Sam Leavitt Scouting Report

Sam Leavitt is a talented passer who uses his athleticism to escape pressure and create explosive plays with his arm.

Draft Grade: Round 3 – Adequate Starter

Strengths:

Athleticism: Leavitt uses his athleticism to escape pressure in the pocket and is a legitimate threat to tuck the ball on RPO plays, picking up significant yardage.

Pocket Manipulation: He demonstrates strong pocket awareness, effectively evading pressure and finding creases to create opportunities to throw the football.

Throwing on the Run: Leavitt excels at throwing outside the pocket, maintaining good mechanics, and consistently delivering accurate passes on the move.

Concerns:

Decision-making: Leavitt sometimes attempts low-percentage throws in an effort to create big plays, which can result in missed opportunities or turnovers.

Arm Strength: His arm strength is generally average, which may limit his ability to consistently push the ball vertically and accurately target deeper areas of the field.

Forced Passes: Leavitt has high confidence in the velocity of his throws, but he occasionally tries to squeeze the ball into tight windows, increasing the risk of incompletions or turnovers.

Sam Leavitt Summary/Projection:

Sam Leavitt is a third-year quarterback for the Arizona State Sun Devils who earned his first starting role in 2024, his debut season in Tempe. Leavitt played a central role in one of the most surprising teams in college football that year, leading Arizona State to a Big 12 Championship and a playoff appearance. He is a calm, composed quarterback who consistently finds ways to create positive plays for his team.

Leavitt’s process from the pocket can be unconventional at times, depending on the pressure he faces, but it is effective. In a clean pocket, he quickly goes through his progressions, scanning the field to locate open receivers. In quick-game and RPO situations, Leavitt demonstrates excellent ball handling, makes fast decisions, and delivers quick, accurate passes.

One of Leavitt’s strongest traits is his ability to identify windows within the defense and fit the ball between defenders. He excels on in-breaking routes, particularly intermediate crossing patterns, throwing with timing and anticipation to place receivers in open space. He also performs well on vertical seam routes, finding gaps in coverage and placing the ball between the second-level defenders and the deep safety. Under ideal circumstances, Leavitt consistently stands in the pocket and delivers accurate throws, especially in the short-to-intermediate-range passing game.

When under pressure, Leavitt becomes particularly creative. He uses his athleticism to escape the pocket—whether by stepping up inside or moving to either side—and can extend plays effectively. Once outside the structure of the pocket, he can either tuck the ball and pick up yardage or keep his eyes downfield to make an accurate pass. He often buys time on the move, waiting until the last moment to allow receivers to get open. This ability to extend plays turns potential negative situations into positive offensive outcomes and creates opportunities for explosive gains.

Leavitt’s primary area of concern is his tendency to force high-risk throws. Whether attempting to push the ball vertically in one-on-one situations or throwing across his body, he sometimes risks turnovers to make big plays. Learning when to avoid these high-risk attempts could improve his efficiency and overall effectiveness for the team.