BATON ROUGE — Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt spoke to reporters in Baton Rouge for the first time since arriving at LSU during the transfer period, addressing why he decided to leave the Sun Devils.
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Sep 20, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) in action against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Leavitt, who spent two seasons at Arizona State, reflected on his decision to transfer and what ultimately led him to leave. He described ASU as a “comfortable situation,” saying he built strong relationships and experienced plenty of success during his time in Tempe.
But despite that foundation, he said he wanted to do something different.
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws a pass against TCU during a game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Sept. 26, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The former Sun Devil helped Arizona State reach new heights during his tenure, making his decision to enter the transfer portal after the 2025 season a surprise to many fans. In 2024, he helped lead the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship in the program’s first season in the conference.
His 2025 season was far more turbulent. Injuries kept him off the field and ultimately ended his season. As the year came to a close, questions about his future only intensified after he did not attend the program’s postseason banquet, fueling speculation about his relationship with the program before he entered the transfer portal.
Now, Leavitt says the decision was centered on development.
LSU QB Sam Leavitt on why he chose to transfer from ASU to LSU at The Huddle event at LSU’s Indoor Practice Facility.
This is the first time Leavitt has spoken since his arrival to Baton Rouge. #lsufootball pic.twitter.com/zQebFl2cEu
— Juliette Marino (@MarinoJuli23940) July 30, 2026
“We come out here to the practices, the way individual reps are ran, the way that every single coach is just so poured into this,” he said. “The time that we meet outside of the initial time we’re supposed to meet, it truly is just a different situation. You talk about being a pro, trying to become the best version of yourself, and there’s no other place to do it other than here.”
Leavitt’s comments provide insight into what he was looking for rather than suggesting anything was wrong at Arizona State. His references to the relationships he built and the success he experienced in Tempe indicate that the transfer was not due to anything wrong with the program itself.
Sep 20, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) in action against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Instead, he said he was motivated by a desire to experience a different developmental model and continue growing as a player.
Even after choosing LSU, Leavitt made it clear he still values his time at Arizona State, emphasizing that the move was about pursuing what he believes is the next step in his football career, not leaving the program behind.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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