ASU QB Sam Leavitt to have surgery, miss rest of season

**Arizona State QB Crisis Deepens as Sam Leavitt Ruled Out for Season with Injury**

**TEMPE, Ariz. – November 7, 2023** – The Arizona State Sun Devils’ unprecedented quarterback injury woes have reached a new low, as redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 football season. Leavitt, who served as the team’s fourth-string signal-caller, is scheduled for surgery to address a persistent, undisclosed injury that has impacted him throughout the year.

The news of Leavitt’s season-ending injury caps off what has been a truly challenging campaign for the Sun Devils under first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, particularly at the quarterback position. Leavitt’s absence means all four quarterbacks who began the season on the depth chart have now dealt with significant injuries or missed time.

Starting quarterback Jaden Rashada, a highly touted true freshman, suffered a hamstring injury early in the season that sidelined him for several weeks. He recently returned to limited action but has not fully recaptured his early-season form. Transfer Drew Pyne, who came to Tempe from Notre Dame, also battled a hamstring injury that kept him out of multiple games and significantly limited his potential impact.

Veteran Trenton Bourguet, who stepped up as the primary starter for much of the season amidst the other injuries, has himself been hampered by various ailments, including a foot injury. Bourguet’s resilience has been a cornerstone for the Sun Devils, but even he has played through discomfort, impacting his consistency.

Leavitt, who had yet to see game action in his redshirt freshman year, was seen as a developmental prospect with significant potential. His upcoming surgery is aimed at a full recovery, with the program hoping he can be a factor in future seasons. However, his immediate removal from the depth chart further depletes an already thin quarterback room as ASU navigates the final games of its 2023 schedule.

The revolving door at quarterback has undoubtedly contributed to Arizona State’s struggles this season, as the team battles in its final year within the Pac-12 Conference before its transition to the Big 12. Coach Dillingham and his staff have been forced to adapt week after week, with offensive continuity proving elusive.

“It’s certainly not what you draw up, but our guys have continued to fight and adapt,” Coach Dillingham commented earlier in the season, acknowledging the relentless injury bug. “We have to be ready to play with whoever is available and put them in the best position to succeed.”

As the Sun Devils push through the concluding weeks of the season, the focus will now shift to the health and development of their remaining active quarterbacks, as well as the crucial task of recruiting and potentially utilizing the transfer portal to fortify the position ahead of the 2024 season. Leavitt’s surgery, while an unfortunate end to his current year, is a step towards ensuring his long-term health and potential contributions to the program.