Four-star quarterback prospect transfers from Michigan State to ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. — Yesterday Arizona State football landed 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback Sam Leavitt via the transfer portal. Leavitt transferred in from Michigan State where he played in four games as a true freshman. The transfer quarterback redshirted this past season and will get to ASU with four years of eligibility remaining.

Arizona State lands former four-star quarterback

“The coaches were everything,” Leavitt told 247sports reporter Brandon Huffman. “They are the reason that I am going there. I love every thing they do.”

Leavitt is an Oregon native, which played a role in his decision to transfer closer to home from Michigan State to ASU. The former four-star prospect was the eighteenth-ranked quarterback in the country and second in Oregon coming out of high school.

He led West Linn High School to a 12-1 record and an Oregon 6A state title in his senior year. The senior threw for 3,065 yards and 36 touchdowns and added 720 rushing yards. Leavitt had originally committed to Washington State before de-committing and committing to Michigan State.

Leavitt had originally said he would stay at Michigan State through its coaching change, but that changed after the Spartans hired their new head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith was previously the head coach at Oregon State and seemingly passed on Leavitt in the recruiting process after landing four-star quarterback Aidan Chiles, according to Sports Illustrated.

In his true freshman year at Michigan State, Leavitt completed 15 of his 23 pass attempts for 139 yards. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, and ran for 67 yards, over the four games he played in.

ASU’s QB room

The Sun Devils add Leavitt to a quarterback room that includes redshirt freshman Jaden Rashada, Trenton Bourguet, who is in his final year of eligibility, and redshirt junior Jacob Conover. Rashada won the starting job at quarterback for the 2023 season before getting injured. Prior to the incoming transfer of Leavitt, it was assumed Rashada was the future of the Sun Devils. But this move could create a battle for the starting spot come 2024.

This is the latest of a swarm of transfers that head coach Kenny Dillingham has brought in over the weekend. ASU now ranks second nationally in the 2024 team transfer rankings, per 247sports.

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