Listen, Sam Leavitt has a lot of talent. But there are some red flags that will worry some. His Lisfranc surgery will sideline him for 5 or 6 months from the surgery date of November. That means he will not be ready for Spring camp, and if complications arise, he may not even be ready for fall camp. When you are a new QB in a new system, having the reps with your new pass catchers and offensive line. And then you have LSU.
After Brendan Sorsby committed to Texas Tech, Sam Leavitt, who had planned to visit Lubbock, immediately planned a visit to LSU, the place Sorsby had just finished visiting. Sorsby is being paid 5 million dollars, according to Pete Nakos. That is an obscene amount of money for a college QB. For reference, the number 10 pick in the NFL Draft makes 5 million.
If the money is too rich, or if Sam Leavitt chooses to go to LSU, these are the 5 guys Kentucky must call
1. Deuce Knight
Kentucky already has a visit set with Auburn's Ashton Daniels, but it is the other Auburn QB in the portal that is far more intriguing. Daniels has all the tools you could ask for, multiple years of eligibility, and has elite speed.
2. Austin Simmons
Simmons was going to be the guy for Lane Kiffin, before an ankle injury against the Cats allowed Trinidad Chambliss to take over. He has the size, arm strength, and accuracy to play in the Stein system. He will remain with Ole Miss until the Rebels lose in the CFP.
3. Braden Atkinson
Mercer QB Braden Atkinson is drawing interest from Notre Dame, Syracuse, Baylor, Boston College and Cal, his rep @gsheen23 of @AiC_Athletes tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) January 4, 2026
He totaled 3,611 passing yards and 34 TDs in 2025. Also won the Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded to the most… pic.twitter.com/iEbSSQSCCj
When you have those kinds of numbers as a true freshman (3600 passing yards and 30+ TDs), the Transfer Portal is made for you. He was unranked by 247sports. Boston College and Miami (OH) were his only FBS offers, so he went the FCS route. Strong arm, accurate, and a good decision maker, but he is a classic pocket passer. He can move around in the pocket, but he is not going to break a 50-yard run. Still, he had elite production all through high school, and it continued in college.
4. Jake Merklinger
Consensus top 200 QB Jake Merklinger will be a redshirt sophomore wherever he ends up, and he will bring a lot of talent with him. He has seen mop-up duty with the Vols but is ready to break out on his own. Another big armed strong QB tailor-made for Will Stein.
5. Austin Novosad
This one makes the most sense. He is already on the roster with Oregon and knows the system. He will be experienced and have an edge on anyone else coming in, and has the arm talent to make the throws needed. If Stein likes what he sees, coming to Kentucky makes a lot of sense for both.
Now we aren't saying Leavitt is no longer considering Kentucky, and as one of the best QBs in the portal, it would be unlikely that he visits one place. But there are a lot of options out there that make a lot of sense. Remember, it is not the name, but the system they play in that will define success at this level.