Why Jonathan Smith, Oregon State didn't offer Sam Leavitt
It has been a whirlwind week for the Michigan State Spartans, who lost to Penn State 42-0 on Friday, hired new head coach Jonathan Smith over the weekend and saw a handful of players enter the transfer portal.
None of those departures, however, has drawn more attention than Michigan State freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt.
As a standout at West Linn (Oregon), Leavitt led the Lions to a 6A state title and was the Gatorade Player of the Year.
Still, he received no offer - and little attention - from Smith, who was then the head coach with the in-state Oregon State Beavers.
"I don't know if I'm considering staying - just with previous relations with this staff. I've made my decision in terms of Michigan State," Leavitt said. "Being a hometown kid and not getting an offer from them felt disrespectful, so that's always stuck with me."
Which begs the question: Why didn't Smith and the Beavers recruit Leavitt?
It's not as complicated as it may seem.
During the 2023 recruiting cycle, Oregon State landed on its quarterback of the future early, securing the commitment of fast-rising Downey (California) signal-caller Aidan Chiles in June.
Leavitt, on the other hand, had just transferred from Westview (Oregon) to West Linn, and was considered a prospect to watch.
He was not rated nationally and considered a mid-three-star prospect at the time of Chiles' decision.
Months later, as a West Linn senior, Leavitt's stock exploded.
He was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year, throwing for 3,065 yards and 36 touchdowns with an additional 693 yards and eight scores on the ground.
On the recruiting trail, Leavitt rose to four-star status, as well as the nation's No. 18 quarterback.
Of course, Chiles experienced a similar rise.
The California product climbed to the nation's No. 58 overall prospect and No. 7 quarterback in his class, earning All-American Bowl recognition, where he shined all week.
Despite the transfer addition of Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, a former five-star prospect, in the offseason, Chiles' stock has continued to climb this fall.
He's earned significant playing time as a freshman and projects as a future college football star and potential high-level NFL draft prospect.
It's even been predicted that he'll be an NFL first-round draft pick.
As a freshman, Chiles primarily spelled Uiagalelei for the third series of Oregon State games, going 24-of-35 (68.6 percent) for 309 yards and four touchdowns passing with an additional 79 yards and three scores on the ground.
Admittedly, both quarterbacks have been stellar since the summer before their senior seasons.
And, like Leavitt, Chiles would be a hot commodity should he enter the transfer portal.
It's perfectly reasonable for a recruit to feel disrespected when the local programs don't reach out, especially if he climbs to national prominence.
But Smith's additions of Uiagalelei and Chiles, unquestionably, benefitted his Oregon State program.
And who knows? Maybe Chiles will once again be Smith's choice to lead his program - this time in East Lansing.
