“How great do you want to be?” Seven simple words, written on a tiny whiteboard on Sam Leavitt’s fridge. But for him, it’s more than a question—it’s a challenge. And that mindset is why Arizona State’s redshirt freshman QB is one of the biggest storylines in CFB. However, Leavitt’s talent is undeniable. His right arm has delivered 24 TDs and 2,663 passing yards with pinpoint accuracy. On top of that, his legs have added 543 rushing yards, proving his mobility is just as dangerous. But those numbers? They’re just a reflection—of his work ethic, his belief, his drive. And now, there’s a twist in his ASU future.
On the March 20 episode of The Ruffino & Joe Show, Joe DeLeone and Blake Ruffino broke down the Top 5 QBs in the Big 12. And one name stole the spotlight—Sam Leavitt. Here, Ruffino didn’t hold back, and he said, “We’ve talked about Sam Leavitt here, and there were some situations that I thought during the season that he showed me flashes, but I never thought he would be able to put it all together early.” Then came the game that changed everything. “He goes into that Texas game, and everybody’s like, ‘Holy s—.’ He’s getting away from five-star NFL-level dudes. He’s making them look silly. His athleticism in the pocket was—I’m gonna say—a joke. It was elite,” said Ruffino. You can say, Leavitt wasn’t just good—he was special.
ASU’s Leavitt put on a show in the 2024 Peach Bowl, throwing for 222 yards on 24-of-46 passing with 1 interception. On top of that, he also showcased his mobility, rushing 13 times for 60 yards. But despite his efforts, the Sun Devils fell short in a 39-31 overtime thriller against Texas. After all, Leavitt’s talent is undeniable – sure – but football is a team game, where winning takes more than just a star QB.
And given that CFB insider, Ruffino, didn’t hold back on his praise for Leavitt. “Like, I mean, the kid looked really good. I think he’s the best quarterback in this conference. And I think if he continues with Dillingham and the boys, I think his ceiling is immense,” remarked Ruffino. And if that wasn’t bold enough, Joe DeLeone doubled down, stating, “Here. He’s a top-five quarterback in the country. Where he put a stamp on that, there’s been a little bit of hyperbole. There are some lists that have been out there that have said that he’s the best-returning quarterback.”
Honestly, although the praise is loud, the questions are even louder. Is Sam Leavitt truly ready to meet the hype? Here comes the twist—his future at ASU isn’t as certain as it seems. And the biggest question? How he performs without a key weapon. Ruffino put it best, saying, “Look, yes, they got to be better as a team around him. I am very interested, though. Cam Skattabo isn’t there, and he was a big part of their offense. How does he look without his massive weapon behind him, lining up next to him as well? That would be a big question mark for me. Does he regress? Any will be a question mark for me.”
As of now, with Skattabo gone, all eyes are on Leavitt to prove he can handle the pressure.And as the heat rises, an NFL legend delivers both high praise and a bold critique.
Sam Leavitt is on a rollercoaster ride
Sam Leavitt, ASU’s golden kid, is still holding it down under center, and now, the comparisons are getting serious. None other than Hines Ward—yes, the Steelers legend himself—had strong words about the young QB. And now, Ward, ASU’s WRs coach, didn’t just praise Leavitt; he straight-up compared his mentality to Ben Roethlisberger.
Ward didn’t hold back when talking about Leavitt and the ASU coach sees something special in his young QB—something he once saw in Roethlisberger. “As a coach on the sideline, I can tell you, when there’s a TV timeout and we’re all on the sideline, Sam has that look in his eyes, like, ‘We will not be stopped. We’re going to score,’” stated Ward.
Then he doubled down on the comparison, saying, “He had that same look that Ben Roethlisberger had… He was not going to be denied of us winning. So I see a little bit of Ben in Sam.” Safe to say, that’s a massive endorsement, and now it’s up to Leavitt to prove Ward right. But Ward wasn’t done—because with praise comes critique. And he sees greatness in Leavitt, but also a challenge the young QB must overcome.
“He wants to make every play instead of throwing it out of bounds. Ben had that same struggle. He just wanted to make every play, he wanted to make sure he can try to do all that he can to make the play. Sam has those intangibles,” explained Ward. As of now, the fire is there, and the talent is real, but can Leavitt learn when to let a play go? That’s the next step in his evolution.
Now, let’s see how Sam Leavitt makes himself even more perfect this season.
The post Sam Leavitt’s Arizona State Future Sees a Twist as QB’s ‘Biggest Question’ Exposed Amid NFL Legend’s Verdict appeared first on EssentiallySports.