Arizona State names Sam Leavitt starting QB

Former Michigan State quarterback Sam Leavitt‘s decision to transfer to Arizona State this offseason has paid off, officially announced as the Sun Devil’s starting quarterback ahead of the 2024 season.

Leavitt edged out veteran quarterback Jeff Sims in the quarterback competition, who also transferred to Arizona State this offseason after spending the first three seasons of his college career at Georgia Tech followed by a lone last year at Nebraska in 2023. As the Sun Devils will now turn toward the redshirt freshman quarterback to help turn things around in the program’s second season under head coach Kenny Dillingham.

As a true freshman at Michigan State last season, Leavitt appeared in four games for the Spartans. Completing 15 of his 23 pass attempts for 139 yards and two touchdowns along with two interceptions. Also running the ball 13 times for 67 yards on the ground in his game appearances versus Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Maryland.

Leavitt played high school football at West Linn High School in Portland, Oregon where the was a four-star prospect. Ranked the No. 24 quarterback and the No. 381 overall player for the 2023 recruiting class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Leavitt may not have much college playing experience under his belt. But at Big 12 Media Days, his head coach raved about his intangibles. Comparing him to a recent former quarterback of his who heard his name called in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

“I think we have a young guy in Sam Leavitt who cares,” Dillingham said. “He’s passionate. He actually reminds me of Bo Nix in terms of his personality, his swagger, his demeanor, his type A-ness, right? Which is good, because I’m the opposite. So I can balance him out and tell him — I mean, you want to try to be perfect, but you got to go to the next play.”

Sims may have lost the starting job, but it will be fascinating to see if Arizona State still decides to use him as a rusher in specific packages. Rushing for 1,355 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground on 319 carries in his college career. Breaking out for 492 yards and six rushing scores as a true freshman at Georgia Tech.

Leavitt will make his first career start for Arizona State on August 31 when they host Wyoming at 10:30 p.m. ET in a matchup airing on FS1.