Reports: Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU

Last night LSU got a guy. Roughly 12 hours later, LSU got the guy.

Highly sought after quarterback Sam Leavitt is expected to sign with LSU per numerous outlets. While he has yet to put pen to paper, those who would know (Pete Thamel, Ross Dellegner etc.,) have all reported the same thing: Leavitt is for all intents and purposes a Tiger.

Leavitt is viewed as, at worst, the No. 2 overall player in the portal, but most places have as the No. 1 player. He is choosing LSU after taking visits to Tennessee and Miami, and is the clear-cut day-one starter at quarterback the moment he officially joins the football program.

Getting Leavitt’s pledge was…eventful, to put it mildly. Leavitt was in Baton Rouge a week ago, but left without committing. In fact, it looked like that ship had sailed after LSU was linked to Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Leavitt left Baton Rouge for Knoxville. But the Williams saga turned south and this past Friday, Lane Kiffin flew up to his old stomping ground to try and win back Leavitt. Whatever Kiffin sold him on worked, because now Leavitt is on his way to Baton Rouge.

As to when we’ll first see Leavitt on the practice field is a complete unknown. Leavitt’s season was cut short by a foot injury and as a result underwent a Lisfranc surgery toward the end of October. Leavitt is going to miss all spring practice, will likely miss a bulk of the summer, but if the injury heals the way it ought to he should be ready for fall camp.

Leavitt comes to LSU as quite the accomplished quarterback. He began his career at Michigan State, but transferred to Arizona State prior to the 2024 season. In two years and 20 starts, threw for 4,513 yards, 34 touchdowns, and completed 61 percent of his passes. He’s got some mobility too, rushing for 743 yards and 10 scores. He led Arizona State to a Big 12 title in 2024 and made the College Football Playoff.

LSU entered the Transfer Portal with a desperate need at quarterback, and ended up getting the No. 1 option out there. LSU has a starter in Leavitt, a backup in Landen Clark, and they are still trying to get former five-star Husan Longstreet into the room as well. That’s a far cry from where LSU was a few days ago when the Tigers had, quite literally, zero quarterbacks on scholarship. Even better is Leavitt has two years of eligibility so LSU could have their guy for 2027 as well.

Now let’s hope that this Arizona State transfer works out just as well for LSU as the last guy to transfer in from Arizona State.