Kiffin ‘proud’ of three QBs, expects Leavitt partially available in spring

By Hunt Palmer

Sam Leavitt‘s recovery from foot surgery will continue in the spring.

But it won’t completely sideline LSU’s projected starter at quarterback. The Arizona State transfer will participate when he can in spring football beginning next month.

“Sam will be able to throw some, participate in 7-on-7 and stuff in the spring,” said LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. “Probably not the team stuff. I think regardless we would have (signed two additional quarterback transfers), but it’s also imperative to get quarterbacks because that’s going to be a lot how your spring ball goes which is the first time as a team feeling an offense.”

The brand-new wide receiver group that features nine transfers and an offensive line replacing at least three starters will have to learn Kiffin’s offense without its presumed fall leader.

Kiffin’s offenses have been prolific over nearly every stop of his coaching career, band it all starts with the man behind the center.

“Our offense is very much pushed and driven by the quarterback because of the tempo piece of it,” Kiffin said.

Leavitt led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman and was the top player in the transfer portal according to 247sports.

Even after landing Leavitt, LSU was able to add former five-star Husan Longstreet from USC and held on to Elon transfer Landen Clark to add depth.

“The other two guys are very talented players, and I think that’s really maybe the thing that I’m the most proud of, from our GM to our personnel to our coaches, our department, being able to do that at the quarterback position. Three guys that are really talented, are different styles of players.”

Leavitt is a veteran who showed off his strong arm and great scrambling ability over two seasons with the Sun Devils. Clark is undersized but ran for 625 yards and 11 touchdowns on 189 carries for the Phoenix. The Colonial Athletic Conference named him Rookie of the Year. Longstreet may be the biggest talent of them all, a rocket-armed passer with some speed to burn.

“It says a lot about them to come to the same place,” Kiffin said of all three. “Nowadays a lot of guys don’t want to do that. I want to go someplace where I’m guaranteed to start. So, I think it says a lot about their competitiveness.”

With Leavitt sidelined, at least partially, both Longstreet and Clark will get extended looks in the spring.