LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was the centerpiece of head coach Lane Kiffin’s revolution in Baton Rouge, which brought in 43 players and ranked as the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country. With veteran quarterback demand in college football skyrocketing, Leavitt was also the No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal.
Sam Leavitt Calms Injury Setback Speculation
The heightened expectations around Leavitt’s potential ahead of a pivotal season in Baton Rouge have been tempered by a Lisfranc injury that ended his season after only seven games last year.
On Sunday, Leavitt posted a picture on Instagram of his propped-up, bandaged right foot, leading to fears among fans of a fresh injury setback for their new quarterback. Leavitt later cleared the air, revealing that his initial Instagram post was about doctors removing the pins in his foot, not a fresh injury.
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“Small step back for a bigger one forward!! Let’s GEAUX!!” Leavitt wrote in his Instagram stories. “Got the pins out of my foot from initial surgery, lol, did not get injured again.”
Leavitt injured his foot during the 2025 season and continued to play for Arizona State before being forced into a season-ending surgery in October. He then entered the transfer portal and visited several elite programs, including the Tennessee Volunteers, before Kiffin convinced him to commit to the Tigers.
In his limited game time last season, Leavitt earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 79.7 after registering 1,628 passing yards, resulting in 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 306 rushing yards and five scores to lead Arizona State to a 5-2 record before his surgery.
While speaking to reporters after spring practice last week, Kiffin gave an update on Leavitt’s progress and the drills he could take part in.
“Sam will be able to throw some and participate in 7-on-7 stuff in the spring, but probably not the team stuff,” Kiffin said. “I think, regardless, we would have done what we did.”
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Leavitt joined the Arizona State Sun Devils after a season playing for the Michigan State Spartans. He led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title in 2024 and an appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoff to cement his legacy at the program.
Kiffin recruited aggressively to add depth to the Tigers’ quarterback room. LSU brought in former five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet from the USC Trojans and Landen Clark from the Elon Phoenix to fight for the backup position behind Leavitt next season.
