Sam Leavitt: Rebounding Towards the NFL Draft

Trinidad Chambliss made a remarkable transition last season, stepping up from Ferris State’s Division II to become the key quarterback for Ole Miss under coach Lane Kiffin. This year, he’s poised to become a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft with another strong performance.

Lately, Kiffin has taken his expertise to LSU, fostering another potential NFL standout, Sam Leavitt. Leavitt transferred from Arizona State to LSU to play under Kiffin. In 2024, he led Arizona State to the Big 12 Championship and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last year, an unfortunate foot injury limited his impact, though.

Jordan Reid from ESPN reported that many NFL scouts believe Leavitt might elevate his draft position from a Day 2 prospect to a first-round candidate if he excels this season at LSU.

“Quarterback Sam Leavitt is looking to rebound after following up a breakout 2024 season at Arizona State with an injury-riddled seven-game campaign last year,” Reid wrote. “A quick-footed, dual-threat signal-caller, Leavitt has tools that fit seamlessly into the Kiffin scheme, which expedites the development of passers. There’s a path for Leavitt to emerge from his current Day 2 status into Round 1 consideration.”

In 2024, Leavitt passed for 2,885 yards, racking up 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. Despite his foot injury last season, he completed a decent 5-2 as a starter, accruing 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Recently, Leavitt mentioned he has regained full physical capability, though he maintains precautionary foot exercises during warm-ups. Kiffin expressed satisfaction with Leavitt’s training camp performance, which has evidently improved since his limited spring practice.

“Now that he’s healthy, he’s had a great week and we’re really excited about him,” Kiffin remarked.

This season, Leavitt benefits from a stronger team at LSU compared to his previous Arizona State lineup. His role will be critical for LSU’s aspirations in the College Football Playoff. If LSU achieves significant success, Leavitt’s prospects on draft night could significantly brighten.