Is Sam Leavitt him? The Good and The Bad

It is January 5th, we’re all nursing New Year's hangovers, and Lane Kiffin is already out here trying to break the internet. The "Portal King" has officially set his sights on former Arizona State gunslinger (and Big 12 Freshman of the Year) Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt is currently in Baton Rouge, and if Kiffin gets his way, this kid is the keys to the Ferrari. Here is the breakdown of why LSU fans should be hyped—and what’s keeping us up at night.

The Good: Why He’s "That Guy"

Leavitt isn’t some "game manager" coming in to hold the clipboard. He’s a certified playmaker who looks like he was grown in a lab specifically for a Lane Kiffin offense.

• The "Scramble Drill" King: This kid is a problem when the pocket collapses. He doesn’t just throw the ball away; he makes defenders look stupid and delivers strikes while sprinting. NFL scouts are already drooling over his "throw on the run" tape.

• The Harlem Berry Factor: Imagine a backfield with Leavitt and 5-star RB Harlem Berry. It’s basically a cheat code. Every RPO is a nightmare for SEC defensive coordinators who are already underpaid to deal with this much speed.

• Statistically Cracked: 34 TDs to only 9 picks in two years? In this economy? His 88.9 PFF grade as a freshman was second only to Jeremiah Smith. When the field shrinks in the Red Zone, he turns into a surgeon (26 TDs to 2 INTs). He doesn’t turn the ball over, which is a nice change of pace for my blood pressure.

The Bad: The "Red Flags"

It wouldn't be LSU football without a little drama and a medical report.

• The Foot: Leavitt’s 2025 season got cut short by a Lisfranc injury. He’s expected to be fine by the fall, but he’s missing Spring ball. Missing 15 practices with Lane while trying to learn a complex playbook is like trying to learn Mandarin in a weekend. Chemistry with the WRs matters, and "mental reps" only go so far.

• The Deep Ball: He’s got the arm strength to hit the moon, but his accuracy on the long ball has been... shaky. He started 2024 hitting about 25% of his deep shots. He got better, but if he wants to be Jaxson Dart 2.0, he’s gotta start hitting those 50-yard bombs with more consistency.

The Verdict

The LSU QB room is currently emptier than a bar at 6:00 AM on a Monday. If Leavitt signs, the Tigers immediately have a pulse and a Top-10 ceiling.

The Bottom Line: If that foot heals and Lane works his QB-whisperer magic, Sam Leavitt is going to be a problem for the rest of the SEC. Get the "Leavitt to Beaver" puns ready, because Baton Rouge just found its next superstar.