CFB Coach Shades Lane Kiffin's LSU QB Sam Leavitt, 'Rather Play Him Than Diego Pavia'

One rival SEC coordinator isn't fully sold on Sam Leavitt after LSU coach Lane Kiffin made him one of the marquee transfers ahead of his first year at the helm.

"He's not the talent level that a normal LSU quarterback would be," the coordinator told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "If they [have success], it's going to be because they got him going in the system. He doesn't freak you out when you watch him, but he is dangerous at times. I would rather play him than Diego Pavia."

Leavitt put together a strong campaign at Arizona State in 2024. He threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while running for 443 yards and five scores.

Thanks to his efforts, the Sun Devils won 11 games and reached the College Football Playoff.

A foot injury limited the 6'2" signal-caller to just seven games in 2025, though, and his performance before getting hurt dipped a bit. Leavitt's completion percentage (60.7) and passer rating (129.2) declined, and he averaged fewer yards per attempt (6.8).

Rittenberg spoke to another defensive coordinator who called Leavitt "really impressive" in 2024 but acknowledged some of the QB's flaws as a pure thrower.

"So, just sneaky athletic, really way more elusive than you would think, just one of those make-something-out-of-nothing kind of guys," the coach said. "He's a good, solid passer. He'll miss on some throws that you expect him to make it to be that high-level guy. But where he gets you is when he extends plays."

Inconsistent quarterback play has been a theme at LSU across multiple coaching tenures. That should change under Kiffin, who has a track record for developing good college QBs.

In the case of Leavitt, the coach should know exactly how to play to his strengths. That doesn't mean the redshirt junior will totally avoid the kind of mistakes that dotted his two years at Arizona State.