LSU Football Officially Signs No. 1 Transfer Quarterback Sam Leavitt to Portal Class

Lane Kiffin and Co. fend off the Tennessee Volunteers down the stretch, make things official on Monday night.

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has officially signed with the LSU Tigers after a rigorous recruitment process, sources confirmed to LSU Tigers On SI.

Leavitt checks in as the top-ranked player in the NCAA Transfer Portal with Lane Kiffin and Co. now securing the elite signal-caller to the program's haul this offseason.

In what has become the storyline of the cycle, LSU had to fend off the Tennessee Volunteers and Miami Hurricnaes down the stretch for Leavitt as he navigated his recruitment across a 10-day stretch once the Transfer Portal opened for business on Jan. 2.

There was a verbal commitment in place between Leavitt and the LSU Tigers on Monday morning - less than 24 hours after he departed his Miami Hurricanes official visit - but it didn't stop programs from battling until the buzzer.

The Tennessee Volunteers assembled one final offer to Leavitt with dialogue between the SEC program and his camp carrying into Monday afternoon and early evening.

Fast forward to 7:15 p.m. CT and the paperwork was in from Leavitt to the LSU Tigers where he made things official with the program. He's officially Baton Rouge bound.

News: The decision is in. Lane Kiffin and the #LSU Tigers have signed the No. 1 quarterback in the Transfer Portal: Sam Leavitt.

Kiffin and Co. lock in the top-ranked transfer despite a late push from the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Tigers have officially landed their guy. pic.twitter.com/gPmCyzBz0y

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) January 13, 2026

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder checks in as the No. 1 overall player in the NCAA Transfer Portal with Kiffin and Co. landing their signal-caller for the 2026 season.

The coveted quarterback didn't play the full length of the 2025 season due to a foot injury, but managed to finish with 1,628 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. He threw only three interceptions while also rushing for 306 yards and five scores.

He had his money year in 2024 after leading the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff amid his first season with the program under Kenny Dillingham and Co.

Committed to The Boot

Welcome to Baton Rouge @S_leav10 pic.twitter.com/zNiGWksiDH

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) January 13, 2026

Leavitt rounded out his 2024 campaign throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns as the Sun Devils reached the College Football Playoff in a historic year for the program in Tempe.

But the veteran signal-caller has now made his move with Kiffin and the LSU Tigers officially landing the No. 1 player in the NCAA Transfer Portal after putting pen to paper on Monday night.

LSU currently holds the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class with Leavitt catapulting the haul to the top spot on Monday as Kiffin retools the roster in Baton Rouge ahead of his first season at the helm.

More LSU News:

LSU Hosts No. 1 EDGE Transfer as Lane Kiffin Pushes For Ex-Penn State Defender

LSU Football Hosting Elite Florida Gators Transfer For Visit, Former Five-Star Recruit

Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats Among Teams to Watch for LSU Football Transfer

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