Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt out for game at Cincinnati; Jeff Sims to start
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt will not play in Arizona State’s game this weekend at Cincinnati, Head Coach Kenny Dillingham confirmed on Wednesday.
Senior transfer QB Jeff Sims is anticipated to take the reins for Saturday’s matchup against Leavitt, who has been the starting quarterback for all of ASU’s games this season.
In last Friday’s contest against No. 16 Utah, Leavitt suffered an injury when he kept the ball on what turned out to be a broken play, resulting in a hit to his ribs that left him in pain and struggling to breathe. Once he managed to walk off the field, he expressed his disappointment to his teammates.
“I wasn’t too worried about the pain; I was just sad I couldn’t put on for the team,” Leavitt stated. “Once I had the strength to get up, I told the team, ‘You guys better go put this one in.'”
Inspired by Leavitt’s words, the Sun Devils rallied under Sims’ command, achieving a surprising 27-19 upset victory over Utah.
Saturday’s game represents a significant opportunity for Sims, who completed merely one of two passes attempted against Utah. He also showcased his skills by rushing for a touchdown during that game.
Dillingham noted that the coaching staff realized by Monday that Leavitt would not be cleared to play this week. Though specifics about Leavitt’s injury were not provided, Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo mentioned to reporters that Leavitt has a fractured rib. The team has not released any information regarding his recovery timeframe.
Arizona State will be on the road to face Cincinnati, with the game set for a noon local kickoff time, which translates to 9 a.m. in Arizona. The Bearcats come into the game with a record of 4-2 after securing a win against UCF last Saturday.
