Kenny Dillingham Makes Strong Case for Sam Leavitt to be Part of Elite List

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 3:08 PM ET

The Arizona State Sun Devils had a magical 2024 campaign, and it likely couldn't have happened without quarterback Sam Leavitt. After one season spent with the Michigan State Spartans, Leavitt joined the Sun Devils and hit the ground running.

By passing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, Leavitt was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was named second-team All-Big 12.

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham joined Rece Davis and Pete Thamel on their "College Gameday Podcast," and the first topic of discussion was the 20-year-old signal-caller.

"He's a competitor," said Dillingham when asked by Davis why Leavitt should be on their list of the top quarterbacks in college football. "He makes plays that we don't call the play for.

"I think anytime that your quarterback makes you look good, you've got a chance. So not only can he make plays when we don't (make) a good call, when somebody gets beat, he extends the plays. ... It's reminiscent of Jake Plummer in that he works like a champion."

Invoking Plummer's name is a big comparison. The Sun Devils quarterback from 1993 to 1996 would eventually be a second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1997. Widely considered the best quarterback in school history, Plummer played in 42 games and passed for 8,626 yards, 64 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.

Last season, Leavitt led Arizona State to a Big 12 conference championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Although their run in the CFP was short-lived, many felt the Sun Devils gave it everything during their 39-31 double-overtime loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Peach Bowl, a CFP quarterfinal.

Arizona State appears at No. 14 in Athlon Sports' preseason top 25, so expectations for the program, Leavitt and Dillingham are very high entering the 2025 season.

Davis' and Thamel's top-five quarterbacks from fifth to first were Louisville's Miller Moss, Leavitt, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Texas' Arch Manning.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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