Ashton Stamps is bringing a boost from the Bayou State to ASU

(Photo: Aiden Longbrake/WCSN)

TEMPE – A brown pelican on the Gulf Coast circles over the water, taking its time as it watches for a fish below. The Louisiana state bird waits for the right moment before tucking its wings and making the dive. The water is struck hard enough to stun prey before it can move.

Arizona State can envision redshirt junior cornerback Ashton Stamps, a New Orleans native, bringing similar patience and quickness to its secondary. 

ASU looked to the transfer portal for corners who can settle into their area and keep their eyes steady as they wait for the ball. The search led to LSU, and Stamps now aims to be that type of corner.

If a pelican shows up in the Valley, chances are a storm pushed it off course. But Stamps wasn’t blown off his line of travel. He migrated from the Big Easy to send himself in a new direction.

“I wanted to go somewhere different and kind of restart in a way,” Stamps said. “I felt like I just needed something different just to push me a little bit more.”

Stamps’ flight path began at Archbishop Rummel High School, the same program that produced two‑time All‑Pro wide receiver and former Tiger Ja’Marr Chase. Stamps started his career at receiver before eventually moving to the other side of the ball. But unlike Chase, a five‑star recruit coming out of high school, he faced an uphill battle to earn recognition from colleges.

With only five scholarship offers, four from Division I programs, he attended LSU’s Elite Skills Training Camp. Hundreds of recruits, including Stamps, put their talents on display. After two days of camp, the Tigers offered him a scholarship.

“Coming out of high school, I was a three-star,” Stamps said. “I didn’t really have offers. My lifestyle was kind of just getting it from the ground up.”

Until last year, Stamps was accompanied on his journey by his older brother, Christian, who still plays on LSU’s offensive line. They’d been teammates since their days at Archbishop Rummel before both became Tigers in 2023. Christian arrived in Baton Rouge as a walk‑on. 

After a lifetime of being together, more than 1,400 miles will separate them. Even with that distance, Christian remains one of the voices Ashton leans on most. Their bond didn’t fade when he left home. Instead, it shifted to calls and texts after practice.

“If (Christian) sees a bad practice, he’ll just be real with me,” Stamps said. “He’ll get on me a little bit, and he’ll tell me, ‘It’s okay because you’re going to have ups and downs.’ Him just being able to text me, call me, that’s really amazing.”

Another family member who has made a point to stay in touch is his father, Albert. Even when Ashton was less than a two‑hour drive northwest of home, Albert still texted him almost daily. Those lengthy messages still pop up on Ashton’s phone.

Albert’s texts have taken on even more weight as his son’s profile has grown. With every new clip or highlight that circulates online, the attention around him only gets louder. Albert wants to make sure his son stays grounded through it all.

“He texts me long paragraphs all the time, but I read it,” Stamps said. “They’re far away, and they’re trying to do their best to keep my head right. (Albert) says this thing, ‘Humility before honor.’”

Most clips of defensive backs on social media are of them forcing turnovers. But entering 2026, Stamps has yet to record his first career interception or forced fumble. Still, he has shown an ability to make plays on the ball. According to Pro Football Focus, his nine pass breakups in 2024 tied for the seventh‑most among Power Four corners.

After starting all 13 games for LSU in 2024, Stamps slid down the depth chart when the Tigers brought in Mansoor Delane – who went on to become the sixth overall selection in the 2026 NFL – and five‑star recruit DJ Pickett. He only played in the first three games of 2025 following former LSU head coach Brian Kelly’s decision to redshirt him and limit his snaps to protect that status.

When the Tigers gave Stamps playing time last season, it was primarily on special teams. His 35 snaps there across LSU’s opening three weeks were fourth‑most on the team. 

He brings 178 career special teams snaps to the Sun Devils, which ASU special teams coordinator Jack Nudo plans to utilize. Nudo has even hinted he may ask Stamps to limit punt returns, though the Tigers deployed him on punt coverage just three times in three years.

“Our whole team, we have a lot of speed out here,” Nudo said. “Which is exciting when you talk about our gunner positions. He (played special teams) at a high level at LSU, so I’m fired up to be able to use a guy like him.”

With Keith Abney II headed to the NFL and Javan Robinson transferring to Wisconsin, the Sun Devils will have two new boundary‑corner starters in 2026. Redshirt sophomore Rodney Bimage Jr will likely step into one of those roles. After a month of competing in spring practices, Stamps could be in a good position to claim the other spot. 

ASU assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Bryan Carrington uses spring to build competition within the secondary. He views competitiveness and toughness as traits that define a player’s fit with the Sun Devils. 

One past injury recovery moment where Stamps showed the latter stands out to Carrington.

“(Stamps) dislocated his middle finger during a one-on-one,” Carrington said. “He had to pop it back in and he was back. This is a guy that loves football, he’s tough.”

ASU’s staff has made the rebuilt secondary aware of their confidence in the unit. Stamps has given his teammates guidance on how to take that praise.

In the same way a brown pelican waits for a future attack, he wants the group to stay focused and jump headfirst into the work ahead.

“I just tell them, ‘Yeah, coach is saying that, but that don’t mean take your foot off the pedal,’” Stamps said. “It means dive on it harder, get better.”

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