Arizona State Reacts to Big 12’s Major Sam Leavitt Announcement
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Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt selected as preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the Big 12’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Monday. Five Sun Devils were also named to the preseason All-Big 12 team. The Big 12 will not be releasing a media poll, as they have done in years past. Big 12 Media Days will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at The Star, Dallas, Texas, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys. The conference will be represented by head coach Kenny Dilling, head coach Clayton Smith, defensive lineman C.J. Fite, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, offensive lineman Ben Coleman, defensive back Xavion Alford and defensive lineman Austin Romaine. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was named preseason Defensive Player of The Year. The Conference will hold its media days in Frisco, Texas from Tuesday through Wednesday. The Sun Devils are the reigning Big 12 champions and will be in the spotlight on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at the Star in Dallas, Dallas. They will also be represented on Wednesday by coach Dilling and head coach Smith.
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ASU, the reigning Big 12 champions, received some major honors from the media at the start of the Conference’s media days in Texas.
IRVING, Texas — Sun Devil fans already knew this, but it was made extra clear to the rest of the nation on Monday. The best quarterback in the Big 12 Conference wears maroon and gold.
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the Big 12’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Monday and he was one of five Sun Devils named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
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The honors, which are determined by a vote from members of the media who cover the conference, were announced on Monday ahead of Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday and Wednesday in Frisco, Texas.
Leavitt, a redshirt sophomore, had a coming-out party last season as he threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns as he led ASU to a surprise Big 12 championship and into the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Originally from Oregon, Leavitt transferred to ASU ahead of the 2024-25 season from Michigan State. He is now viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and is currently tied for the 10th-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy (+2500), according to BetMGM.
He was not the only Sun Devil honored by the media on Monday. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, offensive lineman Ben Coleman, defensive back Xavion Alford and defensive lineman C.J. Fite were also named to the preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Arizona did not have any players selected to the preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Former Friday Night Fever star Devon Dampier was named the Big 12’s preseason Newcomer of the Year. The Saguaro High School alum transferred to Utah this season after starting his college career at New Mexico. In two seasons with the Lobos, the 5’10” quarterback started 13 games and threw for 3,293 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 1,494 yards and 23 touchdowns. He is expected to take over the starter for the Utes this season.
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu, who played high school football at Highland High School in Gilbert, was also named to the preseason All-Big 12 Team, which can be seen in its entirety below.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was named the Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The Big 12 will not be releasing a media poll, as they have done in years past.
2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team
Offense
Quarterback: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Running Back: Bryson Washington, Baylor
Running Back: Jahiem White, West Virginia
Fullback/H-Back: Will Swanson, Kansas State
Wide Receiver: Eric McAlister, TCU
Wide Receiver: Chase Roberts, BYU
Wide Receiver: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Tight End: Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Offensive Lineman: Ben Coleman, Arizona State
Offensive Lineman: Spencer Fano, Utah
Offensive Lineman: Bryce Foster, Kansas
Offensive Lineman: Caleb Lomu, Utah
Offensive Lineman: Jordan Seaton, Colorado
Defense
Defensive Lineman: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Defensive Lineman: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Defensive Lineman: C.J. Fite, Arizona State
Defensive Lineman: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Defensive Lineman: Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Linebacker: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Linebacker: Austin Romaine, Kansas State
Linebacker: Keaton Thomas, Baylor
Defensive Back: Xavion Alford, Arizona State
Defensive Back: Bud Clark, TCU
Defensive Back: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
Defensive Back: DJ McKinney, Colorado
Defensive Back: Jontez Williams, Iowa State
Special Teams
Kicker: Will Ferrin, BYU
Kick Returner/Punt Returner: Josh Cameron, Baylor
Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor
Big 12 Media Days will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at The Star, the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, in Irving, Texas.
Arizona State will be spotlighted on Tuesday and will be represented by head coach Kenny Dillingham, Leavitt, Tyson, Coleman, Fite, Alford and defensive lineman Clayton Smith.
Arizona’s turn at media days will come on Wednesday. The Wildcats will be represented by head coach Brent Brennan, quarterback Noah Fifita, offensive lineman Rhino Tapa’atoutai, defensive lineman Tre Smith and three defensive backs, Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith. Smith played high school football at Hamilton High School in Chandler.
12Sports has a crew at Big 12 Media Days and will have full coverage.
ASU will open the 2025-26 season at home in Tempe at Mountain America Stadium against Northern Arizona on August 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Arizona will open its season 30 minutes after ASU when Hawai’i visits Arizona Stadium in Tucson.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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2025 Preseason All-Big 12 football team: Sam Leavitt, Jacob Rodriguez headline as Players of the Year
The Big 12 has announced the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 football team. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Utah’s Devon Dampier was recognized as the Newcomer of the year. Texas Tech and Iowa State each had three players selected, indicative of their strong rosters.
Sam Leavitt (Arizona State) – Offensive Player of the Year
Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) – Defensive Player of the Year
Three players each from Texas Tech and Iowa State selected to the All-Big 12 team.
The decision to not release a preseason media poll deviates from tradition, likely influenced by last year’s inaccurate predictions where Arizona State, unranked at No. 16, surprisingly captured the conference title.
Big 12 Media Days are set to begin, attracting significant attention from fans and analysts.
Texas Tech’s enhanced roster due to transfer portal activity highlights their competitive strategy.
As the season approaches, the performance of top players like Leavitt and Rodriguez will be closely watched, potentially impacting their respective teams’ success in the quest for a conference title.
The preseason accolades set the stage for an exciting Big 12 season, emphasizing the rising talent and competition while signaling a shift in the conference’s traditional practices.
Big 12 Football Media Days: When, where, how to watch
Big 12 Football Media Days are Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9. The event kicks off with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s state of the conference address on July 8. ASU has six players in attendance: quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, offensive lineman Ben Coleman, defensive lineman C.J. Fite and defensive back Xavion Alford. Both days will be broadcast and streamed live on ESPNU and ESPN+, with portions of the day broadcast live on TV on ESPN2 for the first time. The Big 12 Conference is the first major conference to host media days, and it’s the second year in a row that ASU will be the headline the event, after Baylor in 2012. The conference is currently the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in rushing yards per game, according to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) The conference also has the top-ranked scoring offense in the FCS, with the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 2.
Arizona State University, in the second year of being in the Big 12 Conference and the defending conference champions, headlines the upcoming Big 12 Football Media Days. It’s the first major conference to host media days.
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Here is what you need to know.
When are Big 12 Football Media Days?
Big 12 Football Media Days are Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9.
The event starts at 8:30 a.m. MST and goes until 1 p.m. on both days.
The event kicks off with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s state of the conference address on July 8, followed by eight schools. The remaining eight teams will do interviews on July 9.
July 8 will feature ASU, Baylor, BYU, the University of Central Florida, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech, while July 9 will feature Arizona, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU, Utah and West Virginia.
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Where are Big 12 Media Days?
Big 12 Football Media Days will take place at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ global headquarters, in Frisco, Texas.
Who will attend Big 12 Football Media Days?
Alongside coach Kenny Dillingham, ASU has six players in attendance: quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, offensive lineman Ben Coleman, defensive lineman C.J. Fite, defensive lineman Clayton Smith and defensive back Xavion Alford.
Here is the full list of attendees:
Baylor
QB Sawyer Robertson
WR Josh Cameron
OL Omar Aigbedion
DL Jackie Marshall
LB Keaton Thomas
DB Devyn Bobby
BYU
RB LJ Martin
WR Chase Roberts
LB Jack Kelly
LB Isaiah Glasker
DL Keanu Tanuvasa
UCF
RB Myles Montgomery
OL Paul Rubelt
DE Nyjalik Kelly
LB Keli Lawson
Cincinnati
QB Brendan Sorsby
TE Joe Royer
OL Gavin Gerhardt
DL Dontay Corleone
Iowa State
QB Rocco Becht
OL Tyler Miller
DL Domonique Orange
DB Jeremiah Cooper
DB Jontez Williams
Kansas State
QB Avery Johnson
OL Taylor Poitier
DE Cody Stufflebean
LB Des Purnell
S VJ Payne
Texas Tech
QB Behren Morton
WR Caleb Douglas
DL Romello Height
DL Lee Hunter
LB Jacob Rodriguez
DB Cole Wisniewski
Arizona
QB Noah Fifita
OL Rhino Tapa’atoutai
DL Tre Smith
DB Treydan Stukes
DB Dalton Johnson
DB Genesis Smith
Colorado
QB Julian Lewis
QB Kaidon Salter
OL Jordan Seaton
DB DJ McKinney
K Alejandro Mata
Houston
WR Mekhi Mews
WR Stephon Johnson
DL Carlos Allen Jr.
DB Latrell McCutchin Sr.
Kansas
QB Jalon Daniels
C Bryce Foster
DE Dean Miller
DT D.J. Withers
Oklahoma State
TE Josh Ford
DT Iman Oates
DB Cam Smith
TCU
QB Josh Hoover
WR Eric McAlister
OL Coltin Deery
LB Devean Deal
LB Namdi Obiazor
DB Bud Clark
Utah
QB Devon Dampier
OL Spencer Fano
DB Smith Snowden
LB Lander Barton
West Virginia
WR Jaden Bray
OL Landen Livingston
DL Edward Vesterinen
How to watch/stream Big 12 Football Media Days
ESPN will be broadcasting live. Both days will be broadcast and streamed live in full on ESPNU and ESPN+, with portions of the day broadcast live on TV on ESPN2 for the first time, according to the Big 12.
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Matt Barrie hosts live coverage for ESPN with analysts Greg McElroy and Brock Osweiler and reporter Katie George also providing coverage.
Additionally, the event will be broadcast on Big 12 Studios from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State headlines Big 12 Football Media Days
Arizona State Reacts to Big 12’s Major Sam Leavitt Announcement
Arizona State Reacts to Big 12’s Major Sam Leavitt Announcement. The Arizona State Sun Devils had an amazing 2024 season. They went 11-3, securing the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff. Quarterback SamLeavitt has been named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.. ESPN BET ties him for the 11th-best odds (+3000) to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025.
The Arizona State Sun Devils had an amazing 2024 season. They went 11-3, securing the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, eventually losing to No. 5 Texas in the quarterfinals.
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What makes that even more impressive is that the expectations weren’t high at all, considering they were coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons in 2022 and 2023 and hadn’t appeared in a bowl game since 2021.
Much of that unexpected success fell on the shoulders of quarterback Sam Leavitt, who has now earned an exciting honor before 2025 as he was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
That caught the attention of the Sun Devils, who reshared the exciting news on X, captioning it “Preseason praise.”
Last season, in his first year as a full-time starter at the collegiate level, Leavitt was impressive, completing 216 of 350 passes for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 150.2 passing efficiency rating.
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It wasn’t only his passing ability that was on display, though, as he also showed a strong ability as a dual-threat quarterback, rushing the ball 110 times for 443 yards and five touchdowns.
Leavitt’s efforts helped Arizona State achieve some impressive offensive numbers, finishing the year tied for 30th in points per game (32.9) and tied for 28th in total yards per game (429.4).
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10). Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Not only will Leavitt be looking to achieve the same team success, but also chase some more personal accolades, as ESPN BET ties him for the 11th-best odds (+3000) to win the Heisman Trophy.
Related: Nation’s No. 1 Recruit Predicted to Choose Big 12 Team Over Alabama, Georgia
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Texas Tech football’s Jacob Rodriguez named preseason Big 12 defensive Player of the Year
Rodriguez led the Big 12 in total tackles last season with 126, just one of three Big 12 players to hit triple-digit stops during the 2024 season. David Bailey and UCF defensive tackle transfer Lee Hunter were also honored by the conference, which will host its annual media days in Frisco on Tuesday and Wednesday. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt was named preseason offensive player of the year and Utah’s Devon Dampier the preseason newcomer of theyear. The Big 12 will not be releasing a preseason poll along with the all-conference selections this season. Texas Tech is projected to be among the teams vying for the College Football Playoff berth as a Big 12 representative. The conference will hold its media days on Wednesday and Thursday at the Texas Tech football stadium in Texas. The media days will be open to the public, and tickets are free.
Rodriguez led the Big 12 in total tackles last season with 126, just one of three Big 12 players to hit triple-digit stops during the 2024 season, and averaged 9.7 tackles per game. He also had three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception in just his junior campaign.
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The first-team all-Big 12 selection announced his return to the Red Raiders in December to put him at the center of Tech’s new-look defense for 2025.
MORE ON RODRIGUEZ: Success started early for Texas Tech football’s Jacob Rodriguez as a youth wrestling star
Much of that new defense is centered around transfer portal additions, two of which joined Rodriguez on the league’s all-conference first team. Stanford EDGE transfer David Bailey and UCF defensive tackle transfer Lee Hunter were also honored by the conference, which will host its annual media days in Frisco on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hunter registered 9.5 tackles for a loss last season with the Knights and will anchor Tech’s defensive interior this season. Bailey, considered one of the top pass rushers in the country, arrived in April after Stanford fired its head coach.
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The Big 12 will not be releasing a preseason poll along with the all-conference selections this season. Texas Tech is projected to be among the teams vying for the College Football Playoff berth as the Big 12 representative.
Quarterbacks earned the other two preseason awards for the Big 12. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt was named preseason offensive player of the year and Utah’s Devon Dampier the preseason newcomer of the year.
2025 Big 12 Conference football preseason all-conference
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State, RS-So.Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.Newcomer of the Year: Devon Dampier, QB, Utah, Jr.
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Preseason All-Conference Team (Offense)QB: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, RS-So.RB: Bryson Washington, Baylor, RS-So.RB: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Jr.FB/H-Back: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Sr.WR: Eric McAlister, TCU, Sr.WR: Chase Roberts, BYU, RS-Sr.WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, RS-Jr.TE: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.OL: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Gr.OL: Spencer Fano, Utah, Jr.OL: Bryce Foster, Kansas, RS-Jr.OL: Caleb Lomu, Utah, RS-So.OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, So.PK: Will Ferrin, BYU, RS-Sr.PR/KR: Josh Cameron, Baylor, RS-Sr.Preseason All-Conference Team (Defense)DL: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Sr.DL: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.DL: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Jr.DL: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Sr.DL: Domonique Orange, Iowa State, Sr.LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Sr.LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Jr.LB: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, RS-Jr.DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, RS-Sr.DB: Bud Clark, TCU, Sr.DB: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Sr.DB: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Jr.DB: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, RS-Jr.P: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Jr.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 3 Texas Tech football defensive players earn preseason honors from Big 12