Sam Leavitt is reportedly still in Lexington, and the visit is going well. The number 2-ranked QB in the portal is supposed to have dinner with Kentucky's staff tonight.
But there is always an indication that your first choice isn't always going to work out. Matt Zenitz recently reported that Leavitt is still going to take his visit to Texas Tech. That does not mean Kentucky is out, but it does open the door. And Kentucky's backup plan is someone they already faced last season, Auburn's Ashton Daniels.
Ashton Daniels sets visit to Kentucky football
Kentucky went to the Plains needing a road win to help build some momentum, sitting at 2-5 and fresh off a beatdown by Tennessee, Mark Stoops and company had 7 sacks in a 10-3 win. Ashton Daniels was the starter but was sacked 5 times, replaced by Jackson Arnold, but eventually came back in. He finished the day 13 of 28 for 108 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. He also added 84 yards on 15 rushes.
For the season, Daniels had 797 passing yards, a 57% completion percentage, 280 rush yards, and 2 more TDs on the ground. It was not a successful season for Daniels whos best year came in 2023 with Stanford. For his career, Daniels has totaled 4,783 yards, 24 TDs, and 22 INTs through the air with 1,401 more yards on the ground and 11 more TDs.
Stein must see something in Daniels, who also has visits set up with Baylor and Florida State, per Pete Nakos. I am not so sure the fanbase that watched Kentucky pass up on Mark Stoops pass on several quarterbacks, including Duke's Maalik Murphy, to ultimately land Zach Calzada will be happy with this backup plan.
Kentucky will try to close the deal tonight, but if they can't, Sam Leavitt will be heading to Texas Tech, where that oil money will be very hard to turn down.