Trinidad Chambliss, a former Division II star at Ferris State, captured attention at Ole Miss as a promising quarterback under coach Lane Kiffin last season. Chambliss now looks to elevate his status in the 2027 NFL Draft with a strong performance this year.
Lane Kiffin, who now coaches at LSU, has another quarterback with significant potential. Sam Leavitt, a transfer from Arizona State, is expected to increase his draft appeal. Leavitt’s noteworthy achievements at Arizona State include leading the team to a Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2024. However, his performance declined in 2025 due to a foot injury.
According to Jordan Reid of ESPN, NFL scouts and evaluators believe that Leavitt can elevate his status from a Day 2 draft prospect to a first-round pick. There’s optimism around how he might excel at LSU this season.
“Quarterback Sam Leavitt seeks to rebound after an injury-marred season hampered his breakout 2024 performance at Arizona State,” Reid noted.
Leavitt, known for his agility and dual-threat capabilities, seems well-suited to Kiffin’s approach, which facilitates quarterback growth. Leavitt’s performance in 2024 was impressive, with 2,885 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. While playing through his injury last season, he managed a 5-2 record as a starter, completing 1,628 passing yards with ten touchdowns and three interceptions.
Leavitt expressed his full recovery earlier this month but still emphasizes foot maintenance during warmups. Kiffin praised Leavitt’s improvement in training camp, surpassed by the challenges faced during spring practice when he struggled to throw with weight on his foot.
“Now that he’s healthy, he’s had a great week and we’re really excited about him,” Kiffin stated.
Leavitt benefits from better team support at LSU compared to his time at Arizona State. He’s a critical element in LSU’s potential path to the College Football Playoff this season. Should LSU achieve significant progress, Leavitt may receive recognition during the NFL Draft.