ASU Football: Sun Devils begin new era with UTSA rematch

(photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)

For better or worse, the Herm Edwards era of ASU football is set to officially begin. The Sun Devils play host to the UTSA Roadrunners Saturday night to commence the 2018 season.

“I’ve always said this when I’ve addressed the team before they walk out the door: ‘have fun, put a smile on your face.’ It’s football, just go have fun and everything takes care of itself,” coach Edwards said.

The last time these teams met in 2016, it took 17 unanswered fourth quarter points to rally the Sun Devils to a 32-28 victory in San Antonio, which debunks the notion this will be a ‘cupcake’ opener.

“They’re a team we haven’t taken lightly by any stretch of the imagination,” Edwards said. “You have to play good to beat these guys, they don’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Many of ASU’s offensive starters remember that game- that is outside of the running backs, all of whom were still in high school at the time. However, this young group may be relied on heavily if UTSA’s 2017 defensive numbers are any indication.

The Roadrunners ranked in the nation’s top 10 for yards allowed per game and points allowed per game, making them the best non-power-five defense in both categories. But UTSA’s pass defense ranked third (160.1 YPG) while its run defense ranked 25^th (127.7 YPG).

Of course, the team lost key players from the ’17 team, namely DE Marcus Davenport (17.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks) in the second round of the NFL draft. At the same time, guys like Eric Banks (8.5 TFL, 3 FF), Kevin Strong Jr. (7 TFL, 3 sacks) and C.J. Levine (46 Tackles, 3 TFL, 3 PD) return to a defense that will start almost all upperclassmen.

Everything considered, ASU will need a strong showing from its inexperienced running backs to avoid repeating the scare of two years prior. Running backs coach John Simon has a positive outlook on the young group.

“It’s a fresh spirit,” Simon said. “(Demario Richard) and Kalen (Ballage) at some point- they were seniors- you start focusing on your career and ‘are you putting me in the right position to give me an opportunity to showcase myself to the scouts’ so it’s more business, more focus.

“These young guys just coming in they’re happy to be here…you just want to go out to practice every day and just play ball.”

According to Simon, sophomore Eno Benjamin, JUCO transfer Isaiah Floyd and freshman A.J. Carter will play Saturday with Trelon Smith out (coach’s decision). Benjamin, a four-star recruit who has the most NCAA-level playing experience of the group (23 ATT, 142 YDS, TD), expressed his confidence in their ability to make an immediate impact.

“We have the skills, the talent- I guess you could say the experience is one thing that gets us but I think we can make up for that with different areas of our games,” Benjamin said.

Floyd comes in as the No. 3 JUCO running back in the country, according to ESPN, while Carter is No. 31 (24/7 sports) out of high school RB’s.

As for the passing attack, third-year starter Manny Wilkins will have his top two receivers- N’Keal Harry (82 rec, 1,142 yds, 8 TD) and Kyle Williams (66 rec, 763 yds, 7 TD)- as well his top two tight ends in Tommy Hudson and Ceejhay French-Love all returning.

Plus, he’ll be protected by an offensive line of all upperclassmen, from transfers like Casey Tucker (Stanford) to returners like senior Cohl Cabral.

While the ASU offense against the UTSA defense will be an intriguing clash of two forces, each team’s corresponding unit taking the field brings more uncertainty.

“Offensively, they got a lot of moving parts,” Edwards said. “It’s almost opposite, their offense is kind of like our defense- a lot of moving parts.”

The Sun Devils return their starting cornerbacks in sophomore Chase Lucas and junior Kobe Williams, but otherwise have more questions than answers due to their inexperience.

The biggest void to fill will be that of departed linebacking duo D.J. Calhoun and Christian Sam, which will take a combination of new names like Merlin Robertson (four-star prospect) and Stanley Lambert (three stars) as well as older, less experienced players such as Malik Lawal and Khaylan Kearse-Thomas.

UTSA’s greatest offensive weapon is the return of Jalen Rhodes (134 ATT, 659 YDS, 5 TD) the team’s leading rusher in 2017 who averaged five yards per carry. Dual-threat JUCO transfer Cordale Grundy is expected to start at QB, but senior SMU transfer D.J. Gillings could also see the field.

The game is set to kick off at 7:30 and will be televised nationally on FS1.