Dillingham addresses ASU’s future with Sam Leavitt set to leave the program

(Photo: Evan Baranic/WCSN)

Ahead of the Sun Bowl matchup against the ACC Champions Duke, Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham commented on his team’s future leading into the game in El Paso.

This comes after reporting that redshirt quarterback Sam Leavitt is set to enter the transfer portal, after two seasons in Tempe.

“I grew so much learning from Sam, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Dillingham said. “I absolutely want to see him succeed and I can sleep really well at night knowing that we helped him progress himself along his journey.”

Leavitt joined the Sun Devils in spring of 2024, after being the third-string quarterback at Michigan State. In 20 games in maroon and gold, Leavitt threw for 4,513 yards and 34 touchdowns.

“When I sign players, when I recruit players, when I coach players, my goal is to help them be successful individually,” Dillingham said. “Hopefully, me helping them be successful individually, helps them be successful as a team.”

He was one of the primary offensive catalysts en route to a 2024 Big 12 Championship and entered this season in the Heisman Trophy conversation from many national pundits.

“Every kid that transfers, every kid that leaves, this isn’t a kids problem,” Dillingham said. “This is an adult’s mess, not a kids’ mess. People try to throw these kids into it, and I get it, they make a lot of money now, but put the blame on me. I’ve got to do more.”

Despite this, Dillingham still wants his players to be fully committed to the program, even with potential lucrative offers elsewhere.

“At the end of the day, I want people that truly believe Arizona State is the best place for themselves and their growth,”Dillingham said. “If that’s at Arizona State, great. If that’s not at Arizona State, great.”

However, even with Leavitt likely departing Tempe, Dillingham remained confident that the Sun Devils would be just fine under center next season.

While he didn’t comment on who exactly that may be, he did share his excitement on incoming freshman quarterback Jake Fette.

“I’m fired up about him,” Dillingham said. “I can’t wait to get him here. He’s a phenomenal player, a phenomenal person, his family is phenomenal.”

Fette, an El Paso, Texas, native, is a four-star prospect by many national recruiting guides for his ability as a dual-threat quarterback.

Fette’s signing signals a new youth movement in Tempe, one that is expected to be followed in the build up to the Sun Bowl.

“We’re going to get a lot of young guys reps,” Dillingham said. “It’s on. We’re going to put in things, we’re going to practice hard, we’re going to practice physical and we’re going to get better.”

Despite the intention of getting the younger players reps in practices, the plan is for the veterans to play in the game against Duke.

“We’re going to try to win the game,” Dillingham said. “There may be younger guys that play, but they’re playing to try to win the game.”

Redshirt senior quarterback Jeff Sims is set to remain the starter for the Sun Bowl, with Dillingham praising his 3-1 record as a starter this season.

“This is a new era of college football,” Dillingham said. “I’m going to support whatever our players do, whatever they deem is best.”

While he couldn’t comment on how many players would opt-out, Dillingham did acknowledge that discussions are currently ongoing, with each player’s health being the utmost priority.

Regardless of who dresses for ASU, this will be the program’s eighth visit to El Paso for the Sun Bowl.

Most recently, the Sun Devils defeated Florida State 20-14, in the 2019 matchup of the Sun Bowl.

“I’ve been in this bowl game, one time before,” Dillingham said. “We played Duke, so I’m two-for-two in facing the Blue Devils.”

Dillingham was referring to ASU’s 2014 trip to the Sun Bowl, when he was an offensive assistant under then-head coach Todd Graham.

The Sun Devils won that matchup against Duke, 36-31, a result they’ll surely be looking to replicate. 

“We’re going after our 20th win in a two-year span,” Dillingham said. “That doesn’t happen very often, so that’s the goal.”

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