Michigan State football: Sam Leavitt has chosen his transfer destination

The portal gives, and the portal takes: Sam Leavitt is heading back closer to home after one season with Michigan State football.

On Monday, while news was breaking on a pair of Michigan State football linemen withdrawing their name from the portal, another player from the Spartans announced his next destination. Sam Leavitt, a former four-star quarterback with four years of eligibility left, announced his new college.

The former No. 1 prospect in the state of Oregon is heading down to Tempe, Ariz., to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils, per Hayes Fawcett. 

BREAKING: Former Michigan State QB Sam Leavitt has Committed to Arizona State, he tells @on3sports

The 6’2 205 QB will have 4 years of eligibility remaining

“I love the offense they run & their history with quarterbacks they have been very successful.”https://t.co/c1bQ9SUJN9 pic.twitter.com/6C5jvuMeVC

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 11, 2023

Tough feelings and deja vu led to Sam Leavitt transferring

Sam Leavitt was a highly-touted prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, ranking No. 312 nationally and No. 21 among quarterbacks. Many schools wanted Leavitt as their next signal-caller, as he held offers from Washington, Washington State, Arizona, and Florida State. Leavitt committed to Washington State in July, but the Spartans started pushing hard for the West Linn product after their primary target, Dante Moore, committed elsewhere. Leavitt decommitted from the Cougars on December 14, 2022, and committed to the Spartans the following day. 

Notably missing from Leavitt’s offer list was Oregon State, where Jonathan Smith was coaching at. The top prospect in the state of Oregon went unoffered by Smith’s Beavers, as they courted Aidan Chiles, the No. 58 prospect in the class, and a top 10 quarterback. This choice gave Leavitt a chip on his shoulder, as he felt slighted by the coaching staff.

After he was initially open to returning to the Spartans after sitting out the last few games of the season to preserve his redshirt, Leavitt entered the portal on Dec. 4. This came after he announced his intentions to transfer a day or so after Smith was announced as head coach. 

During the 2023 season, Leavitt saw limited action, playing in a redshirt maximum four games. Leavitt saw his first action against Maryland on Sept. 23, going 2-for-2 for nine yards, as well as seven yards on the ground. He also saw action against Michigan, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Against Minnesota, Leavitt had his first career touchdown pass. Leavitt finished the season 15-for-23 with 139 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also added 67 yards on the ground, with 52 of those also coming against the Golden Gophers. 

With Chiles also entering the portal on Dec. 4, Leavitt again found a staff that would pick Chiles over him. It is hard to blame Leavitt, as he would be in the same position with the same staff that led to the home state Beavers not offering him last year. 

With the Sun Devils, Leavitt will be in a competition with Jaden Rashada, the No. 44 prospect from the 2023 class. Rashada went 44-for-82 for 485 yards and four touchdowns last year in limited action due to injury. He also added 23 yards on the ground. 

Leavitt is the third Spartan to announce a transfer destination, joining Hank Pepper (USC) and Spencer Brown (Oklahoma). Dashon Mallory (who just completed his eligibility) was the recent Spartan to head down to Tempe before Leavitt made his announcement this morning.

We at Spartan Shadows would like to wish Sam Leavitt the best moving forward as he heads back out west.