LSU coach Lane Kiffin compares former ASU QB to NFL starter

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin said new quarterback Sam Leavitt is fitting in nicely and looks recovered from Lisfranc surgery, which kept him out of spring practice.

Leavitt is now in Baton Rouge after two seasons at Arizona State, where he missed the last half of the 2025 season with the foot injury.

Kiffin was in Tampa, Florida, for the SEC media days this week. Leavitt was not among the three LSU players on hand.

"I'm not worried about the health; I'm just concerned, like I would be with any first-time quarterback, about his transition with us and getting used to us," Kiffin told ESPN. "Game day with the guy, experience matters."

Leavitt is looking to get back to the form he showed in 2024 when he helped propel ASU to a Big 12 title by throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Kiffin downplayed the importance of his quarterback not participating in the spring and said it's all about communication and being familiar with the offense.

"I do believe it's not the same that it used to be," Kiffin said of the transition. "It's the in-helmet communication. I think it's an easier transition now to play, whether it's a younger quarterback or just a transfer quarterback. So hopefully that's the case."

Kiffin said Leavitt has been clocked at 21 mph on the GPS and didn't attend SEC media days, in part to conduct a player-led practice.

When asked if Leavitt could be a first-round selection come next April, Kiffin said, "Yeah, I would think if scouts watched him work out, they'd be really excited."

The veteran coach compared Leavitt's style to that of Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, whom he coached at Ole Miss.

"I kind of feel like there's some Jaxson in there," Kiffin said to ESPN. "He's probably actually faster. But that's the most similar that I've seen with him throwing with everything, just kind of working with him and watching him and trying to figure out like, 'OK, what are we going to look like and how are we going to design it?'"

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: LSU coach Lane Kiffin compares former ASU QB to NFL starter