Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt Uses NIL Earnings To Hook Up Linemen

Christmastime is usually pretty interesting when it comes to high-level athletes. Pros across all major sports have a lot of money and therefore are able to give pretty amazing gifts. In the NFL, you always hear about quarterbacks giving incredible gifts to their teammates, especially their offensive linemen. Now that college players are making big bucks due to NIL deals, we’re starting to see the same thing happen.

That’s exactly what’s happening with Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who has a solid deal in place from Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, an Arizona-based sports bar that obviously saw value in the ASU gunslinger. The QB’s deal has allowed him to dish out all of his royalties to the Arizona State Collective, the Sun Angel Collective, which is then doled out to ASU student athletes. That obviously includes Leavitt’s personal protectors, but he wanted to take it a step farther.

The royalty donation is the kind of gesture that is already enough to admire, but Leavitt needed more. Leavitt found out about Arby’s making deals with 100 NCAA offensive and defensive linemen and unlimited meals at their establishments and decided to make a call. He reached out to the Arby’s program, dubbed the Thighsman Award, and nominated his entire offensive line. Arby’s respected the move so much that the roast beef tycoons gave out eight NIL deals to ASU offensive linemen Josh Atkins, Emmit Bohle, Cade Briggs, Ben Coleman, Leif Fautanu, Max Iheanachor, Sean Na’a and Makua Pule. Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham won the overall award, but the eight Sun Devils and the rest of the nominees will still receive unlimited Arby’s.

Now, Leavitt and those involved are quite proud that the offensive linemen will be fueled by Arby’s when the Sun Devils take on Texas in the College Football Playoff on Jan. 1, 2025 in the Peach Bowl.

“We don’t make the playoffs without our offensive line. These guys bring it every week so that our entire offense can be successful. They power the game every week and deserve to be recognized,” Leavitt publicly said after the deal was made.