Arizona State Football

New Arizona State head football coach Herm Edwards said Friday he is the right man for the job.

According to ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff, Edwards believes he has the ability to succeed at ASU despite whispers that he was a poor hiring: "I love the game of football too much, and I owe the game of football too much for me to take a job that I thought I was ill-equipped to handle. I'm well-equipped to handle this by all stretches of the imagination."

Edwards was hired in December after Arizona State fired previous head coach Todd Graham.

Edwards has never previously been a head coach at the collegiate level, but he says he loves the dynamic: "I wake up going, 'I'm in my element.' Every time I come in here, I realize how much I missed it. [College players are] clay. They're hopeful. They have energy, they have aspirations."

The 63-year-old Edwards last coached in 2008 when he was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

In eight seasons as an NFL head coach with the New York Jets and Chiefs, Edwards went 54-74 with four playoff appearances.

The former NFL defensive back then worked as an NFL analyst before replacing Graham at ASU.

He steps into a difficult situation as the Sun Devils have gone just 18-20 over the past three seasons.

Although they have made a bowl game in six of the past seven campaigns, they have been a middling program since winning 10 games in both 2013 and 2014.

Edwards will look to turn around a team that hasn't won a conference title since winning the Pac-10 in 2007.

Arizona State bolstered its 2018 recruiting class Wednesday, as 4-star safety prospect Aashari Crosswell announced his intention to join the Sun Devils.

Crosswell picked Arizona State over offers from the likes of USC and Nebraska. He's ranked as the No. 162 prospect overall and the 13th-best safety in the 2018 class, per 247Sports.

A product of Long Beach Poly High School in California, Crosswell has long been a target for Southern California. The Trojans received 100 percent of the early vote from 247Sports' expert predictions and held the lead throughout the process despite a number of national offers coming his way.

Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida were among the other top schools to offer Crosswell a scholarship before his senior season.

Arizona State became a favorite later in the process, with 87 percent of 247Sports experts believing he'd sign with the Devils before Wednesday. 

"I'm going to Arizona State," Crosswell said in January, per Greg Biggins of 247Sports. "I'm looking forward to it and excited to get up there. ASU offered me a while back and with AP (Antonio Pierce, the Sun Devils' linebackers coach) there now, I have a great comfort level with the school.

"He took care of me at Poly and I know he would do the same at ASU, so I'm really high on them right now. I still want to take a few more visits after this one before I make my decision."

At 5'11" and 185 pounds, Crosswell is small for a major-conference safety. He makes up for it with big-play ability and top-end speed, though, even getting some time as a ball-carrier during his first two high school seasons. After focusing his efforts on defense as a junior, Crosswell recorded 55 tackles and five interceptions in eight games.

Crosswell is Arizona State's 21st recruit in the 2018 class and its third of four or more stars. The Sun Devils' 2018 class currently ranks 36th in the nation, per 247Sports, though those rankings will be in flux throughout signing day. 

Arizona State received a commitment Wednesday from versatile linebacker Merlin Robertson, who provides a nice boost to the Sun Devils' 2018 recruiting class.     

ASU Recruiting provided word of the coveted defender's school choice on national signing day. He chose the Sun Devils over the likes of Oklahoma, USC and Oregon.

Robertson is a 4-star prospect and the No. 129 overall recruit from the 2018 class, according to the 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also the No. 8 outside linebacker and the 16th-best player joining the college ranks from California. 

Although he's listed as an edge linebacker for ranking purposes, he's also capable of shifting to the inside to become an eraser in the middle of the field. His athletic 6'3", 241-pound frame will give the coaching staff options once he's ready to crack the lineup.

The Junipero Serra High School star is a physical presence regardless of where he plays. He attacks the line of scrimmage and sheds blockers as well as anybody at the position in the class, and once he gets his hands on ball-carriers, they rarely get out of the reliable tackler's clutches.

Tom Lemming of the CBS Sports Network has been bullish about Robertson since 2015:

Nothing has changed over the past couple of years to change the outlook about the defensive playmaker's upward trajectory. If anything, he's only solidified the thought that he should make a smooth transition to the collegiate game once the 2018 season rolls around.

He told Ryan Wright of Recruiting News Guru last year that he's pleased with his progress in pass defense.

"I've gotten a lot better at my coverages," Robertson said. "I've gotten pretty good at man coverage and covering the slot. I've gotten a lot better at reading the plays."

Ultimately, he could benefit from adding several more pass-rushing moves to his arsenal if he's going to stay at outside linebacker for the long haul. But he has all the tools to become a star.

Robertson is the type of prospect who can provide the muscle to round out a recruiting class, which is usually built on the glamour of speed and skill, for Arizona State. He's a hard-nosed player who will probably become a fan favorite in the years ahead.

His first defensive involvement for the Sun Devils figures to come as an early-down bruiser. Then, once he polishes his pass-rushing technique, he'll become a three-down weapon. Based on the depth chart, that could happen as early as 2019.

If Herm Edwards dislikes devils, he may want to reconsider taking Arizona State's head-coaching job.

The former ESPN analyst, who hasn't coached since 2008, conducted an introductory press conference on Monday. Standing in front of multiple pitchfork insignia, he acted incredulously to a reporter introducing himself as an employee of Devils Digest.

"Devils Digest, huh?" Edwards said. "Where you located, my man?"

He joked about having to "watch out" for devils as a religious man. Perhaps he did not realize, or simply forgot, that ASU's mascot is the Sun Devils.

Per Sports on Earth's David Ubben, he also offered this odd quote:

Edwards' agent said this puzzler to open the conference, courtesy of 3TV Sports' Brad Denny.

The former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach hadn't conducted a press conference in a while. ASU fans will hope his reassimilation on the sideline goes more smoothly.

[FootballScoop Staff]

Arizona State University officially announced Herm Edwards as the Sun Devils program's 24th head football coach Sunday.

"Passion for my faith, my family and my occupation as a football coach are the things that have driven me back to the grass," Edwards said in a statement. "My personal commitment to build young men to be whole people through the game of football is completely in alignment with the vision President Michael Crow and Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson have for this program. I stand ready for the challenge of working with them to elevate Sun Devil Football. I am very excited and humbled to be the Arizona State head football coach."

Edwards is taking over a college team for the first time. His only prior coaching experience at the collegiate level was as a defensive backs coach for San Jose State University in the late 1980s. He was head coach of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs at the NFL level for a combined eight years.

The 63-year-old New Jersey native talked about his decision to pursue the position at ASU during an appearance Wednesday on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"It has to be the right fit. Coaching is about fits," he said. "And this is a place where [athletic director] Ray Anderson is there. I know the man. We have the same kind of philosophy on things we want to do. So I'm going to go down there and have a conversation and see what happens."

While questions have been raised about Edwards' ability to handle a college program given his limited experience, Amy Trask of CBS Sports feels he's a natural fit for the job:

Edwards spent a decade in the NFL as a defensive back, playing nine seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before short stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.

He compiled a 54-74 record as coach of the Jets and Chiefs, though his teams qualified for the playoffs in four of his eight seasons. Kansas City let him go after the team posted a 2-14 record in 2008.

The San Diego State product, who's well known for his infamous "You play to win the game" rant, has worked as an ESPN football analyst since 2009.

Looking ahead, Edwards is tasked with revitalizing an Arizona State program that went 12-12 over the final two years of Todd Graham's tenure. It was a sharp decline after Graham led the Sun Devils to their first back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2013-14 since 1972-73.

Herm Edwards is reportedly returning to coaching.

According to 247Sports' Chris Karpman, the former NFL head coach and longtime ESPN analyst is reportedly expected to be named Arizona State's next head coach. 

"Nothing will get done without [school president] Dr. [Michael] Crow signing off on it, but if he does, this is going to happen," a source told Karpman. "[ASU vice president for university athletics Ray] [Anderson] has known he's wanted to do this for a while and it's just been about getting everything else lined up."

Edwards, 63, spent eight seasons as an NFL head coach with the New York Jets (2001-05) and Kansas City Chiefs (2006-08), posting a record of 54-74 and reaching the postseason four times. He also spent time as a scout and defensive backs coach with the Chiefs (1990-95) and as a defensive backs coach and assistant head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996-2000).

Edwards' only experience coaching at the college level came as a defensive backs coach for San Jose State from 1987-89.

He also played defensive back in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles (1979-85), Atlanta Falcons (1986) and Los Angeles Rams (1986), registering 33 interceptions.

Given his lengthy media career at ESPN working as an NFL analyst, it's somewhat surprising to see Edwards return to the coaching game at this point in his career. Nonetheless, the football lifer will bring plenty of experience to his new post and is certainly a high-profile hire for the Sun Devils. 

While Edwards has limited experience coaching and recruiting at the college level, Anderson made it clear he wanted to bring aboard someone with head coaching experience when previously discussing the program's vacant position, per Craig Morgan of ArizonaSports.com.

"Got to be a dynamic recruiter and you’ve got to be able to go into anybody’s house in southern California, northern California, Louisiana, Texas and sell the vision," he said. "Not just of Sun Devil football but of Sun Devil Athletics and ASU, the institution."

Certainly, Edwards' cachet after being an NFL head coach and public figure should help in that regard. He'll have the task of replacing Todd Graham, who led the team to a 46-31 record and five bowl appearances during his time at the school but stagnated after winning 10 games in his second and third seasons with the team.

A national championship winning coach is apparently interested in the vacant position at Arizona State University. 

On Tuesday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reported former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown appeared on his show and said "he would definitely be interested in talking" to the Pac-12 school about the head coaching position.

Gambadoro noted Brown said "he has one good run left in him."

This isn't the first time Gambadoro reported Brown would be interested in the Sun Devils' position, doing so Sunday as well.

Arizona State is looking for a head coach after it fired Todd Graham following a 7-5 regular season and six years at the helm. Graham finished with a 46-31 record during his tenure, but most of his wins came in his first three years when he led the team to 8-5, 10-4 and 10-3 marks before finishing with losing records in 2015 and 2016.

Brown isn't the only high-profile name reportedly on the school's radar after Graham's exit.

According to Paul Calvisi of Arizona Sports 98.7, former NFL coach Herm Edwards is a "serious candidate." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Edwards would interview for the position.

As for Brown, he is 66 years old, currently serving as an ESPN commentator and hasn't coached since the 2013 season when his Longhorns lost the Alamo Bowl, but he has 29 years of head coaching experience on his resume. He led Tulane for three seasons, North Carolina for 10 and Texas for 16, finishing with a sterling 158-48 record with the Longhorns.

He also won the national championship in the 2005 season with quarterback Vince Young leading the way and reached another title game in the 2009 campaign, only to lose to Alabama.

Considering Arizona State has won double-digit games just six times since it went 12-0 in 1975 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, reaching the level of national prominence Brown did at Texas would be a welcome development for the program.

Former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has reportedly emerged as a "serious candidate" for the vacant Arizona State Sun Devils head coaching job, according to 98.7 FM Arizona Sports' Paul Calvisi.

Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed Edwards will interview for the position this weekend.

The Sun Devils, who are looking to replace Todd Graham following his ouster Sunday, have said they will target candidates with experience.

According to 98.7 FM Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan, vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson specified that "the new coach would need head coaching experience to take over the program at this stage."

On Tuesday, USA Today's Dan Wolken reported that Saturday he was told Anderson had informed boosters he had a "blockbuster" hire brewing and that the athletics director was interested in candidates who had coached in the NFL.

Edwards, 63, last coached in 2008 and has been an NFL analyst for ESPN since 2009.

All told, the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back—who also played briefly for the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams—went 54-74 during his eight years with the Jets and Chiefs.

Edwards also has a bit of college coaching experience.

Before making the jump to the NFL in 1990 as a scout for the Chiefs, he worked as an offensive assistant for San Jose University from 1987 to 1989.

The Sun Devils, who finished the regular season 7-5, haven't cracked 10 wins since 2014.

Arizona State fired head coach Todd Graham on Sunday, though "Graham and his staff will remain with the program through their bowl appearance." Vice president of university athletics Ray Anderson also announced the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

DevilsDigest.com and Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman first reported the news.

"When evaluating our head coaches, we have been very clear in our four-prong approach: integrity, academics, performance and fan affinity advancement," Anderson said in the news release.

"From the moment he arrived in Tempe, Todd helped change the culture and emphasized the student in student-athlete here at Arizona State, elevating the program to unprecedented heights in the classroom and strong citizenship across the board."

The writing was on the wall. The Sun Devils posted consecutive losing seasons in 2015 and 2016, going 11-14. And for the first time in four years, the school didn't extend his contract by a year this offseason.

As Greg Moore of AZCentral.com wrote: "[ASU President Michael] Crow said he wanted the football program to compete with some of the best schools in the nation. Anderson said he wanted evidence that any improvement was sustainable and not just a blip."

The pair clearly felt Graham didn't achieve those goals in 2017, and the team's 7-5 record wasn't enough to save his job.

It's a disappointing end to a once bright tenure for the head coach, who led the program to four bowl games in his first four seasons and 10-win campaigns in 2013 and 2014. The Sun Devils also won the Pac-12 South in 2013, though they were blown out by Stanford in the conference title game.

Graham was 46-31 with the Sun Devils. He also had previous coaching stints with Rice (7-6), Tulsa (36-17) and Pitt (6-6).

Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham reportedly anticipates being fired even if the Sun Devils beat the rival Arizona Wildcats on Saturday.

According to Dan Wolken of USA Today, two people with knowledge on the matter said Graham believes he will be fired despite not yet receiving any indication regarding his status from athletic director Ray Anderson.

A third source told Wolken that Arizona State officials are preparing to begin a coaching search.

After finishing 5-7 last season, the Sun Devils are bowl eligible at 6-5 regardless of whether they beat the Wildcats.

Graham is in his sixth season at ASU, and he has accumulated a 45-31 record during his tenure with four bowl appearances.

The Sun Devils won 10 games in both 2013 and 2014, but they finished with losing records in 2015 and 2016, and could potentially do so again this season.

Graham had three previous head coaching stops at Rice, Tulsa and Pittsburgh, and his overall record as a head coach stands at 94-60.

Per Wolken, the 52-year-old Graham has a $12 million buyout clause in his contract.

If Arizona State fires Graham, Wolken listed Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, Michigan passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason as potential replacements.