Brendan Sorsby to LSU was Dodged, but LSU still did not miss.
At the start of the transfer portal, it was widely rumored that LSU was going to go after the top two quarterbacks: Sam Leavitt and Brendan Sorsby. The pursuit of Sorsby was very significant, as LSU made a strong push to land the incoming transfer from the University of Cincinnati.
Sorsby was widely considered all but a shoo-in to land at Texas Tech, but when you look at what he is able to do on the football field, it’s no question why a Lane Kiffin-led LSU would have been in hot pursuit. Sorsby is a 6’3”, 235-pound quarterback who threw for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. In addition to that, he rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 attempts.
Sorsby has one year of eligibility remaining, and many have him projected as a first-round pick entering this season. He visited Texas Tech first, but then made his way to Baton Rouge. His visit to LSU was met with mixed emotions. Some believed he was only there out of respect for giving Lane Kiffin his word that he would visit, while others thought he was seriously considering committing. It ultimately turned out that the former was true—and that ended up being the best outcome for all parties involved.
LSU was able to land Sam Leavitt to step in as QB1, while Sorsby returned closer to home to play for Texas Tech. The intriguing part of all of this is that everyone knew Leavitt would face adversity this offseason, but no one expected Sorsby to deal with much beyond adjusting to a new environment.
However, earlier this week, that changed dramatically. News broke on Monday that Brendan Sorsby would be checking himself into a facility to seek help for a gambling problem. A gambling addiction is a serious issue for anyone to deal with, so he deserves credit for acknowledging it and taking steps to get help.
Unfortunately, that is not the only concern. Reports indicate that Sorsby was gambling while enrolled in school and playing football, including betting on a team he played for. Each of these actions is a major violation on its own, and considering they occurred simultaneously, it is fair to question whether he will be able to play this upcoming season.
As of now, Sorsby has hired Jeffrey Kessler to represent him in an effort to maintain his eligibility. This remains an ongoing investigation, and no official determination has been made regarding his status.
This situation would have dominated headlines for weeks had he been LSU’s starting quarterback. With LSU having one of the most polarizing head coaches in sports right now, the added layer of a QB potentially facing a suspension during Lane Kiffin’s inaugural season would have created a feeding frenzy among opposing fan bases and media.
In that sense, LSU was fortunate to avoid this situation. It would have been a significant PR issue and a major setback for Kiffin’s first season, especially after the work he and his staff put in during the transfer portal and spring.
Now, with Sam Leavitt paired with Lane Kiffin and the weapons LSU has assembled, he has the potential to make a legitimate run at a Heisman-caliber season. In comparison, having a quarterback managing a repaired foot now looks like a much more manageable situation—and perhaps even a blessing—given everything that has come to light.
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