Sam Leavitt Arrives at LSU with Heisman Buzz and Big-Time Expectations
The Lane Kiffin era at LSU is already making waves-and it hasn’t even officially kicked off. But with a new head coach comes a new quarterback, and in Baton Rouge, that quarterback is bringing more than just a strong arm. Sam Leavitt, widely regarded as the top player in the transfer portal, is stepping into Death Valley with sky-high expectations and a Heisman Trophy spotlight already following him.
Leavitt enters his first season with the Tigers tied for the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Only Arch Manning, CJ Carr, and Josh Hoover are ahead of him in the early betting lines. He shares that fourth spot with a talented group that includes Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, Gunner Stockton, and Dante Moore.
Now, LSU fans have seen this movie before. Just last season, Garrett Nussmeier came in with similar hype-and things didn’t exactly go according to script. So while the buzz is real, there’s also a healthy dose of cautious optimism in Baton Rouge.
But there’s also precedent here. Jayden Daniels, who transferred in from Arizona State just like Leavitt, turned in one of the most electric seasons in recent college football history.
In his Heisman-winning campaign, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with just four interceptions, while adding 1,134 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. It was a season for the ages-and a reminder of what’s possible when talent meets the right system.
Leavitt isn’t expected to replicate Daniels’ video game-like numbers, but he doesn’t have to in order to make a serious impact. If anything, he profiles as a blend between Daniels’ dual-threat explosiveness and the more traditional pocket presence of someone like Fernando Mendoza, who tossed 41 touchdowns last season with just six picks and added seven rushing scores. Leavitt isn’t quite as mobile as Daniels, but he’s more of a threat on the ground than Mendoza-and that balance could make him a nightmare for SEC defenses.
What Leavitt hasn’t done-yet-is light it up through the air the way Daniels or Mendoza did. His career high in passing touchdowns is 24. But that number could climb in a hurry under Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who are known for crafting high-octane, quarterback-friendly systems.
And Leavitt won’t be short on weapons. LSU has completely overhauled its wide receiver room, bringing in a fleet of burners who can stretch the field and turn short throws into long gains. Speed is the name of the game, and this group has plenty of it.
Jackson Harris and Tre Brown both finished last season among the top eight nationally in yards per reception-a stat that speaks volumes about their big-play ability. Jayce Brown wasn’t far behind, cracking the top 30. With that kind of firepower on the outside, Leavitt will have every opportunity to push the ball downfield and rack up numbers in a hurry.
All eyes will be on him from the opening snap. Leavitt has the tools, the system, and now the stage. Whether he lives up to the Heisman hype remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure-Tigers fans are in for an exciting ride.