowledge of the game.
Leadership: He has quickly emerged as a leader on and off the field, inspiring his teammates with his passion and commitment.
Intelligence: Dillingham praises Leavitt's intelligence and preparation, noting that he is "super intelligent" and "prepares" well.
Adaptability: In 2024, Dillingham noted, "We hindered him last year more than we helped him in a lot of ways. We said, `Hey, go fix it on third-and-long. Go fix it on second-and-long, which is very tough for a quarterback. So, I think what you saw from Sam last year is somebody who had to fix a lot of problems in bad situations, and he did an unbelievable job of us giving him a bad scenario and fixing it."

The Dillingham Effect

Kenny Dillingham's influence on Leavitt's development cannot be overstated. Dillingham's offensive system, known for its quarterback-friendly schemes and emphasis on player development, has been instrumental in Leavitt's success. Dillingham has a track record of success with quarterbacks - most notably Jordan Travis at Florida State and Bo Nix at Oregon - at his previous stops.

Dillingham also fosters a competitive environment, encouraging his players to challenge themselves and each other. Everything we do is competitive," Sims said. "We're always challenging each other. Sam helps me, and I help him. That's just our relationship. That's my dog. I'll run through a brick wall for Sam."

NIL Deals and Community Involvement

Leavitt has embraced the opportunities presented by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, signing his first local NIL deal early in his ASU career. More importantly, he has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the community, donating $15,000 to the Pat Tillman Foundation and putting the money from the sale of his NIL merchandise into the Sun Angel collective so his teammates can prosper.

High Expectations and Future Potential

Leavitt's breakout season has generated considerable buzz, with many projecting him as a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft.He has already been featured this offseason in Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and USA Today, and on ESPN anchor Matt Barrie’s podcast.

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Sam Leavitt transferred to Arizona State after the 2023 season and is now considered a potential first round pick in next year's NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) even included him in their initial first-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, projecting him as the No. 8 overall pick.

Coach Dillingham believes Leavitt has all the skills that translate to the next level. NFL scouts have been flocking to ASU practices since fall camp opened with Leavitt a key attraction.

Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Focus

Despite the accolades and attention, Leavitt remains grounded and focused on his goals. He has very high standards for himself and what he wants to accomplish," said Dallin Leavitt, the oldest of the four Leavitt children. "It's not that he thinks he had a bad year, but he knows he has so much more in him, so much more he wants to accomplish. That's where his head is at."

He downplays his accomplishments and sets his sights on even greater achievements, including a Heisman Trophy and a national championship.

Sam has such big dreams and goals that anything he reads isn’t probably as big as those goals,” Dillingham said. “I think that’s what drives him. He wants to be the best. So it doesn’t matter what somebody writes. It doesn’t matter what somebody says. You’re probably not dreaming as big as he is dreaming.”

Leavitt's Continued Growth

Dillingham believes Leavitt will continue to improve as he gains more experience and the coaching staff tailors the offense to his strengths. This year, I hope we will put him in more positions to be successful on early downs, which will allow him to stay in rhythm, allow him to be a better quarterback on those long yardage situations as well."

Seven Words That Define Sam Leavitt

According to Scott Bordow of ASU News, seven words encapsulate Sam Leavitt's drive and ambition: "How great do you want to be?" This question reflects Leavitt's relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering belief in his potential.

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