Biggest Win in Program History Makes Arizona State True Playoff Contender
Nov 8, 2014
It's time to start taking Arizona State seriously.
We are past the point where its legitimacy can be denied.
The Sun Devils entered Week 11 ranked No. 9 in the College Football Playoff standings, but it never truly felt like they belonged at the grownup table—i.e., the discussion to make the national semifinal. But the way in which they beat No. 10 Notre Dame, a team that nearly beat No. 2 Florida State in Tallahassee, was not something a team at the kids table could have accomplished.
It was also their first win over a Top 10 team since 2002:
Arizona State has lost 20 straight games against AP top-10 teams, last beating No. 6 Oregon in Eugene 2002. #NDvsASU
The Sun Devils forced five turnovers in the 55-31 victory, although a cynic might claim they were "given" more than "forced." Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson played poorly—no doubt—but ASU had seven sacks and wreaked havoc at every level.
It also engineered just enough offense to leave a positive impression on that side of the ball. The point total is obviously misleading (Notre Dame actually outgained ASU 487-412), but quarterback Taylor Kelly looked more comfortable in his third game back from a foot injury than he did in his previous two, completing 17 of 28 passes for 224 yards and scoring four total touchdowns.
"Nobody flinched," said Kelly of the mood when Notre Dame pulled within one score, 34-31, per Doug Haller of AZCentral Sports.
It's easy not to flinch when your quarterback's a redshirt senior.
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: Quarterback Taylor Kelly #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils rushes the football against linebacker Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 8, 2014 in Tem
Which isn't to say that things were perfect.
They weren't.
Arizona State didn't bury Notre Dame the way it should have, allowing the Irish to clamber back into the game. The defense was energetic and opportunistic, but too often it was also disorganized.
This, for example, was the coverage Notre Dame exploited to pull within three points midway through the fourth quarter:
The Jekyll-and-Hydeness of Arizona State is what makes it so difficult to count on. But it's also what makes it so fun.
And it might be what makes it so good.
The Sun Devils have survived the first 11 weeks with just one loss on their resume, which is all that matters moving forward. We know how low their basement is—does UCLA 62, Arizona State 27 ring a bell?—but we also know the height of their ceiling.
When they're playing as well as they played in the first half Saturday, they can hang with (and beat) just about anybody.
The only games left on ASU's schedule are at Oregon State (in a pretty glaring letdown spot) next week, home against Washington State and at No. 19 Arizona. That is not a waltz to an 11-1 season and Pac-12 South title, but neither is it exceptionally tough. On a subjective scale from 1-10, I would probably give it a six.
From there, all Arizona State would need is a win in the Pac-12 Championship Game, ostensibly over Oregon, to crash the CFP. Would it be favored in that game? No. And rightfully not. Oregon is the better, more consistent team. It has been that way all season.
But for 60 minutes? We've seen what Arizona State can do.
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: Defensive lineman Marcus Hardison #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils spikes the pitch fork in celebration after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 55-31 in the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 8, 2014 i
The Sun Devils needed a Hail Mary to beat USC earlier this season, a fluky result that has colored most peoples' perception of their playoff viability (this author included). But you know who else needed a Hail Mary to finish with one loss? The 2013 Auburn Tigers.
And that team came within 13 seconds of winning it all.
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham was a mentor to Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, hiring Malzahn to run his offense at Tulsa in 2007 and 2008. His current offensive coordinator, Mike Norvell, is a Malzahn-esque evil genius who rarely gets out-schemed.
With athletes such as running back D.J. Foster and receiver Jaelen Strong playing at an All-Pac-12 level (if not better), Graham and Norvell have the weapons to parlay that scheme into success. They also have the quarterback, assuming Kelly reverts to last year's form.
Arizona State finishing 12-1, winning the Pac-12 and landing in the playoff sounds ludicrous on paper, but is it any more ludicrous than the run Auburn made last season? ASU entered the week No. 9 in the CFP standings, after all. That's precisely where Auburn entered Week 11 in the BCS standings last year.
Utah Utes vs. Arizona State Sun Devils: Betting Odds, Analysis and Pick
Oct 28, 2014
Utah running back Devontae Booker (23) carries the ball in the second half of their NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona State is 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the spread versus Utah since the Utes joined the Pac-12 three seasons ago. That bodes well for the Sun Devils, as they seek a berth in the conference championship game for the second straight season.
South Division-leading ASU hosts second-place Utah for Homecoming in Tempe Saturday night.
Odds Shark Computer Pick: Sun Devils 29.9, Utes 26.7
Why the Utah Utes Can Cover the Spread
The Utes just came up with a big home win over USC, scoring on a one-yard Travis Wilson touchdown pass with eight seconds to go for a 24-21 victory. Utah only managed 137 yards rushing on 42 carries but held the Trojans to 100 yards on 37 rushing attempts.
The Utes might have avoided the need for last-minute heroics had they not lost two fumbles inside the USC 5-yard line.
Since being upset at home by Washington State last month, Utah has won and covered three games in a row to get to 6-1 both SU and ATS on the season, and 3-1 both SU and ATS in Pac-12 play.
Why the Arizona State Sun Devils Can Cover the Spread
The Sun Devils have also won and covered three games in a row after winning at Washington last week 24-10.
ASU was out-gained and out-rushed by the Huskies, but senior quarterback Taylor Kelly—in his first game back after missing a month due to injury—tossed a pair of touchdown passes and the defense forced three turnovers, the last of which was returned for the game-clinching score.
So the only blemish on the Devils' slate remains that loss to UCLA. Arizona State is averaging 186 yards on the ground, 303 through the air and the defense has allowed just 20 points over the last two games.
Smart Pick
Statistically speaking, the Utes don't stand out, but they have out-rushed their four Pac-12 foes by an average of almost 100 yards per game and already own three road victories this season.
The Sun Devils, on the other hand, have been out-rushed in four of their five conference contests. Last year, as Utah struggled through a 5-7 season, it almost upset Arizona State, which went on to win the South.
The pick here goes with the Utes, plus the points.
Betting Trends
Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five games on the road.
Arizona State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games at home.
All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.
Khaylan Thomas to Arizona State: Sun Devils Land 4-Star LB Prospect
Oct 22, 2014
Todd Graham landed a major addition to his 2015 recruiting class Tuesday, securing the commitment of 4-star outside linebacker Khaylan Thomas.
A star out of Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Thomas chose Arizona State over Oregon, Oklahoma, UCLA and Arizona, among other top programs. He announced the news on Twitter:
I'm very excited to be a Sun Devil. I've honestly been leaning to ASU since the summer after my visit there. "I thought I wanted to take my trips and go through the process but the more I thought about it, the more I knew I wanted to be a Sun Devil. I woke up this morning and it just felt right to me so I decided now was the best time to go ahead and do it and get it over with.
Thomas is ranked No. 271 overall in the class of 2015 by the 247Sports' composite rankings. He is 20th in America among outside linebackers, and No. 35 in the state of California.
CronkiteSports.com's Adam Stites noted the positive effect on the class ranking for Arizona State, which also picked up a recruitment from the nation's top junior college linebacker, Davon Durant, on Tuesday:
Scratch that, ASU was 28th in the nation on @247Sports after the Khaylan Thomas commit alone. Now up to 23rd with Davon Durant.
Thomas is an explosive, instinctual talent who brings a physical, hard-hitting style. Biggins offered a comparison to former Sun Devils stud and current NFL standout Vontaze Burfict. It's high praise, but it's an understandable connection to make when you see Thomas' punishing hits:
At 6'2" and 210 pounds, he could stand to add some bulk, but that will come once he gets onto a college campus.
Arizona State has churned out some impressive linebacking talent—Burfict and Terrell Suggs, to name a few—over the years, and Thomas looks to be another tantalizing addition.
Davon Durant Flips to Arizona St: Sun Devils Land Former South Carolina Commit
Oct 22, 2014
First, the No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils decisively beat the Stanford Cardinal at home. Now, they've added one of the top junior college players in the country to their class of 2015. All in all, it's been a good seven days.
According to 247Sports' JC Shurburtt, the Sun Devils captured the commitment of 4-star JUCO linebacker Davon Durant on Tuesday:
The nation's No. 1 JUCO inside linebacker, Davon Durant (Butler C.C.) has committed to Arizona State after backing out of a commitment to South Carolina.
Durant is a native of Greenwood, S.C. and is on track to enroll at ASU in January.
The versatile, athletic prospect could play any of the linebacker spots at Arizona State, including the "Devil" position.
Durant is the seventh-best JUCO player in the 2015 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He'd previously committed to South Carolina but decided to spurn the Gamecocks.
"It's nothing they did," said Durant, per Phil Kornblut of GoGamecocks.com. "I was thinking about it and I thought it wouldn't be the best choice for me. They've got a lot of linebackers and a lot of guys coming back. I'm going to give other people a chance."
At the time, Durant had yet to officially commit to Arizona State, but he talked about some of the positives about possibly joining the Sun Devils.
"I like their defense and they have a good scheme," he said. "Their coaches are great. We hit it off on my official. It's a good program and defensively I think I would fit well."
Over the years, Arizona State has had intermittent joy tempered with disappointment. John Cooper and Bruce Snyder took the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl, and the combination of Dirk Koetter and Dennis Erickson showed promise early in their respective tenures before bowing out after failing to take the program consistently forward.
ASU is undoubtedly making progress under Todd Graham, both on the field and the recruiting trail. With the commitment of Durant, the team jumped 15 spots into 23rd for the class of 2015, according to 247Sports.
Finding players like Durant is what will help Arizona State bridge the gap with the likes of Oregon and Stanford in terms of sustained success.
Stanford Cardinal vs. Arizona State Sun Devils: Betting Odds and Prediction
Oct 14, 2014
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame defeated Stanford 17-14. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford owns the rivalry with Arizona State as of late, winning the last four meetings—including last year's Pac-12 Championship Game—and going 3-0-1 against the spread in the process. The Cardinal will try to keep that run going when they visit Tempe to take on the Sun Devils in a key Pac-12 battle Saturday night.
Point Spread: The Cardinal opened as 4.5-point favorites at Sun Devil Stadium.
Odds Shark Computer Pick: Sun Devils 37.8, Cardinal 36.1
Why the Stanford Cardinal Can Cover the Spread
The Cardinal bounced back after the tough loss at Notre Dame to beat Washington State last Friday 34-17, sneaking out a cover as 16.5-point favorites by scoring one last touchdown with just under two minutes to go.
Stanford, now 4-2 overall, 2-1 and tied for the lead in the Pac-12 North, gained 477 yards to the Cougars' 266 and ran for 193 yards. Quarterback Kevin Hogan had one of his better days of late, throwing three touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
On the season, the Cardinal rank second in the nation in total defense, allowing just 238 yards per game, and first in points allowed at just 10 per game.
Why the Arizona State Sun Devils Can Cover the Spread
The Sun Devils also bounced back from defeat their last time out, following up that debacle against UCLA with a near-miracle 38-34 victory at USC two weeks ago.
ASU then had last week off. The Devils trailed the Trojans by nine points with three minutes to go, but scored twice on Mike Bercovici touchdown passes—the second a 46-yard connection with Jaelen Strong on the final play of the game, stunning the crowd at the Coliseum.
Arizona State, now 4-1 straight up, 2-1 and tied for second place in the Pac-12 South, rushed for 31 yards to USC's 220, but Bercovici threw for 510 yards, five touchdowns and no picks in just his second career start.
On the season, the Sun Devils rank seventh in the country in total offense at 557 yards per game.
Smart Pick
The Cardinal have been a great conference road bet lately, going 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 Pac-12 road contests.
Also, the last time these teams met, last December at Sun Devil Stadium, Stanford dominated from the start, eventually gaining 517 yards to ASU's 311 on its way to a 38-14 conference championship game victory.
In battles between great offenses and great defenses, smart money resides with the defense. So the pick here goes with the Cardinal, minus the points.
Betting Trends
Stanford is 2-4 SU in its last six games when playing on the road against Arizona State.
Arizona State is 4-2 SU in its last six games when playing at home against Stanford.
All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.
Arizona State Football: Roadblocks Between the Sun Devils and the Pac-12 Title
Jul 30, 2014
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham takes questions at the 2014 Pac-12 NCAA college football media days at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles Thursday, July 24, 2014. (AP Photo)
The Arizona State Sun Devils need to answer a few questions if they are going to win the 2014 Pac-12 title.
First question: Who is going to step up on defense?
Next question: Can they slow down Stanford?
The biggest hurdle the Devils faced last season was that team up in Palo Alto, California. The Stanford Cardinal moved the ball with ease against ASU while preventing the big plays that the Devils have thrived on for the last few years.
Flash back to September 21, 2013. The Devils were coming off of a huge win against Wisconsin at home. While the win itself was a bit controversial, the implications were monumental. ASU was finally living up to expectations, and head coach Todd Graham was building something that fans of the Devils had long been waiting for.
The Cardinal dominated in all phases of the game, scoring 42 points, 29 of which came in the first half. The defense forced two turnovers and had three sacks. Special teams blocked two punts and recorded a safety. The offense hit pay dirt twice through the air and three times by land.
Simply put, the No. 5-ranked team in AP's Top 25 (via ESPN.com) looked like it.
After the loss, ASU's first in the Pac-12, the Devils wouldn't lose another conference game until 11 weeks later.
ASU rolled into the Pac-12 title game on home turf riding a seven-game winning streak. The Devils had defined themselves over the course of the season as a team that could compete with anybody. Players like D.J. Foster and Jaelen Strong had emerged as key contributors to a powerful offense. The Devils thought they were prepared for a visit from the Cardinal.
Ty Montgomery shredded the Sun Devils by air and on foot in 2013.
The script was the same. Stanford ran the ball early and often and had the game locked up by halftime.
Possibly the scariest thing about the next meeting with the Cardinal is that the 2014 iteration of the Sun Devils is missing nine defensive starters from its 2013 self. Many of the players lining up on defense this fall will be freshmen or JUCO transfers.
But there are positives. In an interview during the Pac-12's annual media day at Paramount Pictures Studio, Coach Graham had this to say, per ASU's official website:
We have 70 players out of 110 that are operating at 3.0 or higher [grade-point average]. This is the smartest team I've had. The team with the best character I've ever had, and I have a lot of confidence this will be the best football team we've put on the field at Arizona State.
So, assuming the coaching staff can put together a competent defense, what other challenges are facing the defending Pac-12 South champions?
The Devils face a still-trying-to-get-out-of-a-deep-institutional-hole USC program, a UCLA team that boasts a potential top-five NFL draft pick at quarterback in Brett Hundley and, potentially, a team that has treated ASU even worse than Stanford in recent times: Oregon.
Marcus Mariota will likely be waiting for whoever emerges from the Pac-12 South.
ASU hasn't bested the Oregon Ducks since 2004, when Andrew Walter was the starting QB for the Devils. A full decade of beatdowns later, it could be Heisman hopeful Marcus Mariota and his Nike-clad Ducks waiting for the opportunity to ruin Arizona State's bid for a conference title.
While the season is chock-full of pitfalls, not the least of which being the 10 returning starting QBs in the conference, the Devils can be confident they possess one of the most potent offenses in the country. From the emergence of do-it-all tailback Foster to the explosive Strong, quarterback Taylor Kelly has all the weapons he could ask for in his bid to bring home the Pac-12 title.
"Let's just take a deep preseason breath and accept that if ASU gives up 30 or more points in some games and still wins, that's what this season is meant to be. And didn't you old-timers used to love that in the WAC days?"
Regardless of the questions asked of Arizona State this fall, the answer is clear.
Just keep scoring.
4-Star QB Brady White Dishes on Rivalry with Blake Barnett, Other QB Recruits
Jun 13, 2014
Brady White once played football with his hand in the dirt, spending an entire season dishing out blocks. There's no record of how many pancakes he served up while manning the offensive front, but it was his first home on the football field.
"The coaches put me on the line, and I did what I was told," White said.
His career as an offensive lineman came to a screeching halt at the age of 6 when he transitioned to quarterback. Unfortunately for a long list of Southern California defenders, White has remained at the position for more than a decade.
"Quarterback is exactly where I wanted to be from the beginning," he said. "I wanted to be the guy who leads the offense and has a big impact on the game. I was blessed with the ability to sling the ball at a young age, and I've worked to get better year after year. I take pride in that."
White, a 17-year-old rising senior at Hart High School in Los Angeles County, is among the most coveted quarterback recruits in the country. He's also one of several standout passers in his home state, setting the stage for budding rivalries now and in the future.
"People will probably measure us up against each other for a long time," White said.
They already are.
White is rated third nationally among pro-style passers, behind only Josh Rosen (Bellflower, California) and Ricky Town (Ventura, California), respectively. The 4-star prospect is a consensus top 100 overall player in the 2015 recruiting class.
"I've always had confidence in my abilities and thought I could become a national recruit," White said. "I just didn't realize I'd be rated so high."
He earned attention after taking over the Indians' starting job as a sophomore.
White led Hart to the quarterfinals of the Southern California sectional playoffs, completing 67 percent of his pass attempts for 2,575 yards and 23 touchdowns. Thrust into a pivotal position for a playoff contender, he quickly learned what it would take to be a successful leader.
"I've always felt like I've been ahead of the curve mentally, but the 2012 season really kicked me into gear," White recalled. "I realized you've got to bust your butt every week, every day."
The journey toward stardom started long before White took his first snap as a varsity athlete.
He began training with renowned quarterback guru Steve Clarkson in middle school. The former Woodrow Wilson High School (Los Angeles) and San Jose State star has tutored a long list of successful collegiate passers, including Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart, Tim Tebow and Gino Torretta.
Clarkson shared an assessment of White's skill set on his website.
One look at Brady White and there is no doubt that he reminds you of what the great quarterbacks of the past were made of. Brady brings a perfect hybrid of old school flare with modern day play making ability. Brady was born to impress...with a release like Joe Namath, and pocket presence like Aaron Rodgers, you will be hearing his name for years to come.
College recruiters began hearing his name during the breakout sophomore campaign. He received his first piece of mail from Oregon State and reacted how most 15-year-old kids would.
"I was pumped, took a picture of it and shared it online with all my buddies," White said. "Knowing what I know now, I look back and realize it wasn't a huge deal. At the time I was like a kid in a candy shop."
Letters from schools quickly became commonplace as interest mounted. He began to see the writing on the wall—playing quarterback at the next level was a legitimate possibility.
"Colleges started coming by to see me," White said. "Hand-written letters from coaches also began arriving and those are the most meaningful pieces of mail."
Despite the growing sense of a looming scholarship offer, he arrived at summer break 2013 empty-handed. Meanwhile, California quarterback contemporaries Town and Rosen were already racking up offers.
"Things moved a little slower than I expected," White admitted.
So he set out to change the course of his recruitment by doing what White describes as "all the self-promotion stuff." He attended camps and went on an expansive tour of college campuses.
His first offer finally arrived that summer. San Jose State pulled the trigger during a passing tournament.
"I was ecstatic," White said. "I thought, 'Ok, there's the first one. Now the ball is going to start rolling.' But I didn't think there was going to be a ton more."
Several schools followed suit during the course of his junior season. From the start of his second campaign as a starting quarterback, it was apparent White belonged among America's best recruits.
He outdueled fellow 4-star prospect Blake Barnett in the 2013 opener against Santiago High School. White was 35-of-46 for 471 yards and three touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground in a 56-49 victory.
Barnett, who spent seven months committed to Notre Dame before backing out of the verbal pact in June, also impressed with six touchdowns. The two square off again Sept. 26 in a rematch that should attract plenty of attention.
"Reporters are definitely going to make a big deal about the matchup and compare everything we do," White said. "They'll try to make it out to be me versus Blake. I can't worry about that stuff. At the end of the day, you judge a quarterback by the win column."
White torched opponents for at least 300 yards passing in half of the team's 12 games last fall. He finished the year with 4,535 passing yards and 50 total touchdowns. Offers began to arrive in bunches.
By mid-spring, teams from across the country were clamoring for his commitment. Tennessee, Oregon, Kentucky, Penn State, Illinois and Louisville were just a few of the programs that threw their hat into the ring.
Just as things were really heating up, White decided it was time to focus on finding the right fit.
Following an early April visit to Arizona State, he moved the Sun Devils to the top of his short list of favorites. Fellow Pac-12 members Cal and Oregon were also in the mix, along with Penn State.
UCLA and USC—nearby squads searching for a quarterback in the 2015 class—never truly entered the equation.
"UCLA pretty much disrespected me," White said. "They offered a lot of quarterbacks in the class and didn't pay much attention to me so that wasn't a place I really looked at."
The Bruins landed Rosen in late March.
White established a rapport with Steve Sarkisian and his staff at Washington, so when USC hired the head coach he thought the Trojans could come calling.
"It would have been awesome to have USC offer when the new coaching staff came in, but they weren't showing me much love," he said.
Sarkisian secured a commitment from Town in January, flipping the 5-star quarterback from his original pledge to Alabama.
By the time May rolled around, White decided he'd done enough research to make his decision. After another visit to Arizona State, the Sun Devils were the clear choice, and he went public on May 2.
"When I reviewed everything, ASU stood out in all aspects," White said. "The coaching staff is doing amazing things, I love the city of Tempe and I'm going to get a quality education. I can see myself enjoying school and life there even if things don't pan out with football."
TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 07: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot, Sparky runs out onto the field during the Pac 12 Championship game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on December 7, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. The Carindal defeated the Sun De
There's also the matter of him leading the Sun Devils against a pair of his hometown teams. It's a safe bet White will be circling dates with UCLA and USC on his calendar.
"There's no doubt they will be meaningful games," he said. "I want to put up stats and points on them but it's not to make them jealous. It's all about getting a win for the Sun Devils."
White understands comparisons with Rosen and Town won't end in high school. He expects the hype will be in full force whenever they meet in college.
"When we play each other, the media will make it out to be a quarterback battle and try to build up a rivalry part of it," White said. "But Rosen and Town will be playing the Sun Devils defense, I'll be facing the Bruins and Trojans defense. Sure, there's going to be talk about a rivalry but my only concern is trying to get our team a win."
He hopes to get a head start toward those victories by leaning toward early enrollment. Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly has started 27 games and departs after his senior season, opening the door for a group inexperienced passers to replace him.
"It's crucial for me to enroll early if I want to potentially be the starter," White said. "The competition is going to be fun. We're each going to get after it. I'm going in there swinging, and hopefully I'll earn the respect of my teammates. Starting as a freshman would be a dream come true."
Continued physical maturation will build a stronger case for his ability to weather the storm as a starting quarterback in Tempe. White, who was 6'1", 170 pounds at the end of his sophomore season, is now 6'2" and approaching 190 pounds.
Less than a year after he was waiting for the recruitment to really get rolling, White has reached a different phase of the process. He is fully committed to Arizona State, though other programs haven't completely called off their pursuit.
"It's cooled down, but schools still stop by and reach out to make sure I know they're still interested," White said. "They tell me to keep in touch. But I'm a Sun Devil now and couldn't be happier about that."
Recruit information and ratings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
All quotes obtained firsthand by B/R college football recruiting columnist Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.
5 Takeways from Brady White's Commitment to Arizona State Football
May 9, 2014
Arizona State fans rejoiced last week when 4-star quarterback Brady White committed to ASU, which is another sign that the Sun Devils are on the upswing.
After being spurned by Joshua Dobbs in a last-minute flip to Tennessee in 2013 and not signing a passer in 2012, ASU completely missed on signing a quarterback in Todd Graham's first two recruiting classes. With White being ranked as the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the 2015 class and the highest-ranked QB to ever commit to ASU since 2002, he is sure to bring a new dynamic to the offense, as well as help attract other top recruits to the program.
Let's take a look at five of the biggest takeaways from White's commitment to ASU.
He can help lure big talent to Tempe
This starts with friend and current teammate, 4-star wide receiver Trent Irwin.
Though Irwin says that he is not a lock to ASU, according to Rivals.com's Adam Gorney (subscription required), White's commitment does give the Sun Devils a great shot against some of the competition, which includes Stanford and California. Though Irwin will be the first to admit he is not ready to commit to the Sun Devils just yet, he also said that White's commitment may play a role in his decision:
Brady going there is big. Obviously I would like to go somewhere with him but we would both understand if we don't fit in the program or academically or whatever. If it doesn't pan out we could go somewhere else," Irwin said, though he also mentioned that he liked ASU quite a bit. "I visited last Sunday before he committed there," he said. "It was really nice and the coaches seem really cool. They have the Barrett Honors College which is an academic plus for them there. The offense seemed really good and they seemed interested so I like ASU.
Though Irwin doesn't yet have a time frame for when his commitment will come, ASU has a great shot at landing his services, and fans can be sure that White will be in his ear, coaxing him to join him in Tempe.
White's commitment will put ASU in the running for the Pac-12 South
With USC and UCLA both having commitments from 5-star quarterback recruits, ASU has put itself in a solid position to compete with them.
While White is only considered a 4-star recruit, player development is typically challenged and improved upon at the college level much more so than at the high school level. While only time will tell, at the very least, he should help the Sun Devils compete with the talent at USC and UCLA and put ASU in the running for the Pac-12 South title annually.
Having multiple options at quarterback gives ASU the keys to success
After Taylor Kelly's departure following the 2014 season and assuming that ASU signs both of its current quarterback prospects for the 2015 class—White and Bryce Perkins—the battle for the starting quarterback position will begin this year.
Current backup quarterback Michael Bercovici, who had an excellent showing at the 2014 spring game, will go head-to-head against Elite 11 participant Manny Wilkins, as well as Coltin Gerhart, whom deputy head coach Mike Norvell said may be the steal of the class.
The battle may recommence in 2015 with the additions of White and Perkins, but competition will result in the best outcome for the team. According to Chris Karpman of ASUDevils.com (subscription required), it's hard to know who will emerge as the best quarterback, and the only way to find out is by pitting the players against one another:
About half of all quarterbacks are going to eventually transfer or stop playing, that's just the nature of the beast. But if you have more perceived good options to choose from, you're more likely to end up with a very good player to lead your team, and without one of those, you don't have much of a chance as ASU coach Todd Graham has admitted.
White can help the Sun Devils to build a recruiting pipeline
Just like Wilkins did in 2014, White can help make a significant impact in the formation of the 2015 class. Wilkins, who committed to ASU last May, immediately became an advocate for the program, using social media to connect with potential recruits and convince them to come to Tempe.
According to Dan Mohrmann of CHSAANow.com, top-rated recruit Kalen Ballage was wavering on his decision between ASU and several other programs. Ballage didn't name any names, but he did admit that his connection to the players in Tempe encouraged him to ultimately sign with the Devils:
Although he had plenty of options on the table including CU and UCLA, the further in to the recruiting process he got the more he felt the pull from Arizona State. He cited the connection he made with the players down there as a big reason. He had been receiving text messages from those players as signing day neared, but not to pressure him into making a decision. It turned out the guys he had grown close to on his visit just wanted to check in on him and talk about things other than football. That attitude resonated with him and when decision time came, it made things much easier for him.
With social media now playing a much bigger role in recruits' lives than in the past, White has an opportunity to be the next advocate and use his influence to help bring in another top-25 class for ASU in 2015.
ASU needed quarterback talent after not signing any in 2012 or 2013
According to Rivals.com's Chris Karpman, 2012 was the first year since pre-1996 that ASU didn't sign a quarterback. Even though Sun Devils still had three signal-callers on their roster during this time and a great starter in Taylor Kelly, things could have been bleak for the quarterback situation had they not signed two passers in 2014, especially in light of backup Michael Eubank's transfer in January.
Luckily for ASU, the addition of White and Perkins may create a competitive battle for the position, giving the best man the chance to start.
2014 NFL Draft: A Conversation with Arizona State's Marion Grice
May 8, 2014
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 14: Running back Marion Grice #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils rushes the football against the Wisconsin Badgers during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The 2014 NFL draft is a time when some of the nation's top collegiate prospects finally get to realize their dreams.
No matter what round they wind up being selected in, each of these young men deserve a chance to soak up the spotlight and celebrate with their family, friends and loved ones.
Arizona State running back Marion Grice gets to realize his dreams at a time when the position he plays has become "devalued."
Historically, the NFL has always had an infatuation with halfbacks.
Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and, more recently, Adrian Peterson are guys who will always be remembered as poster children of their respective eras.
But like everything else in life, things change.
Bernard was a second-round pick in 2013
Last year, for the first time since 1963, there wasn't a single running back selected in the first round of the draft—Giovani Bernard was the first guy to come off the board when the Cincinnati Bengals took him at pick No. 37.
Between the 2011 and 2012 draft, four tailbacks were drafted in Round 1. If the current projections hold up, that number will shrink to zero between 2013 at this year's soiree.
Don't tell that to Grice though.
The young man from Houston, Texas has plenty of ambition and a firm belief that he is exactly the type of runner teams can't live without.
During the two seasons he spent at Arizona State, Grice found a way to become the team's most effective weapon.
Rushing for 1,675 yards and 25 touchdowns on just 294 carries, the Sun Devils running back was always out there making defenders miss with his repertoire of video game-like moves.
Arizona St. Head Coach Todd Graham
But it was his aptitude in the passing game that allowed him to make the biggest imprint on head coach Todd Graham's program.
Tallying 91 receptions for 863 yards and 14 scores in that same two-year span, Grice's versatility served as the catalyst of Graham's offense.
The question now becomes, how does Grice's savvy pass-catching expertise translate over to the NFL?
Bleacher Report's own Ryan Lownes threw in his two cents:
One of college football’s most versatile performers over the last two years, Marion Grice proved to be a Swiss army knife capable of pitching in on offense and special teams.
Though lacking elite speed or power, his north-south running style and ability to catch the ball set him apart from others in this class. He is sure to fall in the draft due to a late-season leg injury, but has the tools to become a valuable contributor in a backfield rotation
Leading up to the draft, I got a chance to talk to the talented Arizona State product about a wide range of topics. The result of our conversation is featured below.
What's your feeling on "experts" saying the running back position has become devalued?
Marion Grice: People are saying the position is devalued because of the passing game being such a large part of the game.
Doesn't bother me though, teams that win championships run the football. You have to be able to run the ball in December and January.
How do you think your skill set helps you stand out from some of your peers?
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 19: Running back Marion Grice #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts on the sides lines during the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Sun Devil Stadium on October 19, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defe
MG: I catch the ball like a wide receiver and I have really good vision.
I've also never really been hit, because of my playing style, so I have low mileage on my wheels. Some of these guys have 650 carries in two seasons. I have that in four seasons.
Being drafted has to be an incredible feeling. Growing up, what running backs did you look up to?
MG: I've always just been a fan of the game and I've tried to take pieces from every great's game that I grew up watching.
Right now, I like Matt Forte and Arian Foster. And of course, AP (Adrian Peterson).
If you could describe your game to fans in two words, what would those words be?
MG: Naturally smooth.
Going off topic for a second, I'm going to name three teams. Tell me who you would root for. New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox or the Arizona Diamondbacks?
MG: Not a baseball guy but Derek Jeter is an icon. New York Yankees.
I have to ask, who's the best athlete in this year's draft?
MG: Since I can't pick myself, Sammy Watkins from Clemson.
Who do you think is the top quarterback prospect in the entire class?
MG: Teddy Bridgewater and David Fales.
Finally, in five years, Marion Grice will be...?
MG: A Pro Bowler.
All 2014 draft projections provided by NFLDraftScout.com (viaCBSSports.com), unless noted otherwise. All CFB stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.NFL draft history via NFL.com.
Huge Turnout at Arizona State for 10th Annual Pat's Run Honoring Pat Tillman
Apr 26, 2014
This undated image provided by Arizona State University shows an artist rendering of Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State University has a new plan to renovate its football stadium. Work planned for Sun Devil Stadium includes adding a terrace pavilion, a double-sided video board, a new student section and escalators, but a proposed a shade canopy has been dropped. The work is to begin in the spring of 2015 and be finished by mid-2017. (AP Photo/Arizona State University)
To understand just how profound the impact former Arizona State and Arizona Cardinals standout Pat Tillman made when he left the NFL to enlist in the United States Army, one need look no further than Saturday's 10th installment of Pat's Run.
More than 30,000 participants turned out for the 2014 Pat's Run, a 4.2-mile run/walk on the campus of Arizona State.
Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan 10 years ago. The Pat Tillman Foundation established Pat's Run the following year.
A star of the Sun Devils' 1996 Pac-10 championship team, Tillman is an icon of Arizona State football. But his legacy transcends what he accomplished on the football field.
Tillman's enlistment after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is an enduring symbol of American patriotism.
Before becoming an Army Ranger, Tillman was an Academic All-American at Arizona State. Pat's Run honors Tillman's dedication to education by awarding 60 military veterans and veterans' spouses with scholarships.
Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham told the Arizona Republicin 2012 that, upon his hire, he wanted Tillman's legacy to be the backbone of the Arizona State program.
Pat was passionate, and he wasn't single-minded. He was passionate about a lot of things. Anything he did he did with passion. Whether it be academics, whether it be anything. And I like that he also had flaws. He made mistakes; he owned up to them. He was a man's man. So the ideals that we're trying to teach to our players, he really is the one person who exemplifies all those things. On the field. In the classroom. In the community. He was just an unbelievable giver.
Some of the reminders around Sun Devil Stadium—where Pat's Run participants end their day on the 42-yard line—include Tillman's image from his Arizona State playing days, plastered across the main doors of the appropriately named Tillman Tunnel.
Graham's commitment to the Tillman legacy includes a personal meet-and-greet, which, per ASU.edu, Graham hosts for Pat's Run participants who raise $1,000 or more.
There was no shortage of football players involved in Saturday's Pat's Run, either.
And for those who chose to participate but could not be in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, the Pat Tillman Foundation hosts "shadow runs" in 33 cities around the nation.
A decade later, Tillman's spirit doesn't just live on. As Pat's Run continues to grow, so too does Tillman's influence.
