The Tennessee Vols are firmly in the mix for Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt, who started his college career at Michigan State, took a multi-day visit to Tennessee this week (which was extended by a day). The Vols have made a strong impression on the coveted quarterback, but several other programs — including LSU, Oregon, and Miami — could also make a strong pitch to Leavitt.

The expectation is that Leavitt will visit Miami following his visit to Tennessee.

Vols insider details the latest on Tennessee’s pursuit of Sam Leavitt

VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Friday and he shared the latest on Tennessee’s pursuit of Leavitt.

Hubbs pointed out that Leavitt extending his visit in Knoxville by a day may have been as much about convenience (it was basically a layover before his trip to Miami) as it was about checking out the Vols for an extra day.

“I think it did give him more time to spend with Josh Heupel and with Tennessee,” said Hubbs of Leavitt’s extra day at Tennessee. “And Tennessee is trying to use it to their advantage, for sure. I also don’t think Sam Leavitt is going back across the country right now — because all indications are he’s going to Coral Gables next to see the Miami Hurricanes, who, by the way, weren’t home yesterday. [Miami] got home in the wee hours this morning, or they’re coming home this morning from their game last night. So I think there was some convenience in travel. And also, I think it gave him a chance to spend more time with Josh Heupel. We’ll see what comes of it.

“I think Sam Leavitt is going to see Miami. I still think he’s interested in seeing what Dante Moore does at Oregon. I’m not saying Tennessee doesn’t have a chance there, because I think Tennessee has put their best foot forward there. I think they will have a really good NIL opportunity for him as well. But I think it’s pretty clear that Sam Leavitt is going through this process because he wants to make sure he sees everybody that has interest in him. And everybody knows that Oregon has been on the radar screen with him since the middle of October. When all the rumblings came out that it looked like he was leaving Arizona State, a lot of people immediately said Oregon with him. So I think there’s more places to see for Sam Leavitt before he makes a final decision.”

Hubbs also noted that Leavitt probably won’t emotionally commit on a transfer visit.

“I think his team is more methodical than that,” said Hubbs of Leavitt potentially committing on his final visit. “He also knows he holds the cards, right? He’s a leverage guy. When you look at what’s left in the portal in terms of big name guys, [and then the programs] that are needing a quarterback, I mean, he’s got leverage. So why would you emotionally make a decision?”

“If you’ve got potentially Miami, Oregon, potentially Tennessee, LSU still needs a quarterback…if you’ve got those four suitors, you’ve got all the leverage in the world,” added Hubbs. “You don’t have to be in a hurry to do anything. You can make as methodical of a decision as you want, and you can negotiate and leverage, because you’ve got all of the leveraging power right now as a quarterback in the portal. So I don’t think it would be in his best interest at all to make an emotional decision.”

If Tennessee doesn’t land Leavitt, it’s unclear which direction the Vols would go at quarterback. Unless an unexpected quarterback enters the portal, Tennessee may be left hanging its hopes on Joey Aguilar getting an extra season of eligibility (and that is a situation that’s completely up in the air). Otherwise, the Vols will be forced to roll with rising redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or incoming true freshman Faizon Brandon in 2026.

Oregon, I believe, looms as the biggest threat to Tennessee in the Leavitt sweepstakes.

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