With the bye week upon us this is a good time to take a look at ASU’s recruiting class and how it is fairing with its prospects at the various positions. With a small 2015 senior class we expect ASU to sign somewhere in the vicinity of 22-23 players in its 2016 recruiting class, and it is possible that this group won't reach that number until a few months following February's National Letter of Intent day.
Here are two links for quick reference regarding the 2016 class:
Commit list
Visit list
So let's go position by position and see who is committed, and what viable prospects are currently on the board for ASU. Starting with the offense:
Quarterback
2016 Class Commits:
Dillon Sterling-Cole
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Now that Sterling-Cole is committed ASU won't recruit any other signal callers in this class.
Running Back
2016 Class Commits:
Freddie Holly
Tre Turner
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Three at the most. With underclassmen comprising the core of this position, ASU is in good shape even if they just inked the two prospects currently committed. If a highly rated running back expressed strong interest, ASU likely wouldn't turn him down.
Viable Prospects: Ohio State Kareem walker remains a possibility, albeit remote. Did unofficially visit Tempe in the summer and in a recent interview claim that he could follow that with an official trip.
Morie Evans who signed a Letter of Intent with ASU last February is attending a junior college and thus isn’t considered a greyshirt anymore.
Wide Receiver
2016 Class Commits:
Jeremy Smith
Kyle Williams
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Four or five. As we all know this is currently a position in need of depth, which is good news for newcomers and prospects alike.
Viable Prospects:
Chase Lucas – we still believe the hometown Sun Devils as the de facto favorite for the Chandler high school standout. At the very least ASU will be strongly in the race for his services as he nears a decision.
Devaughn Cooper - the Arizona commit is someone who has had ASU in his sights for a while and a recent offer by the Sun Devils could open his recruiting process.
Steffon McKnight - the San Diego prospect has ASU in his Top-5 and he already went on record saying that his first official visit will be to Tempe. As it stands right now UCLA looks to be the team in the driver's seat, but with no visits taking place yet and a generally quiet recruiting process hard to get a good feel on this prospect right now.
John Williams - another prospect who has ASU on his short list and a quiet recruiting process as well. We expect this Louisiana player to officially visit here and then we can get a better sense of his recruitment process.
Tyrie Cleveland - Dillon Sterling-Cole's teammate did visit ASU on September 26th, and Oklahoma prior to that and has taken two unofficial visits to nearby Texas A&M. With his signal caller committed to the Sun Devils, ASU could still have a chance although other suitors are probably in a better position now.
N'Keal Harry – Has already visited Washington and Texas A&M, and both Oregon school will receive visits in the upcoming weeks. We still see this Chandler High School five-star prospect deciding between both in-state schools and likely his fifth and last official visit, assuming it is to ASU or Arizona, could very much indicate his final destination.
Damian Alloway - The Fontana, Calif. four-star prospect will visit Notre Dame, arguably his favorite, next month and did mention ASU and UCLA likely to be his next two official visits. Oregon is peaking his interest now as well. All in all, appears to be wide open unless he decides not to take anymore visits after his Notre Dame trip.
Offensive Line
2016 Class Commits:
Cohl Cabral
Marshal Nathe
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Most likely no more than four, as the depth at this position is much improved following the 2015 class additions. Good chance we will see at least one junior college offensive tackle in this group of 2016 signees.
Viable Prospects:
Michael Eletise - committed to Arizona, but indicated that he will take official visits later in the year, including one to ASU. His sister attends Phoenix's Grand Canyon University and that can help ASU's cause.
Garett Bolles - ASU has been making a strong early impression on the four-star junior college prospect but the he competition here is stiff to say the least. Has three visits all in November to Arkansas, Auburn and Oregon. Since he’s a May graduate a December/January visit to ASU could put ASU as one of his favorites and being closet to his hometown state of Utah along with the LDS community here in the valley could work in ASU’s favor.
Keenen King - this Las Vegas guard prospect has been bullish about ASU for months now. He has already visited Tempe unofficially and came away very impressed. King is certainly is one prospect worth tracking throughout the process.
Ashton Julious - another junior college offensive tackle prospect ASU has been making serious inroads with. This mid-year prospect expressed his desire to officially visit the school in the fall. Will take his first visit to Oklahoma on October 23rd.
JohnCarlo Valentin - the guard prospect did officially visit ASU on September 18th, but with several other suitors closer to home an early September trip could get lost in the mix during what should be a lengthy recruiting process. Additionally, seems very wide open with his recruitment and not likely to decide before January.
Yasir Durant – Valentin’s teammate visited here September 18th as well. Not a primary option for now but that could change.
Tight End
2016 Class Commits:
Jared Bubak
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Most likely two, outside chance for three if all signees regarded as high caliber prospects.
Viable Prospects:
Thaddeus Moss - the race for the services of son of NFL wide receiver great Randy Moss is apparently between ASU who he visits on November 21st, and UCLA who he visits on October 30th.
Naseir Upshur - ASU has been recruiting this Philadelphia prospect in earnest for over a year now, even though he committed to Florida State, appears to still has interest in the Sun Devils. ASU is hoping that his friendships with former player Jaelen Strong and current player DeAndre Scott do ultimately pay dividends, as well as his familiarity with ASU which he visited twice now.
Darel Middleton - While he did decommit from ASU, the Oak Ridge, Tenn. prospect said he is keeping the Sun Devils in the picture. An official visit could help matters here.
Next post will have the defensive snapshot.
Here are two links for quick reference regarding the 2016 class:
Commit list
Visit list
So let's go position by position and see who is committed, and what viable prospects are currently on the board for ASU. Starting with the offense:
Quarterback
2016 Class Commits:
Dillon Sterling-Cole
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Now that Sterling-Cole is committed ASU won't recruit any other signal callers in this class.
Running Back
2016 Class Commits:
Freddie Holly
Tre Turner
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Three at the most. With underclassmen comprising the core of this position, ASU is in good shape even if they just inked the two prospects currently committed. If a highly rated running back expressed strong interest, ASU likely wouldn't turn him down.
Viable Prospects: Ohio State Kareem walker remains a possibility, albeit remote. Did unofficially visit Tempe in the summer and in a recent interview claim that he could follow that with an official trip.
Morie Evans who signed a Letter of Intent with ASU last February is attending a junior college and thus isn’t considered a greyshirt anymore.
Wide Receiver
2016 Class Commits:
Jeremy Smith
Kyle Williams
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Four or five. As we all know this is currently a position in need of depth, which is good news for newcomers and prospects alike.
Viable Prospects:
Chase Lucas – we still believe the hometown Sun Devils as the de facto favorite for the Chandler high school standout. At the very least ASU will be strongly in the race for his services as he nears a decision.
Devaughn Cooper - the Arizona commit is someone who has had ASU in his sights for a while and a recent offer by the Sun Devils could open his recruiting process.
Steffon McKnight - the San Diego prospect has ASU in his Top-5 and he already went on record saying that his first official visit will be to Tempe. As it stands right now UCLA looks to be the team in the driver's seat, but with no visits taking place yet and a generally quiet recruiting process hard to get a good feel on this prospect right now.
John Williams - another prospect who has ASU on his short list and a quiet recruiting process as well. We expect this Louisiana player to officially visit here and then we can get a better sense of his recruitment process.
Tyrie Cleveland - Dillon Sterling-Cole's teammate did visit ASU on September 26th, and Oklahoma prior to that and has taken two unofficial visits to nearby Texas A&M. With his signal caller committed to the Sun Devils, ASU could still have a chance although other suitors are probably in a better position now.
N'Keal Harry – Has already visited Washington and Texas A&M, and both Oregon school will receive visits in the upcoming weeks. We still see this Chandler High School five-star prospect deciding between both in-state schools and likely his fifth and last official visit, assuming it is to ASU or Arizona, could very much indicate his final destination.
Damian Alloway - The Fontana, Calif. four-star prospect will visit Notre Dame, arguably his favorite, next month and did mention ASU and UCLA likely to be his next two official visits. Oregon is peaking his interest now as well. All in all, appears to be wide open unless he decides not to take anymore visits after his Notre Dame trip.
Offensive Line
2016 Class Commits:
Cohl Cabral
Marshal Nathe
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Most likely no more than four, as the depth at this position is much improved following the 2015 class additions. Good chance we will see at least one junior college offensive tackle in this group of 2016 signees.
Viable Prospects:
Michael Eletise - committed to Arizona, but indicated that he will take official visits later in the year, including one to ASU. His sister attends Phoenix's Grand Canyon University and that can help ASU's cause.
Garett Bolles - ASU has been making a strong early impression on the four-star junior college prospect but the he competition here is stiff to say the least. Has three visits all in November to Arkansas, Auburn and Oregon. Since he’s a May graduate a December/January visit to ASU could put ASU as one of his favorites and being closet to his hometown state of Utah along with the LDS community here in the valley could work in ASU’s favor.
Keenen King - this Las Vegas guard prospect has been bullish about ASU for months now. He has already visited Tempe unofficially and came away very impressed. King is certainly is one prospect worth tracking throughout the process.
Ashton Julious - another junior college offensive tackle prospect ASU has been making serious inroads with. This mid-year prospect expressed his desire to officially visit the school in the fall. Will take his first visit to Oklahoma on October 23rd.
JohnCarlo Valentin - the guard prospect did officially visit ASU on September 18th, but with several other suitors closer to home an early September trip could get lost in the mix during what should be a lengthy recruiting process. Additionally, seems very wide open with his recruitment and not likely to decide before January.
Yasir Durant – Valentin’s teammate visited here September 18th as well. Not a primary option for now but that could change.
Tight End
2016 Class Commits:
Jared Bubak
Projected number of players signed in the 2016 class: Most likely two, outside chance for three if all signees regarded as high caliber prospects.
Viable Prospects:
Thaddeus Moss - the race for the services of son of NFL wide receiver great Randy Moss is apparently between ASU who he visits on November 21st, and UCLA who he visits on October 30th.
Naseir Upshur - ASU has been recruiting this Philadelphia prospect in earnest for over a year now, even though he committed to Florida State, appears to still has interest in the Sun Devils. ASU is hoping that his friendships with former player Jaelen Strong and current player DeAndre Scott do ultimately pay dividends, as well as his familiarity with ASU which he visited twice now.
Darel Middleton - While he did decommit from ASU, the Oak Ridge, Tenn. prospect said he is keeping the Sun Devils in the picture. An official visit could help matters here.
Next post will have the defensive snapshot.
