ASU Football: Running backs, transfers talk new roles

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

Arizona State Football held spring practices sessions on Friday and Saturday last week. Here are some highlights from Friday’s media availability.

Use of new running backs

Last season, ASU’s offensive game plan was pounding the rock. Leading the ground game was running back Rachaad White, who rushed for 1,006 yards on 182 carries. White leaves Tempe in hopes of hearing his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he also leaves a hole in the Sun Devils’ run game.

Replacing White will be no easy feat, but one that will be necessary. Returning to the mix is redshirt freshman running Daniyel Ngata, who received just 56 carries during the 2021 campaign.

Joining Ngata in the backfield will be freshman running back Tevin White and Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay. White is among a handful of players who opted to come to ASU out of the 2022 high school recruiting class, but is still confident about his decision.

“It would definitely have to be the coaching staff,” White explained about why he stuck with the Sun Devils. “I believed in what [ASU running backs] Coach Shaun Aguano was doing and [ASU head] coach [Herm Edwards] treated me and my family like we were family. So, the biggest thing was the coaching staff.”

White acknowledged the changes in the offense with the departures of quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Zak Hill. However, the young running back is still looking forward to learning the offense and figuring out his role.

“It’s a new offense with [Daniels] leaving and a new offensive coordinator,” White said. “But I think especially with them leaving, we’re going to do a lot more of running the ball and passing the ball…we have a lot of running back incorporation into the passing routes, which definitely fits my playstyle.”

Veterans looking to lead

Many of the players acquired by the transfer portal came to ASU with years of experience and, as a result, have collected an abundance of tips. ASU’s older players hope to share their wisdom for the better of the team and themselves.

“[I] just try to take all my experience and put it on the young guys,” graduate offensive linemen Des Holmes said. “I know how it is to be a younger guy coming in and just the way your mindset might be…it’s always great to have an older guy to just be on you a little bit.”

The veterans hope to build their relationship with the younger guys, but must also be on the same page as the other older ones in the locker room.

“[Senior offensive lineman Chris Martinez is] my roommate,” Holmes said. “We talk together every day, and I feel like – especially as an offensive lineman – getting a lot of the experience, talk, and slang you have.…being on the same page because as long as we can talk, communicate and be on the same page, I mean that’s what offensive line play is about.”

The adjustment to being a leader in a new program may be daunting, which forces different players to tackle the situation differently.

“I feel like you just play your role,” graduate defensive back Khoury Bethley said. “The coaches brought me in because of what I’ve done. I think my tape speaks for itself. I’ve played four years at the college level. But I mean, [I’m] not really doing anything different. Just being myself, playing with my teammates and just building that camaraderie.”