(Photo via Reece Andrews/WCSN)
For the past several months, Sun Devil fans, coaches and players alike have been counting down the days. And now, with the kickoff for the season opener just hours away, there couldn’t be more excitement in the air in Tempe.
Fans are eager to find out if the Sun Devils have what it takes to prove all the doubters wrong, coaches are excited to see just how much their players have developed since the end of last season, and players are excited to get back on the field and under the lights.
“I’m excited, of course,” said redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones. “I get a chance to get back on the field and go perform, and I’m excited for this team, honestly. We’ve been working since the offseason. These boys are hungry. We’ve been improving every day. We’ve been building this team chemistry and becoming closer as a team every single day, and that’s mainly what I’m excited about.”
As a transfer who was recently named a team captain and starting quarterback, Jones has a lot to be excited about for Thursday’s game which also doubles as his Pac-12 debut.
“I think it’ll be fun,” said offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas. “You can tell [Jones] is kind of starting to get ready. He’s got a little bounce in his step. He’s got some excitement. I think he’s ready, and I think he’s going to do some good things.”
While Jones’ excitement to be back on the field is almost palpable, it’s what he’s shown in practice that has Thomas excited about the former Florida Gator.
“I think he’s really taken a step in the right direction in the last couple weeks,” said Thomas. “And we saw that today, whether it be progressions, timing, how he got through it, the pre-snap recognition. I think that streamlining and that confidence and conviction in the decisions that he’s making. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
Tuesday, during their final preseason press conference, Thomas and Jones exuberated excitement. The two showed no hesitation to talk about their confidence in what this year’s Sun Devil team is capable of.
“We’ve asked a lot of the linemen,” Thomas said. “…I think Emory is really excited about what they’re doing, and he speaks very highly of them. You can tell even back there, there’s some poise and confidence that they’re doing their job as well.”
Thomas uttered a similar sentiment of excitement and Jones’ confidence about the team’s group of running backs.
“I think [the running backs have] grown, and as importantly as that, I think Emory has the confidence in those guys as well,” said Thomas. “So, I think he is definitely ready to utilize them if needed, whether it be a designed route or a check-down type mentality. I’m excited to see those guys in space.”
While the coaches are focused on player development and have noticed the confidence their guys have shown recently, the players know that the source of their confidence is their chemistry and trust in one another.
“I think once you have that togetherness and you trust in one another, there’s nothing that the team can’t handle, and the sky is the limit for them,” said graduate running back Xazavian Valladay. “So, it’s about building relationships and trusting your teammates. Once you do that, all of you can dial in and be able to execute at a high level.”
Valladay, who transfer to ASU this offseason, will be getting his first taste of Pac-12 and Power 5 football when he steps out under the lights on Thursday. Just like everyone else, the former Wyoming Cowboy is anxious to get out there and get the season started.
“I’m feeling really good. I’m really juiced up about it,” Valladay said. “I’m just trying to keep all the emotions stabilized right now. I feel good about where our team is at right now, just got to be able to go out there and play some clean football on Thursday night and be able to control what we can control.”
Valladay’s line of thinking about togetherness fits hand-in-hand with Jones and the rest of the team. With so many new pieces and moving parts, the Sun Devils believe it will be their chemistry that carries them to where they want to be.
“I told the guys in the huddle today, ‘It’s crazy because if all 11 guys do their own job to the best of their ability, it’s meant to work together,’ and that’s all we try to do,” Jones said. “Every single play I try to preach to those guys that, and I mean we’ve just been preparing, and I’m ready to just go unleash everything that we have Thursday.”
