When head coach Lane Kiffin took the job with the LSU Tigers, he was given the difficult task of completely overhauling a roster that needed a shakeup. The offensive line, defensive line, and quarterback spots were some of the biggest question marks that needed to find answers for. The transfer portal ended up being very good for this roster, attracting some of the more talented football players on the market.

One of the more interesting additions, and especially when you consider the position he plays, was former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. He wasn’t the only talented signal caller that Kiffin and Co. were linked to, also having some deep conversations with former Cincinnati star Brendan Sorsby and Washington standout Demond Williams Jr., a couple more very gifted quarterbacks.

Everyone probably remembers the Williams situation, eventually forcing him back to the Huskies after the University of Washington was reportedly going to fight it after he signed a new contract. Those legal implications made it in his best interest to return.

Sorsby, however, felt like a target who could make sense for Kiffin. After the recent news surrounding Sorsby, it does appear that the LSU staff made the correct decision. While there are some injury and inconsistency concerns around Leavitt, he is going to do something in 2026 that Sorsby will most likely not: play college football.

The Sam Leavitt recruitment

Leavitt was linked to LSU from the beginning. His skill set seems a great fit in the Kiffin offense, keeping things simple while also utilizing the natural physical tools a quarterback possesses. While inconsistent, Leavitt has shown that he can be a productive signal caller over the last two seasons. During that stretch, Leavitt threw for 4,513 yards and 34 touchdowns, while adding another 749 yards and 10 scores on the ground. The talent is easy to see when you pop on the film.

With things seemingly in a solid place early in the portal process, most wondered what the hold-up was between Leavitt and the Tigers. The answer seemed to be former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a talented quarterback that the LSU program made a strong push for.

That interest only drove up the price tag for Sorsby with Texas Tech, eventually signing with the Red Raiders. During that courting of Sorsby, Leavitt was still looking around, including Kentucky with its new head coach, Will Stein. That was a strategic move by the Leavitt camp to keep options open.

As soon as Sorsby was off the board, things once again got serious with Leavitt. Kiffin and the Tigers staff quickly got him on campus in Baton Rouge. Once again, it looked like it was just a matter of time. The Williams situation provided another speed bump, but eventually, Kiffin and the staff smoothed things over and were able to land Leavitt.

The Brendan Sorsby situation

In April, Texas Tech had announced that Sorsby was set to take an indefinite leave of absence to enter a residential treatment program for his gambling addiction. The reports have indicated that he had placed thousands of bets over the years, across several sports, which included some on Indiana games while a member of the team in 2022, when he was a freshman. Those findings showed that Sorsby violated the NCAA rules around sports betting, which led to the ineligibility ruling.

The NCAA has officially denied his request for reinstatement for the upcoming season, deeming him permanently ineligible due to the violations. Texas Tech’s president has publicly supported him and plans to appeal. Sorsby has filed a lawsuit in Lubbock County, Texas, seeking a preliminary injunction to restore his eligibility and allow him to play in 2026. A hearing is scheduled for June 1, 2026, but most seem pessimistic that things will come out in his favor, at least promptly.

As of today, it appears unlikely that we will see Sorsby again on the college level. If that was the player that LSU had settled and pushed for, it would not have been the end of the world with Husan Longstreet (USC) and Landen Clark (Elon) also on the roster. The decision to cool on Sorsby, however, did save them from an absolute disaster and unnecessary headache.