The biggest question surrounding LSU football entering fall camp was not whether Sam Leavitt could run Lane Kiffin’s offense. It was whether the Tigers’ highly anticipated transfer quarterback was finally healthy enough to operate it at full speed.
Early returns have provided LSU with plenty of encouragement.
Leavitt looked healthy and comfortable as the Tigers opened fall camp, giving the program an important boost ahead of the 2026 season. Head coach Lane Kiffin said Leavitt had his best practice to that point and appeared increasingly comfortable with LSU’s receivers.
That is significant because Leavitt’s availability has been one of LSU’s biggest offseason storylines.
The former Arizona State quarterback missed most of spring practice while recovering from a foot injury and subsequent procedure. That limited his opportunities to build chemistry with a completely new group of teammates and learn Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s system on the field.
Now, however, Leavitt says he feels completely healthy. Speaking to reporters Monday, he said he is “100%” and has been at that level for several months.
That confidence showed during the opening practices.
From a scouting perspective, the most encouraging development is not simply that Leavitt is throwing the football. It is that he appears capable of moving normally and participating in the physical demands required of Kiffin’s quarterback. LSU needs its quarterback to be more than a pocket passer. Leavitt’s mobility can add another dimension to an offense built around tempo, spacing and creating defensive conflicts.
His previous production at Arizona State also explains why expectations are so high. In 2024, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading the Sun Devils to an 11-2 record as a starter. He also added 443 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
LSU is hoping that version of Leavitt can reappear in Baton Rouge.
The transition will still require patience. Fall camp is only the beginning, and early practices should not be treated as definitive evidence of how the Tigers will perform against opponents. Kiffin himself emphasized that Leavitt is still developing his timing and comfort with LSU’s receivers.
But the early signs are encouraging.
For LSU, Leavitt’s health could ultimately determine how dangerous the offense becomes. The Tigers invested heavily in the transfer portal and surrounded their new quarterback with talent. If Leavitt can stay healthy, develop chemistry with his receivers and consistently make decisions in Kiffin’s system, LSU could have one of the SEC’s more intriguing offenses.
The Tigers’ season opener against Clemson on Sept. 5 will provide the first real test. Until then, Leavitt’s return to full health is perhaps the most important development coming out of fall camp.
For now, LSU appears to have gotten exactly what it wanted: its quarterback healthy, confident and taking command.
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