- Slug: Sports–ASU Quarterback Change, 520 words.
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By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News
TEMPE – After taking a hard hit in Arizona State’s win over Utah and sustaining a rib injury, redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt will not play Saturday against Cincinnati, ASU coach Kenny Dillingham announced Wednesday.
Senior quarterback Jeff Sims will take his place as the starter for the 5-1 Sun Devils on the road against the 4-2 Bearcats.
“We brought him in to compete to start,” Dillingham told reporters after ASU’s practice. “Now (Sims), who’s started a crap-ton of games, gets to go start again. To me, there’s not much drama.”
Leavitt could miss two to four weeks, Dillingham said. The Sun Devils have a bye week after their game against the Bearcats and will re-evaluate his status then.
Sims is the collegiate equivalent of a journeyman. Since 2020, he has started 25 games during his three seasons at Georgia Tech and one season at Nebraska, accumulating an 8-17 record. He has struggled with ball security, leading to 29 career interceptions and 20 fumbles.
The veteran’s mobility remains his strength, making the transition from the very aware and elusive Leavitt less jarring for the offense and coaching staff. However, it doesn’t make the loss any less unfortunate for a team riding incredibly high off a win over a ranked opponent.
“To lose a guy who’s hot right now, who’s moving the ball is always hard,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “That’s the nature of this game. You’re going to see it at all levels … you’re going to get a guy down and the next guy has to step up.”
As for Leavitt’s injury, it was sustained on a hard hit to the midsection on a scramble by the young quarterback in the second quarter of ASU’s 27-19 victory over Utah.
“I got hit in the ribs, started to spasm and couldn’t really breath,” Leavitt said after Friday’s win.
After a trip to the medical tent, Leavitt returned and played the second half of the game, leading his team to a win with a fractured rib.
“The toughness and DNA of that kid is exactly what we’ve all talked about and why he’s put himself in a position to lead this football team for a long time,” Arroyo said.
Sims filled in briefly during the Utah game when Leavitt left, finishing off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown rush. While in the game, he attempted only two passes, with Dillingham and Arroyo opting to utilize star senior running back Cam Skattebo to kill time and get to the half with the game under control.
The last time Sims took the field as a starter was nothing short of a disaster. Against Colorado in September of 2023, Sims was removed by Nebraska coach Matt Rhule after losing two fumbles and throwing an interception as the Cornhuskers were dominated by Colorado in Boulder.
A little over a year later, Sims will have his chance at redemption as part of a new program that is now being monitored by the nation more closely with each win it racks up.
Arizona State is on to Cincinnati, as Bill Belichick would say, where it faces the 4-2 Bearcats at 9 a.m.
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