Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is out this week for Saturday’s game against Cincinnati, coach Kenny Dillingham told reporters Wednesday. The Sun Devils will start Jeff Sims in his place.
Leavitt took a hard hit during last Friday’s 27-19 win over Utah. The first-year quarterback returned to the game in the second half but will now miss Saturday’s game.
Dillingham said Leavitt might miss two to four weeks with a rib injury. Arizona State has a bye week after the game in Cincinnati after which the team will reevaluate Leavitt.
Sims, who has 32 games of experience from previous stints with Georgia Tech and Nebraska, has 44 career passing and rushing touchdowns.
Arizona State, 5-1, has had a surprisingly successful first half of its season, in part due to Leavitt’s work as quarterback.
How important has Leavitt been this season?
This is a significant blow for Arizona State, which has been one of college football’s bigger surprises.
In his first year of starting, Leavitt has played better than expected. He has made plays with his arms and legs. Most importantly, he has been connected with Dillingham and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. He has command of the offense, and that’s been reflected in his play.
He took a hard shot to the ribs in the second quarter of last week’s win against Utah. Upon heading to the locker room for evaluation, Leavitt shouted encouragement to his teammates. He returned and played in the second half, leading the Sun Devils to their biggest win of Dillingham’s two seasons. It was a gutsy performance, and that’s what Arizona State will miss most. — Doug Haller, Arizona senior writer
What to expect from Sims?
During the short time Leavitt was out against the Utes, Sims led Arizona State on a scoring drive. He showcased his speed on a 2-yard touchdown, outrunning Utah’s defense to the end zone. Sims played at Georgia Tech for three seasons and at Nebraska for one season before arriving at Arizona State, so experience won’t be a problem. But he’s been mistake-prone, throwing 29 interceptions over his career.
The best news for the Sun Devils is they can keep feeding Cameron Skattebo, a productive back who relishes a heavy workload. After this week’s game at Cincinnati, Arizona State has an off week, followed by a Nov. 2 trip to Oklahoma State. If Leavitt heals quickly, the Sun Devils could easily stay in the Big 12 hunt. — Haller
(Photo: Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
