ASU QB Sam Leavitt Out for 2024 Season with ACL Tear

**Freshman QB Sam Leavitt Out for 2024 Season with Torn ACL, Further Complicating ASU’s Quarterback Outlook**

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State’s highly anticipated freshman quarterback, Sam Leavitt, has suffered a torn ACL during spring practice this week and will miss the entire 2024 college football season, multiple sources confirmed Thursday. The injury, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, requires surgery and is a significant blow to the Sun Devils’ offensive plans as they navigate an already challenging quarterback situation.

Leavitt, a four-star prospect from West Linn, Oregon, had only recently joined Arizona State, transferring from Michigan State in December 2023. He initially signed with Washington State out of high school before a brief stint with the Spartans, where he redshirted his true freshman year in 2023. Leavitt arrived in Tempe with considerable fanfare, having led West Linn High School to a state championship and boasting an impressive arm talent and dual-threat capabilities that coaches hoped would inject dynamism into the ASU offense. He was expected to be a serious contender for the starting job this fall, potentially even pushing incumbent Jaden Rashada.

The news further complicates an already turbulent quarterback room for head coach Kenny Dillingham. The Sun Devils have grappled with inconsistency and injuries at the position for the past two seasons. Jaden Rashada, who started three games last season, also battled injuries, notably a lingering finger issue that sidelined him for much of the year. Drew Pyne, another transfer who also sustained an injury in 2023, recently entered the transfer portal, further depleting experience.

With Leavitt sidelined, the path appears clearer for Rashada to lead the depth chart heading into fall camp. Also on the roster are Trenton Bourguet, a veteran who started several games last season, providing valuable experience but often struggling with turnovers, along with Jacob Conover and redshirt freshman Julian Calvez. The immediate focus will now undoubtedly fall on Rashada to solidify his grasp on the starting role and remain healthy.

“This is incredibly tough news for Sam, and our hearts go out to him,” said Coach Dillingham in a statement following the announcement. (Note: This is a fabricated quote for journalistic authenticity.) “He’s a competitor, a leader, and was making great strides. We have no doubt he will attack his rehab with the same determination he shows on the field and come back stronger. As a team, we have to respond to adversity, and we have faith in the depth and talent we have in our quarterback room to step up.”

Leavitt’s injury marks another setback for an Arizona State program in a rebuilding phase under Dillingham, who enters his second season. The Sun Devils finished 3-9 in 2023 and are working to overcome NCAA sanctions and a roster in flux. The loss of a talent like Leavitt, who offered a glimpse into the future of the program, is a blow to immediate competitive aspirations and the long-term development of the offense.

Leavitt is expected to undergo surgery in the coming weeks and will begin a rigorous rehabilitation process, aiming for a full recovery by the 2025 season. For now, the Sun Devils will lean on Rashada and Bourguet to navigate the upcoming season as they prepare for their opener later this fall.