There’s a buzz in Tempe. And it’s not just about the heat sizzling off the turf at Camp Tontozona. It’s sharper, louder, and constant. Spring practice isn’t quiet in Arizona State’s camp. It’s not supposed to be. Because if you’re not communicating, you’re not competing. The sound of cleats pounding, coaches barking, and whistles blowing. And right in the thick of it all, there’s Sam Leavitt — his voice cutting through the madness like he’s been doing it forever. Except… he hadn’t. 

You see, Leavitt hasn’t always been that guy — the loud guy, the vocal leader, the QB who barks orders like he owns the field. But as the Sun Devils concluded an 11-on-11 practice drill on Wednesday, their offensive coordinator reiterated the identity of ASU’s offense concerning their QB. 

Marcus Arroyo’s been there. Played QB himself. So when he says ASU’s is “overcommunication,” he means it. In an X post on April 16, he made this notion clear. “One of the biggest things, and we talk about it as a unit, about the identity of our offense is the ‘over-communication’ – whether it be verbal or non-verbal,” he said. “I liked [communication] right at the moment because it’s fresh with guys, so I’m forcing Sam to communicate what he sees, why he likes that, where they need to be, why he’s there, and why they’re there. For a young quarterback to learn that early, I think it’s important.” The message is clear — command the huddle, lead the charge, and let the voice echo.

It wasn’t long ago that Sam Leavitt was in green and white, suiting up for Michigan State. But a new chapter started when the 6’2, 205-pounder entered the portal and landed with the Sun Devils. Now, fresh off an 11-3 record and a Big 12 title, expectations are sky high. The pressure is even higher, especially now that RB Cam Skattebo is out of the picture. And yeah, for the first two weeks of spring, it was all about figuring things out. 

Sam Leavitt didn’t hold back when he addressed the identity issues that were present early on. During his interview with the media on April 8, he said, “If you look back a week ago from now, I came over here and I said we had some identity issues. Which you know, it was just some identity growth that we needed to have. So we had some adversity, and we came out and we bounced back.” Right. After a series of hard practices and longer drives, the switch started to flip. “We’re kind of finding who we are now, and I was really proud of the guys on how we bounced back,” he added. And now, he’s letting it fly to find his guys. 

Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson as ASU’s biggest offensive weapons

With new faces in the receiver room, including projected WR1 Jordyn Tyson, it could’ve been a bumpy ride. But not for Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devils. The 20-year-old receiver who racked up 1,101 yards and 10 TDs this past season won Kenny Dillingham’s full favor. “Tyson’s had a great spring,” he said. And yeah, that only means he’s going to be the one that Sam throws to in 2025, someone who’s finding his voice, both figuratively and literally. 

“This year, he’s taking it to another level, being more of a vocal leader,” WR coach Hines Ward said of Sam Leavitt. “Understanding that this is his team, and he wants to lead by example. He’s the first guy out there… and if you mess up or you run a wrong route, he will get on you… You want that commanding enforcement from your quarterback, understanding that this is a level that I expect everybody to be on.” That’s exactly what ASU needs. A young QB standing up and demanding greatness from his team.

So yeah, Sam Leavitt might be forced into an unfamiliar territory, forced to lead out loud. But if spring’s any sign of what’s to come, he’s not just surviving — he’s thriving.