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LSU's Transfer QB Sam Leavitt Healthy; Kiffin Calls Plays

8/12/2026

24 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Leavitt Declares Health

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt said he is “100%” healthy in his first interview after transferring.
He arrived as the No. 1 portal QB per 247Sports and On3 after Arizona State’s 2024 Big 12 title, posting 4,500 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 749 rushing yards and 10 scores.
Head coach Lane Kiffin said offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will call plays from the booth and that he and Leavitt have built a strong bond.

Summary

Leavitt Commits

Lane Kiffin’s contentious exit from Ole Miss adds extra pressure as LSU travels to Oxford for a Week 3 showdown.
LSU’s 2026 opening slate pits the Tigers against Clemson, then Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, giving Leavitt three high-profile tests before October.
Leavitt credited Kiffin’s “great tactics” as a key factor in his Jan. 12 commitment, prompting Whit Weeks to call him “a baller.”

History

Historical Context

The NCAA launched its transfer portal on Oct 15 2018, allowing players to announce moves. A 2021 rule gave D-I football athletes a one-time transfer without sitting out, and 2024 rules added unlimited transfers, prompting 1,054 quarterback changes in the portal’s first season. LSU’s 2026 signing of top-rated QB Sam Leavitt follows Lane Kiffin’s strategy, mirroring the Ole Miss shift.

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Leavitt Declares Health

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt said he is “100%” healthy in his first interview after transferring.
He arrived as the No. 1 portal QB per 247Sports and On3 after Arizona State’s 2024 Big 12 title, posting 4,500 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 749 rushing yards and 10 scores.
Head coach Lane Kiffin said offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will call plays from the booth and that he and Leavitt have built a strong bond.

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