LSU’s new quarterback Sam Leavitt has landed on one of college football’s early-season honor rolls.
The Maxwell Football Club announced that Leavitt is on the preseason watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, which goes annually to the outstanding player in college football. LSU has had two recent winners of the award in quarterbacks Joe Burrow in 2019 and Jayden Daniels in 2023, and both went on to win the Heisman Trophy as well.
Leavitt, a redshirt junior from West Linn, Oregon, is one of 81 players on the list, including 16 from the SEC. He joined LSU last January after signing with new coach Lane Kiffin from Arizona State as the No. 1 player in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
At Arizona State, Leavitt started the last two seasons and put together a strong 2024 campaign. He earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection after throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while helping the Sun Devils finish 11-3 and reach the College Football Playoff. His 2025 season was interrupted after seven starts by a right foot injury, and he had Lisfranc surgery last fall before missing most of spring practice.
Kiffin has repeatedly said Leavitt is fully recovered.
For his college career, Leavitt has totaled 4,652 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes, along with 816 rushing yards and 10 scores. He also spent time at Michigan State in 2023, where he appeared briefly in four games and redshirted.
Leavitt and LSU are reporting to campus today to open fall camp, with the first practice set for Wednesday morning. The Tigers begin the season at home against Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.
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