ASU Football: Previewing the Sun Devils’ new-look offense

(Photo via Ethan Schwager/WCSN)

It’s quite remarkable the difference a year makes.

While perhaps cliché, it holds true for the Arizona State Football offense. One might remember the offseason headlines – most notably the loss of several starters to the transfer portal for various reasons. The most distinct noise came from former quarterback Jayden Daniels, who announced he was returning for his senior season only to transfer to LSU.

Fast forward a year, and the Sun Devils have a new face at each of their top passing, rushing and receiving spots. The fresh start is filled with arrivals from places as grand as the mighty SEC Conference and as modest as the Division II level. Collectively, the group is set out to prove itself and ignore the outside doubts under new offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas.

To preview the unit, here is a breakdown of each position group.

Quarterback

The quarterback room has been on quite the journey since the end of spring football. At the start, it seemed like a two-man battle between unproven redshirt juniors Paul Tyson and Trenton Bourguet. However, the Sun Devil faithful’s concerns were perhaps eased in May by the transfer of redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones, who has received high compliments from his teammates as a leader in his short time as a Sun Devil.

Jones – who was named the starter on Aug. 18 – has a similar playing style to Daniels. While the Florida transfer has a bit more size, he’s another dual-threat quarterback with read-option capability. One key will be Jones’ interception rate, as his 19 touchdown-13 interception ratio with the Gators jumps out.

In 2021, the passing game was under-utilized by then-offensive coordinator Zak Hill, partly due to a heavy rushing attack and an underwhelming receiving core. In a more pro-style offense under center, it should be interesting to see which direction Thomas goes, especially with a different look in the running back group.

Running Back

It’s no secret that the Sun Devils will miss Rachaad White, now in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ASU leaned heavily on the dynamic back last season, with White recording nearly 1,500 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior season.

This year, it appears Thomas will use a two-headed backfield to make up for the loss, with senior Xazavian Valladay and redshirt sophomore Daniyel Ngata manning the ship. Valladay – who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards twice in four seasons with Wyoming – was labeled as a “slasher” by running backs coach Shaun Aguano, who also said he squeezes through holes and can quickly get downhill. Meanwhile, Ngata showed signs of explosiveness last season with limited touches due to White’s usage. Similar to White, Aguano said both backs can be utilized in the passing game and are “one-cut guys” with vertical speed.

Beyond Valladay and Ngata, the Sun Devils also have potential in four-star freshman Tevin White and former walk-on George Hart III in reserve, with Aguano hoping they can be shifty on the outside with the other two being more technical. Fullback Case Hatch also can’t be forgotten, as the bulky senior was very effective in run blocking last year.

Overall, it may not look the same with White gone, but the Sun Devils could be just as run-heavy when factoring in Jones’ legs as well.

Offensive Line

Despite losing three starters, the offensive line is perhaps one of the deepest units on the team. With Dohnovan West now in the NFL, redshirt junior Ben Scott is shifting over from right tackle to center. Senior left guard and elevated leader LaDarius Henderson is the only other returning starter, but ASU was able to bank on several veteran transfers to fill in the gaps and provide position flexibility. The right side gets a new look with Penn State transfer Des Holmes – highlighted as a leader during fall camp – taking on tackle and Iowa State transfer Chris Martinez at guard.

With several lineman stepping into new roles, the chemistry out of the gates will be something to take note of, with Thomas saying the key is “accelerating that learning process.”

Wide Receiver

Carrying over from last season, the wide receiver room looks to be the most enigmatic group on the roster. With four pass-catchers (including tight end Curtis Hodges) and 114 receptions to replace, it presents a fortunate opportunity for several wideouts to see more playing time and an increased role. The group includes a crowded set of returners with potential, including senior Giovanni Sanders and redshirt sophomore Elijhah Badger. It isn’t known who will be the WR1 yet, but 6’3, 210-pound redshirt junior Andre Johnson seems set as one of the starters on the outside in one-on-one coverage.

ASU also brought in a batch of transfers to round out the bunch, featuring redshirt junior Cam Johnson and senior Charles Hall IV. Johnson brings four seasons of experience from Vanderbilt to the table, and prides himself in his ability to read coverages and make plays after the catch. Hall’s speed has shined in camp, which is something he carries over from DII school Virginia Union, where he also played track and field.

No one receiver has separated themself from the pack, which could change once the season gets underway. For now, it looks to be a unit with depth that will string together catches collectively.

Tight End

Quite often during fall camp, while ASU was practicing 11-on-11 drills, you could see a “12” or “22” sign coming from the sideline, signaling the use of two tight ends in the personnel group. This bodes well for redshirt sophomore Jalin Conyers and redshirt junior Messiah Swinson.

The two tight ends have completely different physical builds that can be utilized in unique ways. The 6’4, 265-pound Conyers, whose stats were light last year as the backup, has “the skill set of a receiver but the mass of a tight end,” according to Thomas. He is paired with a freak of nature in the Missouri transfer Swinson, a 6’8, 255-pound target who can present matchup nightmares.

Thomas plans to be creative in formations to take advantage of the two tight ends, a new sight for a position that hasn’t been featured much recently in Tempe.

For as much as one can decipher from preseason practices, there will only be uncertainty surrounding the offense until the season gets underway this upcoming Thursday against NAU. With Jones at the helm and Thomas under direction, there is potential for a unit ready to be known for the right headlines this year.