Lane Kiffin offered critical Sam Leavitt update amid National Signing Day meeting with LSU Tigers media
The LSU Tigers are going to ease Sam Leavitt in since he’s still coming off an injury heading into spring football
The LSU Tigers look absolutely stacked and ready to compete in year one under new head coach Lane Kiffin. His staff has dominated in the transfer portal, and already had their elite high school haul of a class largely locked up ahead of National Signing Day on Wednesday.
However, a critical piece of the puzzle for LSU’s 2026 success will likely hinge on the health of transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt. Coach Kiffin gave an update on him and the quarterback room as he met with LSU Tigers media on Wednesday for National Signing Day.
Lane Kiffin offers update on Sam Leavitt’s recovery from injury
For those unfamiliar with former Arizona State (now LSU) quarterback Sam Leavitt and his injury struggles last fall, he injured his foot early in the season. Leavitt was coming off of an impressive first season as a starter (2024) where he scored 29 total touchdowns and led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff. He started off pretty strong again for Arizona State, but once he began fighting with a Lisfranc injury (in the middle of his foot), he was never the same. Ultimately he chose to undergo surgery to end October, shutting down his 2025 season.
Initially, there were concerns that Leavitt may be completely unable to participate in football activity for nearly half a year, but based on Kiffin’s comments on Wednesday, it looks like LSU’s new starting quarterback is ahead of schedule. Regardless, Kiffin made sure to compliment all three of his quarterbacks, sharing just how happy he was that his staff stacked the QB room this offseason.
“A lot of change had to happen [in the QB room]…We were really pleased by what we were able to do there…Sam [Leavitt] will be able to throw some, participate in 7-on-7 stuff in the spring. Probably not the team [11-on-11 full-contact] stuff. Regardless, we would have done what we did — it was imperative to get [more] quarterbacks [beyond just Leavitt]…Spring ball is the first time your team is feeling an offense. Our offense is very much pushed and driven by the quarterback because of the tempo piece of it. The other two guys [Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet] are very talented players.”
It sounds like Leavitt will be able to largely participate in much of spring football activities for LSU. However, missing critical full team sessions of 11-on-11 may slow down the team’s initial offensive momentum and preparation.
The good news? Even if Leavitt can’t go 100% at all throughout spring camp, there are two other capable quarterbacks already on the team who should have no problem getting the offense up to full-speed. Kiffin emphasized that multiple times in his Wednesday presser.
Landen Clark put up phenomenal numbers with Elon last year, as the full-time starter there, and has not shied away from competing directly with Leavitt at LSU. Husan Longstreet shined in limited action for USC last season as the potential “future of the program” at quarterback as well — he’s just a second year player, and a former five star talent. Either quarterback should prove capable to lead the team and get the offense rolling this offseason.
Kiffin already proved this past season at Ole Miss that he can handle it if and when the worst happens with his quarterback’s health. It’s clear he’s trying to make sure that he and LSU are able to repeat and exceed the magic he just pulled off at Ole Miss if necessary. Austin Simmons was supposed to be the guy at quarterback for the Rebels, but after going down with injury, Trinidad Chambliss emerged as one of the best players in the country, taking Kiffin’s team to the College Football Playoff.
Hopefully that doesn’t have to happen with Leavitt and Clark or Longstreet, but the groundwork is being laid to succeed with or without their intended starting quarterback. Fortunately, it looks like the Tigers won’t have to be without Leavitt for long. His continual recovery progress and apparent ability to already be working through 7-on-7 in practice here soon should have LSU fans excited about this upcoming season.
We’ll be back with more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news.
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