Top Transfer Portal QB Chooses Tigers for 2026 Season
Sam Leavitt, the nation’s top uncommitted quarterback in the transfer portal, has committed to LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2026 season. The Arizona State transfer announced his decision on Monday after an official visit to Baton Rouge, choosing the Tigers over competing offers from Miami, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Leavitt, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt junior, brings significant championship pedigree to LSU’s quarterback room. In his first season with the Sun Devils in 2024, he led Arizona State to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance while earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. During that standout campaign, Leavitt completed 61.4% of his passes for 4,652 career yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while adding 816 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
A Transformational Addition for Kiffin’s First Year
The commitment represents a significant recruiting victory for Kiffin in his inaugural season at LSU. The Tigers had no returning scholarship quarterbacks after Garrett Nussmeier’s graduation and the departures of backup Michael Van Buren and Colin Hurley through the transfer portal. Leavitt’s arrival addresses the program’s most critical need and signals Kiffin’s immediate impact on roster construction.
Though a foot injury ended Leavitt’s 2025 campaign after seven starts, he remained productive when healthy, throwing for 1,628 passing yards with 15 total touchdowns and three interceptions while winning five of his seven starts. His 2024 performance, which included an upset victory over then-undefeated Texas Tech, demonstrated his ability to execute in high-pressure situations.
Recruitment Battle Down to the Wire
The recruitment process proved dramatic, with competing priorities complicating Leavitt’s decision. During his official visit to LSU on Monday, reports emerged that the Tigers were targeting Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The uncertainty prompted Leavitt to continue his recruiting tour, visiting Tennessee and Miami in subsequent days. Kiffin personally traveled to Knoxville to meet with Leavitt between visits, showcasing the coaching staff’s commitment to securing him.
Williams ultimately decided to remain at Washington, removing a major distraction from LSU’s pursuit. Kiffin’s persistence paid off as Leavitt chose the Tigers and their newly retooled offensive arsenal.
Building Around Transfer Pieces
Leavitt joins an extensive transfer class that has assembled one of the nation’s top portal groups alongside Texas. LSU has secured 25 incoming transfers under Kiffin, including nine new wide receivers designed to complement Leavitt’s skill set. Those additions include Winston Watkins from Ole Miss, Jayce Brown from Kansas State, and Eugene Wilson III from Florida, providing immediate weapons for the quarterback’s first season in Baton Rouge.
Implications Across the Transfer Portal
The commitment leaves several major programs still searching for starting quarterbacks heading into 2026. Miami, competing in Monday’s national championship game in what will be Carson Beck’s final appearance, faces uncertainty at the position after portal success the past two seasons with Beck and Cam Ward. The Hurricanes remain in the market for a starter, though top-ranked options have largely been claimed.
Other uncommitted quarterbacks still available include USC’s Husan Longstreet, ranked sixth in transfer portal evaluations, and Beau Pribula, who recently visited Tennessee. The quarterback market has significantly tightened, with most elite options now off the board.
