(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)
Thursday marks the start of Arizona State Football’s 2021 season, when the Sun Devils face Southern Utah in Tempe.
All the “dark-horse” labels the Sun Devils have received this offseason and throughout the preseason have not been miscalculated, especially given some of the performances ASU put together last fall. It went 2-2 during the COVID-19-truncated 2020 season, notching big victories against Arizona and Oregon State.
There are certainly question marks on both sides of the ball, but a lot of intrigue lies within the offense. While the sample size was certainly small, ASU averaged a little over 40 points per game last season.
The unit overall hasn’t changed much coming into 2021, with only a handful of noteworthy additions to help replace the likes of Cade Cote and Frank Darby.
The expectations are certainly in the same neighborhood as last fall despite plenty of uncertainties. To preview it, here is a look at how the Sun Devils stack up at every positional group on offense heading into the season-opener.
Quarterback
Junior Jayden Daniels enters his third year after a pair of strong seasons at the helm of the ASU offense. In two seasons thus far, he’s amassed 29 total touchdowns, seven of which have come on the ground. He has become more efficient and refined as a runner with every game he’s played, capitalized by rushing for nearly seven yards per attempt last season.
His rushing capabilities paired with heads-up decision making as a passer help Daniels make a case for being one of the more high-upside quarterbacks in the nation in 2021. With a solidified crop of weapons to work with and second-year offensive coordinator Zak Hill calling plays, Daniels seems primed for a breakout season in arguably the most important year of his career.
How he gels with his young receiving core will be a true test, but the position is in good hands at the moment for ASU.
Daniels’ backup, redshirt sophomore Trenton Bourguet, has also turned heads throughout fall camp. He and freshman third-stringer Finn Collins will serve as depth behind Daniels.
Running Back
The magnum opus of the entire ASU program might just be the running backs, who are led by third-year assistant coach Shaun Aguano.
The power trio of redshirt senior Rachaad White, redshirt freshman Daniyel Ngata and sophomore DeaMonte Trayanum each come into their second year as Sun Devils wiser and stronger. With Ngata back at full strength after a nagging hamstring injury limited his playing time in 2020, the Sun Devils’ backfield could be amongst the best in the country.
While White is listed officially as RB1 on the depth chart after accumulating 420 rushing yards last fall, the three should rotate often enough to keep defenses honest with their unique styles and looks.
White and Ngata pose a seismic threat with their speed and elusiveness in the open field, constantly finding gaps in the defense whether it’s on the ground or through the air. Trayanum will once again operate as the bruiser, using his 235-pound frame to pinball himself off of would-be tacklers and gain tough yardage, while showing off some sneaky speed in the open field.
In just four games last season, the Sun Devils sat atop the Pac-12 Conference in every major rushing category except for yards. It provides an explanation as to why ASU only threw the football 87 times.
ASU graduate defensive lineman Travez Moore, who transferred from LSU this offseason, embraced the narrative of the backfield potentially being one of the best in college football.
“We’ve got the best running backs in the nation in my eyes,” he said. “We have a three-headed horse back there. They’re good.”
Pass-catchers
ASU’s receiving core is inexperienced, and that might be an understatement.
The group struggled to find a groove early in fall camp with Daniels before eventually getting on the same page. Despite that, the group is deep, with a variety of contrasting body types and skill sets that compliment the young QB’s tendencies as a passer.
It starts on the outside with redshirt freshman Johnny Wilson and redshirt sophomore Andre Johnson splitting out wide. The pair combined for only seven catches last season, but in terms of physique they both profile well – the duo is listed at 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-3 respectively. The addition of graduate transfer Bryan Thompson does bring a veteran presence to the unit though, after he spent the past four seasons with Utah.
Redshirt junior Geordon Porter, graduate tight end Curtis Hodges and redshirt freshman LV Bunkley-Shelton and Chad Johnson Jr. add to the long list of depth, providing more tools at Daniels’ disposal.
However, no target has been favored by Daniels more this preseason than junior Ricky Pearsall, whose emergence will likely earn him an elevated role within the passing attack. In two seasons, Pearsall hasn’t done too much, tallying only 13 catches for a total of 214 yards and a touchdown. But his performance during fall camp and familiarity with Daniels would suggest that he’s one to keep an eye on this season.
Redshirt freshman tight end Jalin Conyers, a transfer from Oklahoma, is another wild card to watch. His athleticism profiles him as more of a receiver, something the Sun Devils haven’t had at tight end in quite some time. Whether he gets enough snaps to make an impact remains to be seen, but his talent is rare.
Offensive Line
The offensive line yet again looks like a staunch group after guiding the rushing attack to a Pac-12-best 264.3 yards per game last season. Graduate left tackle Kellen Diesch and redshirt sophomore right tackle Ben Scott return as starters on the edge with graduate right guard Henry Hattis and redshirt sophomore left guard LaDarius Henderson making up the interior.
Junior Dohnovan West returns as a starter as well, but will slot in at center to replace the loss of Cote. His transition comes with little concern given that he’s already regarded as one of the better interior linemen in the conference. That kind of versatility is something that defines the unit as a whole, with Henderson and Scott in particular having the ability to fill in across the line if needed.
While some of the line’s depth has been wiped out in recent days, reserves like freshman tackle Isaia Glass and redshirt junior guard Spencer Lovell are players who could step in to fill holes when needed.
