Lane Kiffin didn’t waste any time making a splash in Baton Rouge, and his biggest move so far? Landing Sam Leavitt out of the transfer portal.
The former Arizona State quarterback was rated the No. 1 overall player in the portal by On3, and he chose LSU over some heavyweight offers from Tennessee and Miami. With that decision, Kiffin has his QB1 for year one of his LSU tenure - and it’s a big one.
But there’s a wrinkle. Leavitt’s 2025 campaign at Arizona State was cut short after an ankle injury he suffered on October 25 against Houston.
He underwent a procedure shortly after and missed the final four games of the regular season, plus the Sun Bowl matchup with Duke. Now, as LSU gears up for spring camp, the focus shifts to Leavitt’s recovery and what he’ll be able to do in the coming weeks.
Kiffin addressed the media Wednesday and gave a status update on his new quarterback. The good news: Leavitt will be able to throw and take part in 7-on-7 work. The not-so-good news: team drills are likely off the table for now.
“Sam will be able to throw some and participate in 7-on-7, but not the team stuff,” Kiffin said. “It was imperative to get quarterbacks. Our offense is pushed by the quarterback and tempo.”
That last part is key - tempo and quarterback play have always been staples of Kiffin’s offensive identity. So while Leavitt is clearly the guy moving forward, Kiffin made sure to stack the quarterback room with depth and competition.
Enter Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark.
Longstreet, a former 5-star recruit and the No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 class according to 247Sports, comes in from USC. Clark, meanwhile, is fresh off a breakout year at Elon, where he was named the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned FCS All-American honors as a redshirt freshman. Both bring serious talent to the table, and both will have a shot to get valuable reps this spring - especially with Leavitt limited.
Kiffin praised his staff, including GM Billy Glasscock, for pulling off the rare feat of landing three high-level quarterbacks in one cycle.
“The other two quarterbacks are talented players,” Kiffin said. “I’m proud of Billy and our assistant coaches to do that at the quarterback position.
It says a lot about the players to come to the same place. A lot of players want to go somewhere where they’re guaranteed to start.”
That’s a telling quote. In today’s college football landscape, where quarterbacks often transfer at the first sign of competition, convincing three talented signal-callers to join the same room is no small feat. It speaks to Kiffin’s vision - and to the opportunity these quarterbacks see at LSU.
Leavitt, for his part, brings plenty of production to the table. He’s already totaled over 5,400 yards and 46 touchdowns in his college career.
When healthy, he’s a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who fits Kiffin’s up-tempo scheme like a glove. But until he’s full-go, the Tigers will get an extended look at Longstreet and Clark - and that’s not a bad thing.
If nothing else, it gives Kiffin a chance to evaluate his depth chart in live-action scenarios. And if Leavitt’s ankle lingers into the summer or fall, LSU won’t be caught flat-footed. Both Longstreet and Clark are capable of stepping in and running the show.
So while Leavitt is the headliner, the bigger story might be the depth Kiffin has built behind him. LSU’s quarterback room is suddenly one of the deepest - and most intriguing - in the SEC. And with spring ball just around the corner, we’re about to get our first look at how it all shakes out.