Sam Leavitt

QB·LSU#74 overall
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Draft Movement

#68 · Jun 8#74 · now

Down 6 spots since Jun 8

Scouting Report

Sam Leavitt is a dual-threat quarterback from West Linn, Oregon, who carries football bloodlines through his family tree and proved his pedigree quickly after transferring from Michigan State to Arizona State. Under coach Kenny Dillingham, he transformed from a reserve project into the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, setting an Arizona State freshman yardage record with 3,328 total yards in 2024 while piloting the Sun Devils to their first conference title since 2007 and a College Football Playoff appearance. ESPN's Luginbill noted that Leavitt completed 61.4% of his passes for 4,513 yards and 34 touchdowns across two seasons despite missing five games in 2025 due to a season-ending foot injury. His 2024 QBR of 80.0 ranked 10th in the FBS, and PFF graded him 88.9, placing him 12th among all FBS quarterbacks while outpacing the freshman grades of current NFL starters Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, and Jayden Daniels. PFF's Trevor Sikkema highlighted that Leavitt's 1.1% turnover-worthy play rate in 2024 was tied for third-best among 156 qualifying FBS quarterbacks, though he identified Leavitt's average time to throw of 3.10 seconds as a key area for improvement toward the NFL standard of 2.7-2.9 seconds. Vikings Wire noted his top-tier arm strength, pocket presence, and ability to throw receivers open and lead them in stride. His mobility allows him to create off-schedule, converting pressure into production, posting 7.8 yards per attempt under duress per NFLDraftBuzz. Despite an impressive 2024 campaign, his 2025 season in Tempe was cut short after seven games, with the most notable moment being a 319-yard, game-winning performance against eventual Big 12 champion Texas Tech. He enters the 2026 season at LSU under Lane Kiffin and OC Charlie Weis Jr. after considering Kentucky, Tennessee, and Miami, where a prolific year could push him firmly into first-round consideration for the 2027 NFL Draft. NFL Mock Draft Database projects him as a second-round pick with 55 mock draft ap

Strengths

  • Elite ball security with only five turnover-worthy throws in 2024 (1.1% rate, tied third-best among 156 qualifying FBS quarterbacks)
  • Play-action mastery as ESPN notes he is at his best turning his back to the defense and resetting his eyes to make precise layered throws
  • Pressure conversion ability with 7.8 yards per attempt under duress cracking the national top-12 among FBS quarterbacks
  • Arm strength that exceeds expectations for his frame, hitting short and intermediate throws with good velocity and connecting on eight 50-plus-yard completions in 2024
  • Quick-twitch mobility and scrambling ability with a 76.4 PFF rushing grade when escaping the pocket, generating chunk gains rather than throwaway scrambles
  • Football IQ and poise evidenced by a top-10 QBR (80.0) in his first full season as a starter with only 13 career starts through 2024
  • Competitive toughness shown by gutting through a foot injury in 2025 and still engineering a game-winning drive against eventual Big 12 champion Texas Tech

Weaknesses

  • Below-ideal size at 6'2" and 205 pounds creates durability and sight-line concerns at the NFL level and will require adding functional muscle mass
  • Average time to throw of 3.10 seconds in 2024 trails the NFL target of 2.7-2.9 seconds, reflecting a tendency to retreat deep in the pocket rather than step up and deliver quickly
  • Throws too frequently off his back foot and lacks consistent throwing fundamentals on a throw-by-throw basis per PFF's Trevor Sikkema
  • Below-average raw completion percentage (61.4% career) reflects accuracy inconsistencies, particularly to the deep third and on far-hash fades per Sports Talk's scouting report
  • Backyard football tendencies have slowed development in anticipation, mechanics, and true pocket management per the Sports Talk big board scouting note
  • Limited career starts (13 through 2024) mean small sample against complex defensive schemes and elite competition
  • The 2025 season-ending foot injury cost him critical reps and left durability questions entering a high-pressure move to the SEC under a new coaching staff

NFL Comparison

Josh Allen early-career development arc (off-schedule creativity and pocket improvisation without elite wingspan); Baker Mayfield mold (undersized but better arm than expected, playmaking instincts, competitive fire in spread-to-pro transition)

College Stats

2024 (Arizona State): 2,885 passing yards, 24 TD, 6 INT, 61% completion, 80.0 QBR, 443 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD; 2025 (Arizona State): 7 games played before season-ending foot surgery, 319 passing yards vs. Texas Tech in notable late-season start; Career through 2024: 3,024 passing yards, 26 passing TD, 8 INT, 510 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD, 17 games

Measurables

Height
6'2"
Weight
205
40-Yd
4.65

Awards & Honors

Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2024); First-Team All-Big 12 (2024); Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (2025); 4-star recruit; High School Gatorade Player of the Year (Oregon); Class 6A Oregon Player of the Year (West Linn); 82 career high school touchdown passes