The Tennessee Volunteers are not going down quietly after their number one target and the No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal, quarterback Sam Leavitt, committed to Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers early Monday morning.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported that the Volunteers are compiling one final offer in an attempt to flip the former Arizona State quarterback.
Tennessee and Sam Leavitt’s camp have been in regular contact throughout Monday, and the Volunteers were never told he was going to LSU,” Nakos’ report read.
“The Vols are compiling one final offer.”
Leavitt’s commitment to the Tigers came just four hours before the new report surfaced.
The University of Tennessee maintains that it had no idea that Leavitt would be committing to LSU.
Leavitt Visited Tennessee Twice This Week
Leavitt has been a regular in Knoxville.
His first visit was on January 7th; then, he returned to campus two days later, on January 9th.
In the following days, he paid a visit to the University of Kentucky and LSU.
Leavitt started his career at Michigan State University before transferring to ASU as a redshirt freshman.
His first year with the Sun Devils, he won the Big 12 and earned a trip to the College Football Playoff.
His second season was cut short due to an injury, and now he finds himself in the transfer portal once again.
Tennessee Quarterback Options
The Volunteers hit the portal to find a quarterback last offseason. They brought in former Appalachian State gunslinger Joey Aguilar.
Aguilar put together a solid season, leading UT to playoff considerations late in November.
He is now out of eligibility, and Tennessee is strapped for options.
Redshirt freshman quarterback George MacIntyre is currently battling with true freshman Faizon Brandon, leaving a gaping hole of experience in Aguilar’s absence.
This is why the Volunteers hit the portal so hard, but they are quickly running out of options.
Former Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula remains the only real veteran option.
There are several backups with limited starting experience, like USC’s Husan Longstreet and Pittsburgh’s Eli Holstein, in the portal as well. But that puts Tennessee in a similar position to the one it is in now.
Tennessee Plans To Offer LSU Quarterback Commit Sam Leavitt