LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt will be easing his way back into action this spring as he continues to recover from foot surgery, head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed Wednesday. While Leavitt won’t be a full participant in team drills just yet, he’ll still be able to throw and take part in 7-on-7 work - a positive sign for a player expected to take the reins of the Tigers’ offense this fall.
Leavitt, who suffered the injury in September during his time at Arizona State, underwent season-ending surgery and is still on the mend. That means LSU's spring reps during full-contact periods will be split between two recent transfer additions: redshirt freshman Husan Longstreet, who arrives from Southern Cal, and Landen Clark, a redshirt sophomore from Elon. Both will get valuable opportunities to showcase their ability to operate within Kiffin’s system - but make no mistake, this is still Leavitt’s job when he’s healthy.
And there’s good reason for that. Leavitt came into Baton Rouge as one of the highest-ranked players in the transfer portal, regardless of position.
He brings with him two years of starting experience at Arizona State, where he developed into one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Over that span, he completed 61.3% of his passes for 4,513 yards, tossing 34 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.
On the ground, he added 749 rushing yards and 10 scores - numbers that speak to the kind of mobility Kiffin has often leaned on in his offensive schemes.
Leavitt’s breakout came in 2024, his redshirt freshman season, when he led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth. That year, he threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 61.7% of his passes, and ran for another 443 yards and five touchdowns. It was a performance that not only put him on the national radar but also made him one of the most coveted quarterbacks available when he hit the portal.
Now, as LSU begins a new chapter under Kiffin, Leavitt is expected to be the centerpiece of an offense that’s likely to lean on tempo, creativity, and quarterback versatility. While his spring workload will be scaled back, the Tigers are clearly playing the long game - making sure their QB1 is fully healthy and ready to go when it really counts.
In the meantime, the reps for Longstreet and Clark will be crucial. Spring is often the proving ground for depth, and with Leavitt on a limited schedule, both young signal-callers will have a chance to make their case as potential backups - or more importantly, show they can keep the offense afloat if called upon during the season.
For now, LSU fans can rest easy knowing their quarterback of the future is progressing, and that the foundation is being laid for what could be a high-octane offense in Kiffin’s debut season in Death Valley.