Defensive Line
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Anthonie Cooper
Senior Elijah O’Neal
Senior Harold Brooks III
Junior Prince Dorbah
Junior Gharin Stansbury
Junior Clayton Smith
Sophomore Sam Benjamin
Sophomore Justin Wodtly
Sophomore CJ Fite
Sophomore Tristan Monday
Sophomore Blazen Lono-Wong
Redshirt Freshman JP Deeter
Redshirt Freshman Landen Thomas
Redshirt Freshman Kyran Bourda
Freshman Ramar Williams
Freshman James Giggey
Freshman Salesi Manu
Freshman Albert Smith
Position snapshot: 18 defensive linemen is somewhat an embarrassment of riches. But a post-spring attrition can really come into play when you have a first-year position coach, as in ASU’s Diron Reynolds, who likley would want just around 15 players. At defensive end, you still would have a good duo of starters in Clayton Smith and Prince Dorbah. Maybe Gharin Stansbury can turn the corner, as did Elijah O’Neal towards the end of the year.
Cannot overstate the need for defensive tackle because, aside from Fite, I don’t see this depth chart having the required talent to compete in the Big 12. Cooper will be under the microscope, especially with a new coach. Since the staff recruited Wodtly and Deeter, maybe they get more of the benefit of the doubt and a favorable depth chart niche. ASU will want to add one more defensive tackle to call it a day as far as additions.
Linebacker
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Caleb McCullough
Junior Zyrus Fiaseu
Junior Jordan Crook
Junior Krew Jackson
Sophomore Tate Romney
Redshirt freshman K’Vion Thunderbird
Freshman Martell Hughes
Position snapshot: Granted, in a scheme that will often feature two linebackers, you don’t need an abundance of players in this unit. But having now seven scholarship players, thanks to some of the better portal additions for the Sun Devils in Fiaseu and Crook, I’m liking what I’m seeing here. Nonetheless, a spring transfer to this role is needed and should take place if the overall numbers allow it.
Safety (including nickel back)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Shamari Simmons
Senior Roman Rashada
Senior Macen Williams
Sophomore Xavion Alford
Sophomore Kamari Wilson
Sophomore Josiah Cox
Redshirt freshman Montana Warren
Freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba (could play corner)
Position snapshot: Great depth here with Alford, who is essentially the best 2024 addition (after being ruled ineligible in 2023), and Simmons likely starters at safety, with Wilson, Cox (who didn’t redshirt as a freshman), and Warren vying to be in the rotation.
Macen Williams, at starting nickel, could be backed up by Warren or maybe one of the corners. But if I saw any addition in the defensive backfield, I think it would be a formidable nickel that should significantly challenge Williams.
Cornerback
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Ed Woods
Junior Laterrance Welch
Sophomore Javan Robinson
Sophomore Keith Abney II
Redshirt freshman Keontez Bradley
Redshirt freshman Lenox Lawson
Freshman Plas Johnson
Freshman Chris Johnson
Freshman Rodney Bimage
(some of the freshmen could play safety, too)
Position snapshot: Woods is a proven starter. It was crucial for ASU to add some experience here, and having Welch and Robinson transfer in certainly helps. Abney is someone I do expect to take that next step after showing flashes as a freshman. This role offers a huge opportunity for both the freshmen who redshirted and the incoming freshmen to carve a niche in the two-deep. The future of this group does look bright, and no additions are needed here.
Special teams
Sophomore Ian Hershey, who did redshirt last year, and incoming freshman Kanyon Floyd will be the two specialists here, as the kicker and punter duties will be determined later.
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Anthonie Cooper
Senior Elijah O’Neal
Senior Harold Brooks III
Junior Prince Dorbah
Junior Gharin Stansbury
Junior Clayton Smith
Sophomore Sam Benjamin
Sophomore Justin Wodtly
Sophomore CJ Fite
Sophomore Tristan Monday
Sophomore Blazen Lono-Wong
Redshirt Freshman JP Deeter
Redshirt Freshman Landen Thomas
Redshirt Freshman Kyran Bourda
Freshman Ramar Williams
Freshman James Giggey
Freshman Salesi Manu
Freshman Albert Smith
Position snapshot: 18 defensive linemen is somewhat an embarrassment of riches. But a post-spring attrition can really come into play when you have a first-year position coach, as in ASU’s Diron Reynolds, who likley would want just around 15 players. At defensive end, you still would have a good duo of starters in Clayton Smith and Prince Dorbah. Maybe Gharin Stansbury can turn the corner, as did Elijah O’Neal towards the end of the year.
Cannot overstate the need for defensive tackle because, aside from Fite, I don’t see this depth chart having the required talent to compete in the Big 12. Cooper will be under the microscope, especially with a new coach. Since the staff recruited Wodtly and Deeter, maybe they get more of the benefit of the doubt and a favorable depth chart niche. ASU will want to add one more defensive tackle to call it a day as far as additions.
Linebacker
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Caleb McCullough
Junior Zyrus Fiaseu
Junior Jordan Crook
Junior Krew Jackson
Sophomore Tate Romney
Redshirt freshman K’Vion Thunderbird
Freshman Martell Hughes
Position snapshot: Granted, in a scheme that will often feature two linebackers, you don’t need an abundance of players in this unit. But having now seven scholarship players, thanks to some of the better portal additions for the Sun Devils in Fiaseu and Crook, I’m liking what I’m seeing here. Nonetheless, a spring transfer to this role is needed and should take place if the overall numbers allow it.
Safety (including nickel back)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Shamari Simmons
Senior Roman Rashada
Senior Macen Williams
Sophomore Xavion Alford
Sophomore Kamari Wilson
Sophomore Josiah Cox
Redshirt freshman Montana Warren
Freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba (could play corner)
Position snapshot: Great depth here with Alford, who is essentially the best 2024 addition (after being ruled ineligible in 2023), and Simmons likely starters at safety, with Wilson, Cox (who didn’t redshirt as a freshman), and Warren vying to be in the rotation.
Macen Williams, at starting nickel, could be backed up by Warren or maybe one of the corners. But if I saw any addition in the defensive backfield, I think it would be a formidable nickel that should significantly challenge Williams.
Cornerback
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Ed Woods
Junior Laterrance Welch
Sophomore Javan Robinson
Sophomore Keith Abney II
Redshirt freshman Keontez Bradley
Redshirt freshman Lenox Lawson
Freshman Plas Johnson
Freshman Chris Johnson
Freshman Rodney Bimage
(some of the freshmen could play safety, too)
Position snapshot: Woods is a proven starter. It was crucial for ASU to add some experience here, and having Welch and Robinson transfer in certainly helps. Abney is someone I do expect to take that next step after showing flashes as a freshman. This role offers a huge opportunity for both the freshmen who redshirted and the incoming freshmen to carve a niche in the two-deep. The future of this group does look bright, and no additions are needed here.
Special teams
Sophomore Ian Hershey, who did redshirt last year, and incoming freshman Kanyon Floyd will be the two specialists here, as the kicker and punter duties will be determined later.
