ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham wasn’t waiting around anymore. After a disappointing end to the 2025 season, QB Sam Leavitt entered the portal despite his success at Arizona State. Since this was brewing for weeks, the program was already prepared for this outcome and had identified two potential replacements.

On3 college football reporter Steve Wiltfong released a list of potential recruits that programs such as Penn State, Oregon, and Arizona State could target. For ASU, Wiltfong predicts that Bastrop (Texas) four-star quarterback Weston Nielsen may be a strong candidate for the Sun Devils. That would be a significant addition for Kenny Dillingham, as Nielsen is ranked the nation’s No. 20 quarterback in the Rivals Industry Rankings.

The Sun Devils offered him first in January 2024 and hosted him on campus for a game-day visit in September. Arizona State was one of the 18 finalists with Oregon, Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Miami. Wiltfong even predicted 60% for Nielsen to choose Kenny Dillingham’s program. The high interest is because of his impressive junior season at Bastrop.

He completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,053 yards and 44 touchdowns in just 12 games. He also contributed on the ground, rushing for 373 yards and five touchdowns. His production makes him one of the most notable quarterback prospects in the region. This projection comes shortly after Arizona State secured a commitment from four-star dual-threat quarterback Jake Fette out of Del Valle High School in El Paso, Texas.

While that comes as a relief for the quarterback depth, Sam Leavitt’s departure would still be a setback for Arizona State and Dillingham.

Leavitt joined Arizona State as a redshirt freshman (Michigan State) in 2024 and immediately made an impact. In his first year, he posted a 61.7% completion rate for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns. His breakout year was a leading factor in Arizona State clinching the Big 12 championship that season.

His numbers dipped this season. Before his injury against Baylor, Leavitt looked sharp through the first five games as the starter, winning 15 of his first 18 starts. Leavitt didn’t return to action for the rest of the season, as backup quarterback Jeff Sims handled the signal-calling duties from that point on. Now, with QB1’s exit, Kenny Dillingham will place faith in replacement Jake Fette and possibly even in Weston Nielsen.

Will Jake Fette be the new star for Kenny Dillingham next season?

With speculations around Sam Leavitt’s departure growing for weeks, Kenny Dillingham knew it was time to bring in a replacement. Enter Jake Fette, the ASU commit from September 2024. Despite multiple Power 4 programs approaching him, Fette has been tight with the Sun Devils, something Dillingham appreciates.

“He’s (Jake Fette) been committed the longest,” Dillingham said in a statement. “Stayed committed through all the people that tried to get him to flip, and the want to be here is really important to me.”

Kenny Dillingham has good reason to be excited about Fette. The young quarterback has accumulated more than 7,600 passing yards and nearly 2,000 rushing yards at Del Valle, showcasing the dual-threat profile that fits Dillingham’s aggressive, space-driven offense. His skill set makes him a clear blueprint match for what ASU had in Sam Leavitt.

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