(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)
After a rollercoaster offseason, Arizona State Football hopes to put together a strong offensive scheme in 2022. At the helm of this task is Glenn Thomas, who was announced as the Sun Devils’ new offensive coordinator after Zak Hill left the program.
“I think moving forward, we want to have the versatility to do a little bit of everything,” Thomas said of the team’s new offense. “The more that you can introduce and expose to the defense as far as game plan and their recognition on [that] and the more that you can do, whether that’d be huddle, no-huddle, tempo, non-tempo – we’ll have hopefully a little bit of everything available to give the defense [and] have [them see] a different look.”
The overarching theme from the day was the new offensive scheme Thomas would implement in 2022. Thomas’s football background spans college football and the NFL, which has granted him the opportunity to work with many players. His most recent endeavor was a two-year stint at UNLV, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Thomas is inheriting a job that has many questions around the offense. By far, the biggest is at quarterback. After Jayden Daniels’ transfer to LSU, ASU has five quarterbacks on its roster, including recent Alabama transfer Paul Tyson. All five of these players boast different attributes, ranging from height, length, and play style.
“When I was in college, 20 years ago, it was spread out, athletic, run around,” Thomas said frenetically. “Obviously, when I was in the NFL, it was more pro-style under center. And then as I jumped back into college football, we’ve been able to do a little bit of both. So, I think, from an experience standpoint, I’ve been able to be around several types of quarterbacks. I think that’ll lend itself in a positive way, moving forward to [whomever] that guy may be with his skill set as far as how we structure the offense.”
Highlighting the quarterback room is redshirt junior Trenton Bourguet and Tyson. Bourguet’s freshman year was filled with practice reps, as he was a staple on the practice squad. But as time went along, Bourguet was able to earn the backup job behind Daniels.
Tyson joins Bourguet in the competition and is seen as a solid option to be the starter. Tyson was a four-star recruit out of high school and spent the last two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he saw action in 13 games, completing 10 of his 16 passes for 150 yards.
“I’m completely comfortable with [Bourguet and Tyson],” senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said. “I threw with both of them during [Spring Break]. We’re just going to keep gaining this trust in practice and moving forward.”
Neither Bourget nor Tyson have had reps as a starting quarterback at the collegiate level, but ASU players are optimistic about whoever wins the job.
“[It’s] definitely different,” senior offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson said. “I mean, Jayden was a dynamic player. It hasn’t changed my job per se, but you can tell differences in certain places and certain things that we do.
“But it’s been great. I think they’ve [both] done a really good job.”
Pearsall added: “Jayden is one of my best friends. So, it’s a little different, but at the end of the day, it’s a team sport – not just one guy. It’s just a next-man-up mentality.”
