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Sam Leavitt signs new NIL deal with Sun Angel Collective, announces return to Arizona State

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/07/25•

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Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is running it back. He announced a new NIL deal with the Sun Angel Collective, signaling his return to the Sun Devils in 2025.

Leavitt played an important role in Arizona State’s run to a Big 12 championship and first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. He threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first year with the Sun Devils after transferring from Michigan State.

Leavitt also has an On3 NIL Valuation of $3 million and took fewer dollars to stay at Arizona State, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. In the process, he’s also betting on Kenny Dillingham after a breakout season in 2024.

“I want to have a statue here and make Arizona State something that it’s never been before,” Leavitt said.

At $3 million, Leavitt’s NIL Valuation currently ranks No. 12 in the college football NIL rankings. He also sits at No. 15 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

Sam Leavitt is the latest high-profile return for Arizona State, which saw its season come to an end in the Peach Bowl against Texas. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is also coming back after re-upping with the Sun Angel Collective, meaning the Sun Devils’ top receiver is also staying put in 2025 to build on this year’s success.

Tyson didn’t play in the College Football Playoff due to injury, but still had a huge junior season. The former Colorado transfer had 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games before he got hurt.

In addition to its quarterback and top receiver, Arizona State is keeping its coach around next year – and for the foreseeable future. Ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, Dillingham agreed to a new contract with the school, which includes a commitment to the new era of college football, ESPN’s Pete Thamel previously reported.

Arizona State will add 20 scholarships to get to the limit of 105 set by the House v. NCAA settlement, pending full approval. In addition, the school will fully opt in to the new revenue-sharing model as part of that agreement. It’s part of the university’s plan to stay in the “national spotlight,” as a source told Thamel.