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The Arizona State Sun Devils have much to feel good about - now less than 100 days away from the opening game on Aubust 30.
A large piece of the equation is none other than redshirt sophomore QB Sam Leavitt.
The Michigan State transfer played sparingly as a freshman in East Lansing in 2023 before transferring to ASU in December of that year.
Expectations were tempered for the former four star recruit heading into last season, with certain publications even labeling the signal caller as the w eakest QB in the conference - Leavitt exceeded those and then some.
The West Linn, Oregon product accounted for over 3,000 total yards and 29 total touchdowns after coming alive over the second half of the season.
The season ended for Leavitt in the loss to Texas on January 1 after the he played admirably behind an overmatched offensive line and did not have Jordyn Tyson as an option in the passing game.
Can Leavitt put all of the positive momentum together and inch towards Heisman trophy discussions?
It could be an uphill climb for many reasons - Arizona State being a smaller brand compared to schools such as Ohio State, the Big 12 facing many narratives from outsiders, and the prominence of other quarterbacks are among the roadblocks.
However, Levitt can still sneak into the conversation.
First off, the schedule could do Leavitt many favors - he can make early cases to be a frontrunner for the award with matchups against Mississippi State, Baylor, and Texas Christian within the first month of the season.
Secondly, Leavitt will be trusted to air out the ball much more in the upcoming season. That isn't to say he wasn't trusted prior, but it feels like the Sun Devil offense could move towards being a pass-first offense this season with Tyson returning and Alabama transfer Jaren Hamilton looking to break out in new scenery.
Lastly, Leavitt has the ability to stuff the stat sheet - statistics areobviously the biggest driving force behind ultimately securing the honor. It would not be a surprise to see Leavitt account for 40 touchdowns over a 12-to-13 game period in what could be one of the best offenses in the country.
Read more about the expectations the Sun Devil program face heading into the 2025 season here.
Please let us know your thoughts on Leavitt's potential Heisman hopes when you like our Facebook page when you click right here.
More must-reads:
- Week 1 mid-major games to watch: Boise State, Tulane look to build CFP foundation
- Texas HC shares crucial advice with Arch Manning before matchup vs. No. 3 Ohio State
- The 'Season TD pass leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Texas HC shares crucial advice with Arch Manning before matchup vs. No. 3 Ohio State
Week 1 mid-major games to watch: Boise State, Tulane look to build CFP foundation
Week 1 of college football is one of the biggest in recent memory, with three Associated Press top-10 matchups (Texas-Ohio State, LSU-Clemson, Notre Dame-Miami). If those power conference showdowns aren't enough to satiate your demand for football, we've got you covered with a look at 10 mid-major games worth your attention in a stacked undercard. Note: Games are scheduled for Saturday unless otherwise specified. I. Top College Football Playoff automatic qualifiers in action Boise State Broncos at South Florida Bulls (Thursday, 5:30 p.m. ET • ESPN) Northwestern Wildcats at Tulane Green Wave (12 p.m. ET • ESPNU) Even without 2024 Heisman finalist running back Ashton Jeanty, Boise State is the favorite to earn an automatic qualifying bid in the CFP for the second consecutive year as one of the projected five highest-ranked conference champions at the end of the season. A road trip over 2,000 miles southeast to face South Florida is its first test in avoiding a hangover after last season's success. Tulane is another viable Group of 5 playoff contender. It hosts Big Ten's Northwestern, which went 4-8 in 2024, in Week 1 in a game that could be a building block to a big season for the Green Wave. II. Coaches making program debut Mississippi State Bulldogs at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (12 p.m. ET • ESPN) Central Michigan Chippewas at San Jose State Spartans (Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET • FS1) Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff gets quite the opener in his first game with the program against SEC doormat Mississippi State. Last season, Toledo (MAC) went to Mississippi State and blew out the Bulldogs, 41-17. Huff previously coached Marshall, which went 10-3 last season, and he brought 21 players with him south to Hattiesburg, 19 of whom remain with the program entering Week 1. Matt Drinkall also makes his debut at Central Michigan. Both he and San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo arrived at their current schools after coaching at service academies, with Drinkall a member of Jeff Monken's staff at Army (most recently coaching offensive line) from 2019-24. Niumatalolo served as Navy head coach from 2007-22. This game has shootout potential. The Spartans averaged 321.8 passing yards and 28.4 points per game last season, while Drinkall should improve Central Michigan's No. 108-ranked offense. In May, he spoke about his vision for the unit, and he discussed its similarities to the Baltimore Ravens attack, of which he's familiar, considering Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Army head coach Jeff Monken are cousins. III. Programs making FBS debut Delaware State Hornets at Delaware Blue Hens (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET • ESPN Plus) Missouri State Bears at USC Trojans (7:30 p.m. ET • BTN) Delaware and Missouri State, both playing in Conference USA, chart different paths in their FBS openers. The Blue Hens ease into the 2025 schedule against FCS in-state rival Delaware State, which hired former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson as its head coach this offseason following a 1-11 season. Meanwhile, Missouri State travels to Los Angeles for a game against USC, which should be eager to erase any remnants from last year's 7-6 season in a potentially pivotal year for head coach Lincoln Riley. IV. Take two UNLV Rebels at Sam Houston Bearkats (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET • CBSSN) Georgia Southern Eagles at Fresno State Bulldogs (9:30 p.m. ET • FS1) UNLV escaped Week 0 with an unconvincing win in head coach Dan Mullen's debut, defeating FCS Idaho State 38-31. Matt Entz wasn't as lucky in his first game at Fresno State, which lost 31-7 to Kansas. The former North Dakota State head coach remained optimistic afterward, telling reporters, "I know we can play better football." Georgia Southern has three consecutive bowl appearances under head coach Clay Helton and returning quarterback JC French IV, making it a difficult matchup for Entz to earn his first win with the Bulldogs. V. Bad football is still good football Merrimack Warriors at Kent State Golden Flashes (12 p.m. ET • ESPN Plus) Temple Owls at Massachusetts Minutemen (3:30 p.m. ET • ESPN Plus) It's been nearly two years since Kent State's last win on Sept. 16, 2023. The Golden Flashes, who went 0-12 last season and ranked last in both scoring offense (13.9 points per game) and scoring defense (44.1 points per game), have a great chance to snap a 21-game losing streak against FCS Merrimack. If not, Kent State might open 2026 with a chance to tie Northwestern's record for most consecutive losses (34). Temple-Massachusetts has the potential to be one of the worst games all year. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Owls rank No. 130 nationally, and the Minutemen are No. 126. Temple has four consecutive 3-9 finishes, while UMass, which returns to the MAC after playing as an independent from 2016-24, is 8-56 since the start of the 2019 season.
Browns releasing one-time Pro Bowl wide receiver
Diontae Johnson‘s efforts to find a stable NFL home will likely not include time with the Browns. The veteran wideout is being released today, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero report. The wide receiver’s tumultuous 2024 included a bevy of transactions and multiple aims to be traded and ultimately crushed his free agency value. Johnson was traded twice and cut twice last year, leading to a veteran-minimum Browns deal. Failing to make Cleveland’s 53-man roster represents another blow to a player who entered last season as a career-long starter. No other team made Johnson an offer this offseason. The Browns will not take on any dead money from this release as a result of the vet-minimum deal including no guarantees. The team did not add any other veteran receivers of note, but it will still move on from a former 1,000-yard player who had excelled for the Steelers over an extended stretch. The Steelers and Panthers traded Johnson last year after he grew unhappy with both situations. But Johnson then drew a team-imposed suspension in Baltimore after refusing to reenter a late-season game with the Ravens — who did not give the effective route runner a regular role. Johnson then grew unhappy with his Texans role following a subsequent waiver claim. The Ravens claimed him again for procedural purposes, wrapping a transaction-crazed (but largely inconsequential, productivity-wise) year for the six-year veteran. Cleveland has Cedric Tillman positioned as Jerry Jeudy‘s top complementary option, with 2024 fifth-rounder Jamari Thrash in the mix as well. The Browns also changed their receiver situation this month, signing Texas product Isaiah Bond after the rookie was not indicted on sexual assault charges. Johnson, 29, will pass straight to free agency as a vested veteran.
Browns Release Former Steelers Starting WR
Ahead of today's 53-man roster deadline, the Cleveland Browns parted ways with a former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver who has been on quite the journey over the past year. Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Cleveland released Diontae Johnson after signing him to a one-year contract worth $1.170 million in late April. The 29-year-old appeared in all three of the Browns' preseason games this year, finishing with two receptions for 19 yards on six targets. Cleveland's decision to cut ties with Johnson comes after they opted to trade former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2026 fifth-round pick on Monday night amidst a logjam at the position. Pittsburgh selected Johnson out of Toledo in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft at No. 66 overall, which was a pick they acquired upon sending Antonio Brown to the Raiders. He immediately became a key piece of the Steelers' offense, logging 59 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns over 16 games (12 starts) as a rookie while also returning 20 punts for 248 yards and a score, earning him second-team All-Pro honors. During the 2020 campaign, Johnson finished with 88 catches for 923 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 contests (13 starts). He garnered the first and only Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2021 with 1,161 yards and eight scores on 107 receptions before posting a combined 1,599 yards and five touchdowns between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Pittsburgh later dealt him and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024 for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-rounder, which was used on defensive lineman Logan Lee. Johnson logged 30 catches, 357 yards and three scores in seven games for Carolina before returning to the AFC North in a trade at last year's deadline that sent him to the Baltimore Ravens. His tenure with the team was rocky to say the least, as he was suspended after refusing to enter their Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles and was released on Dec. 20. The Houston Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from Baltimore, though they too would cut ties with him after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Raiders sign five-time Pro Bowl WR amid Jakobi Meyer drama
Hours after the NFL Network reported Jakobi Meyers requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders amid a contract dispute, the team added a veteran wide receiver. Per Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are signing Amari Cooper. "Reunion: Former Bills WR Amari Cooper, one of the NFL’s top free agents still available, is signing with the Raiders on a 1-year deal, per source," Rapoport posted on X. "Some late, big-time pass-catching help for the team that once drafted him in the first round." Cooper helps provide depth to a receiver room that was light at the position, even if the situation with Meyers was cleared up. Behind Meyers on the depth chart are receivers Tre Tucker and Dont'e Thornton Jr., a rookie fourth-round pick. The Oakland Raiders selected Cooper with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft. He's earned five Pro Bowl nominations, with his last appearance coming in 2023. Cooper has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills. The 31-year-old has appeared in 154 games and started 143, recording 711 receptions for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns. He recorded 297 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2024. The signing gives Geno Smith another talented receiver to throw to this season. The Raiders have three solid targets with Meyers and second-year tight end Brock Bowers. Signing Cooper also gives the Raiders flexibility if they want to trade Meyers (or if he holds out), unhappy with playing in Las Vegas on the final season of his three-year, $33 million deal he signed in 2023.
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