Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as probable for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech. (Photo by Evan Barcanic/Cronkite News)

TEMPE – Arizona State sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt trotted onto the Kajikawa practice field Wednesday morning wearing one of his seemingly typical practice outfits ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 7 Texas Tech: a gold helmet, light grey jersey, black shorts and maroon and gold Adidas cleats.

Except, something remained absent from his appearance – the tape that had been tightly wrapped around his right foot in previous practices the past two weeks.

It provided an early hint that the Sun Devils’ signal-caller might be trending toward playing against the Red Raiders at home Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Big 12 tilt that could have conference championship implications.

“I feel good about (Leavitt) right now,” coach Kenny Dillingham told reporters Wednesday. “There are still two more days, but I feel really good about Sam and where he’s at.”

Later that evening, the Big 12 availability report for ASU and Texas Tech listed Leavitt as “probable” for Saturday’s matchup.

Leavitt’s foot commanded much of the focus throughout the week – even though media members couldn’t film or photograph it as a precautionary measure.

He originally suffered an injury to his right foot in a game against Baylor Sept. 20. Although he played against TCU the next week, the injury continually nagged at the sophomore quarterback, even after a bye week.

With tape hugging his foot, his mobility remained limited in the week leading up to last week’s game against Utah. On the Thursday night before gameday, the team downgraded Leavitt to a doubtful status and, ultimately, Dillingham opted to start senior backup quarterback Jeff Sims against the Utes in Salt Lake City.

Dressed in black sweatpants and a maroon pullover jacket, Leavitt could be seen trudging around in a walking boot on the sideline as he watched his team suffer a crushing 42-10 defeat on a cold and rainy night.

Earlier this week, his status remained in limbo, with Dillingham remaining up-front about the uncertainty surrounding his quarterback.

“There’s no gamesmanship here,” Dillingham said at his Monday press conference. “This is just purely being honest. Sometimes, when you’re honest, people create fake things because honesty is rare. I think the fact that we’re being honest with this situation is making people uncomfortable.”

Yet, as stormy clouds drifted off into the distance, giving way to the ever-so-familiar warm Tempe sun, a rejuvenated Leavitt took the practice field.

Standing side-by-side with Sims, Leavitt took reps with the first team and appeared to be on track to start on Saturday afternoon.

“We’re excited to have him out here to practice and get after it in full rotation. … It’s awesome to have him back,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo told reporters Wednesday. “He’s a catalyst to what we do.”

Sims remains supportive of Leavitt throughout the process, staying ready in case his number is called upon this weekend.

“It’s like a brotherhood in there,” Sims said. “We all stick together in the QB room. We all just do our best to help each other out.

“Sam is a great quarterback. Sam can go all the way. He can go as far as he wants to go. Just being around a guy like that and competing against him is good.”

But major injuries on the offensive line complicate Leavitt’s return. The team lost graduate offensive lineman Ben Coleman to a left arm injury in the Utah game. Coleman, who was in the midst of his seventh year of college football, served as one of the team’s captains on the Pat Tillman Leadership Council.

His absence not only takes away one of the Sun Devils’ best pass protectors, it also removes a critical voice on the front lines that helped organize protection schemes.

Additionally, redshirt freshman center Wade Helton missed practice time this week, but appeared under the “probable” designation on the team’s availability report on Wednesday.

ASU will turn to its reinforcements off the bench, including senior guard Jimeto Obigbo and sophomore offensive lineman Jalen Klemm, to fill in the gaps.

With major shuffling on the left side of the offensive line, the Sun Devils must quickly acclimate a new-look group up front before welcoming a Texas Tech team that’s tallied 21 sacks this season – ranking first among all Big 12 teams.

“It’s a good challenge,” Arroyo said. “I’ve got an opportunity to get that chemistry (going) between that new combination up front playing a really physical and talented group. I think these guys have done a nice job this week answering the bell and being physical after a tough week.”

With conference championship implications in play, it could be difficult for Dillingham to keep the uber-competitive Leavitt on the sideline – even with the dangers posed by his limited mobility and ASU’s changes on the offensive line.

“Sam’s a competitor,” Dillingham said. “Sam played with broken ribs last year. Everybody thought he was playing (last week).”

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