After LSU Picks Up QB Sam Leavitt In Transfer Portal, What Will It Mean For The Team?

The transfer portal is ramping up, with one of the major moves being quarterback Sam Leavitt deciding to join LSU.

Leavitt started his college career in 2023 at Michigan State. He would throw 23 passes and have two touchdowns and two interceptions. Leavitt transferred to Arizona State before the 2024 season. He was named the starting QB and would throw 24 touchdowns in 13 games. His 2025 season would end after seven games due to a foot injury. His record at Arizona State was 16-4.

Leavitt was recruited to help replace senior QB Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier threw 12 touchdowns in nine games before being benched for sophomore Michael Van Buren Jr. Van Buren Jr. threw eight touchdowns in seven games. Van Buren Jr. transferred to South Florida, leaving Leavitt as the projected starting QB. 

Leavitt is projected to be fully healthy by the opening night of 2026. Running has never been a huge part of Leavitt’s game. In 2025, he was starting to run a bit more before his foot injury. He may slow down his runs to help prevent further injuries. 

Arizona State will also be losing QB Jeff Sims to graduation. They picked up Cutter Boley from the transfer portal to be their new QB. Boley played the last two seasons in Kentucky. He threw two touchdowns in four games in 2024 and 15 touchdowns in 11 games in 2025. Boley’s biggest issues so far in his career have been interceptions. In 2024, he threw four, and in 2025, he threw 12. 

This transfer could have a mixed impact on his turnover issue. He’ll be working behind a worse offensive line, which could lead to less time to throw and even more mistakes. However, he will also, by and large, be facing worse defenses than he did at Kentucky, which could make his life easier.