ASU Football: Redshirt freshman WR Johnny Wilson enters transfer portal

(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)

Arizona State Football redshirt freshman wide receiver Johnny Wilson has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

With just over a week until ASU’s bowl game against Wisconsin, the news hits hard for the Sun Devils’ immediate and long term future.

Wilson – a four-star prospect and the No. 21 ranked wide receiver in his class according to 24/7 Sports – came to ASU with buzz surrounding his name. The 6-7, 230-pound pass catcher was advertised as a deep-ball receiver able to use his speed, size and strength to make explosive plays.

Instead, Wilson struggled in his two seasons as a Sun Devil, with injuries playing a factor as well. He finished with 18 catches for 243 yards and a touchdown in eight career games. Wilson dealt with a looming hamstring injury that limited his playing time this season, in which he caught 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown in five games.

Wilson did show skill as a blocker, however, ranking as the best blocking wide receiver in the nation according to Pro Football Focus.

He is now the third Sun Devil from the 2020 class to enter the portal this year, joining sophomore running back DeaMonte Trayanum and redshirt freshman linebacker Jordan Banks. All three of them were among the top-six recruits from the class according to 24/7 Sports, with Wilson ranking first overall. Four-star (per 24/7 Sports) freshman defensive back Tommi Hill (2021 class) also announced he was transferring following the end of the regular season and committed to Nebraska.

The timing of the move is also not ideal, as ASU already has a litany of players who have opted out of the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl next week. The Sun Devils will be without their top two corner and running backs in addition to one starting offensive lineman.

Head coach Herm Edwards said during his media availability on Tuesday that senior linebacker Darien Butler is “iffy” to play in the bowl game as well.

Wilson’s exit now leaves junior Ricky Pearsall, redshirt freshman LV Bunkley-Shelton, redshirt sophomore Andre Johnson and redshirt freshman Elijah Badger as the top wideouts for the bowl game and for next season. Redshirt junior Geordon Porter – a three-star prospect according to 24/7 Sports from the 2018 class – announced he was transferring on Nov. 8.

The growing abundance of players in the transfer portal over the last few years has become a new normal in college football, and Edwards is seemingly embracing it to build his roster with a small number of current signees and 21 seniors graduating this season.

“This portal thing is real,” Edwards said. “We’re not done by any stretch of imagination bringing in players. We got about eight now that [are] committed to us – high school kids as well – we’re going into the portal looking for about another 12 guys. So this team will look a lot different than it looks right now.

“The portal is a way that [has] changed college football. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but it’s kind of interesting now when you look at that situation.”

Edwards also said that he has received interest from possible transfers, and it is “now just a waiting game.”

With Wilson taking his redshirt season in 2020, he will have three years of eligibility remaining whether he returns to ASU or joins another program.