Top portal quarterback Leavitt visiting Miami. And other developments.
The Miami Hurricanes, preparing for the Jan. 19 national championship game against Oregon or Indiana, are set to host a visit this weekend with the top quarterback in the transfer portal: Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt.
Two weeks ago, Miami made a sizable offer to former Cincinnati quarterback Brendon Sorsby, but he opted for Texas Tech in part because his girlfriend is going to school there, per a source with direct knowledge.
UM always has had a level of interest in Leavitt, and that interest has intensified to the point that he has been summoned to UM’s campus for a weekend visit, as On3.com reported.
He previously visited Texas Tech (which no longer needs a QB), Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee.
In 2024, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, while completing 61.7 percent of his passes and rushing for 443 yards and five touchdowns.
This past season, he was limited to seven games because of injury and threw for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions, along with 300 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Leavitt threw 23 passes in his first college season at Michigan State before transferring to ASU before the 2024 season. Over three seasons, he has thrown 36 TDs and 11 interceptions and completed 61.4 percent of his passes, while averaging 4.2 yards on 196 rushing attempts (with 10 TDs on the ground).
247 Sports ranks Leavitt as the top remaining quarterback and the top player overall in the transfer portal.
If the Canes can land Leavitt, it would the third consecutive year that they landed arguably the top portal quarterback, following Cam Ward and Carson Beck.
The Canes have four scholarship quarterbacks who have eligibility remaining after the playoffs: Emory Williams, Luke Nickel, Judd Anderson and incoming freshman Dereon Coleman.
Players in the Jan. 19 national championship game can enter the portal until Jan. 16 and again between Jan. 20 and 24. All other players must enter the portal by Jan. 16. Players can then sign with schools at any time.
Per 247’s Gaby Urrutia, UM this weekend will host West Virginia wide receiver Cam Vaughn. He had 35 catches for 541 yards and four touchdowns last season, his first for the Mountaineers after spending two years at Jacksonville State.
Also visiting this weekend: former Georgia tight end Pearce Spurlin, who retired in 2024 because of a congenital heart condition and has now been cleared to return to football after open-heart surgery last August. He’s a skilled on-line blocker.
Lucas update
UM cornerback Xavier Lucas, who was ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter of UM’s Thursday night 31-27 playoff semifinal win against Mississippi, is required to sit out the first half of the Jan. 19 championship game at Hard Rock Stadium, in accordance with NCAA rules.
Former George defensive lineman David Pollack, an ex-ESPN analyst and current podcaster, on Friday implored the NCAA to overturn the call.
“The targeting call for Xavier Lucas needs to be reviewed today and overturned,” Pollack said on X. “Horse crap call that now has him sitting half the National Championship. Make it make sense please. Do the right thing.”
▪ Pro Football Focus rated UM’s top five players on offense Thursday in this order: running back Mark Fletcher, receiver Malachi Toney, running back CharMar Brown, receiver Keelan Marion and left tackle Markel Bell.
▪ PFF’s top five players on defense: defensive end Rueben Bain, safety Jakobe Thomas, linebacker Raul Aguirre, defensive tackle Ahmad Moten and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe.
Here’s my Thursday night column off UM’s win, with 10 notes and thoughts.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 12:35 PM.
