‘My plan from the jump’: Secret-weapon Sam Leavitt key to Arizona State football success

Sam Leavitt is signing autographs for little kids after practice these days.

If there’s a better example of how far Arizona State football has come as the Cinderfella story of this college football season, I can’t find it.

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Leavitt is a redshirt freshman quarterback playing for a team that had just six wins in the previous two years combined and was picked to finish dead last in the nation’s most disrespected conference, the Big 12. Now, he’s going to the College Football Playoff, and everybody wants a piece of the guy’s time, starting with middle-schoolers wearing Sun Devils jerseys.

“That’s my favorite thing, you know?” Leavitt said. “Just being a role model and an example to these young kids to show them that hard work gets you where you want to be.”

‘My mom has one’

Hard work has Leavitt’s team with an 11-2 record and a Big 12 championship. Leavitt earned conference freshman of the year recognition and a spot on an ESPN watch list for next season’s Heisman contenders.

He might have started off as a secret weapon, but he’s not anymore.

It seems like Leavitt is the only one who isn’t surprised.

“I remember back in second grade,” Leavitt said, laughing. “I’d sign little pieces of paper and put a little note, saying, ‘Y’all can sell this later.’ … I’ll bet you my mom has one.”

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and offensive lineman Leif Fautanu (79) and quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrate during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 7, 2024.

It’s Sam being Sam, and everybody loves him for it.

“This guy actually cares about us and cares about the team,” center Leif Fautanu said.

Leavitt has made sure that profits from his jersey…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/plan-jump-secret-weapon-sam-120428599.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2024-12-24 12:04:00

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