A deep dive here with the Sun Devil Network's basketball color analyst discussing the season that was and looking ahead towards the future of his program


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Lighting in the dome isn't the greatest so that's why the quality isn't as good as outside. But as always very thankful to even have this opportunity to begin with. Hope you enjoy these 30 minutes.

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After two starting pitchers with serious "issues", this was a concern... now, a third.

Had another poster "challenge" me on my past concern here, and now this is a "major issue"...

Arm health and ASU pitching depth was the key to CTS "big season"... more excuses coming...

Physical conditioning, arm strength, pre & post season pitch counts, breaking ball limits based on point in season/age & innings pitched metrics, recovery practices, nutrition, stretching etc. are all part of a prudent "arm conditioning program" that a some point needs to be independently reviewed --- ABC Best Practice.

...Hurley let him know he shouldn't come back next year?

After the game winning OT shot vs WSU and tying Eddie House's 8 game 20+ streak, Martin was pumped and said if he didn't break it this year he might next year.

When Hurley was told that he responded "He's had a hell of a career and he's a pro prospect and he's got to get out there and start making money and be a pro"

Remy hasn't had a good game since.

Coincidence?

I'll have more to add later after the basketball game but here's more information to add to what I posted earlier:

As always, let’s start with personnel news:

Jayden Daniels' grandpa passed away and he's flying today for the viewing. Since he has to have a negative test upon arrival back hard to say when he can resume practices.

Amiri Johnson for the first time that I saw in the spring was doing conditioning drills on the side, as was Evan Fields. Fields seemed to be moving better.

Junior defensive lineman Tyler Johnson is out of the entire spring (knee)

Redshirt defensive tackle Stephon Wright out of the arm sling, still not dressed

Freshman offensive lineman Sioene Veikoso still out (ankle)

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ben Scott and sophomore offensive lineman Dohnovan West were OUT OF non-contact green jerseys.

Sophomore WR Ricky Pearsall didn't finish practice due to an undisclosed injury.

DB Willie Harts and DL Jermayne Lole both not in practice due to personal reasons

Team was in helmets and shoulder pads, but it was pretty physical. I believe they will be in full pads on Friday.


Looking at the footage I took from the 11 on 11, here's the two-deep:

First team offense

QB Daylin McLemore
RB the three that rotated were Chip Trayanum, Rachaad White, and Daniyel Ngata
OL from left to right Kellen Diesch, LaDarius Henderson, Dohnovan West, Henry Hattis, and Ben Scott
WR Geordon Porter
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR Andre Johnson
TE Curtis Hodges

Fullback Case Hatch was in two tight-end sets; QB's Finn Collins and Trenton Bourguet took some first team reps. LV Bunkley-Shelton and Johnny Wilson were in there too at times with the first team.

First team defense

Right defensive end Anthonie Cooper
3-technique Shannon Forman
Nose DJ Davidson
Left Right defensive end Michael Matus
LB Merlin Robertson
LB Darien Butler
LB Kyle Soelle
S DeAndre Pierce
S Kejuan Markham
CB Chase Lucas
CB Jack Jones

Jordan Clark nickel corner, and as mentioned earlier Lucas took some nickel reps with Jones and Davis beside him. We saw freshman Joe Moore and grad transfer Travez Moore get in on some first team action at defensive end.

Second team offense

QB Daylin Mclemore, Trenton Bourguet and Finn Collins rotated
RB the three that rotated were Chip Trayanum, Rachaad White, and Daniyel Ngata (same as the first team)
OL from left to right Isaia Glass, Ralph Frias, Ben Bray, Cody Shear, Jarrett Bell, and Spencer Lovell
WR Johnny Wilson
WR Lv Bunkley-Shleton
WR Elijhah Badger
TE Jalin Conyers

Freshman WR Chad Johnson Jr. saw some second team reps.

Second team defense

Right defensive end Joe Moore
3-technique Omarr Norman-Lott
Nose TJ Pesefea
Left Right defensive end Travez Moore
LB Connor Soelle
LB Eric Gentry
LB Caleb McCullough
S Cam Phillips
S Jean Boyd III
CB Timarcus Davis
CB Ed Woods

Stanley Lambert saw some second team defensive end reps, as did redshirt freshman corner Jordan Clark.

The cast on Joe Moore's left hand perhaps explains why I didn't see him in practice last week (just one session) but he got a lot of reps today, some first team too, and was impressive in one-on-one's. Like his strength/speed combination.

Jack Luckhurst did better than Logan Tyler on longer field goals. Tyler overall looks shakier than I thought he would, especially for a veteran.

In a red zone drill a nifty one handed catch by freshman Chad Johnson in the corner of te end zone ruld out of bounds, will have to see if it was a TD. Either way, great effort by a player who I mentioned as having a strong spring so far and really improving from last year as Prentice Gill said.

ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson was at practice.

Armon Bethea was practicing for the first time that I saw, and I really liked his nasty disposition which is vital for an offensive lineman. Heck, if you're from New York that's the easiest trait to have, right? In 11 on 11 while on the 3rd team he was jawing a little too much to CHeEs liking who talked to him publicly and privately about that (putting his arm around him too). I like his reps on the 1's on 1's too and came as advertised with being athletic for his size.

It was believed that Cristian Zendejas who entered and left the transfer portal would join the team, was listed on the roster too but ultimately WILL NOT be part of the team.

Eric Gentry lined up some on the second team. USed his 6-6 frame to tip a Finn Collins pass to himself for the INT.

As you know, the media outlets covering the team rotate in coverage, so we cannot be there at practice for all 15 sessions. But I will be there Friday the 12th and the team should be in full pads at that time.

As always, I can answer any questions you have.

One of Louisiana's best 2023 prospects is Baton Rouge (La.) University ATH Jaiden Ausberry, who holds early overtures from #HailState #LSU + #ASU

So far, each offer has resonated in a big way for Ausberry. More here: https://n.rivals.com/news/2023-louisiana-ath-jaiden-ausberry-dishes-on-early-offers

Chilly caught up with him last weekend in New Orleans. ASU mentioned for the second half of the interview from the 1:13 mark

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Hod

saw that he decommited from Creighton

has this ship sailed on asu?

Just like yesterday Mac Friday in Las Vegas and you can follow us on Twitter @DevilsDigest

Yours truly here in the game thread

Starting lineup for ASU:

G Holland Woods
G Remy Martin
G Alonzo Verge Jr.
F Kimani Lawrence
F Jalen Graham

Mac Friday's recap from Las vegas

Do we have any chance, at all, of beating the Ducks today..??

Maybe a one in a hundred chance, if that..??

If we did manage to beat them where would that stand with great sports historical upsets in the PAC..??

I just hope that we can keep it fairly competitive and that Remy can end his career here on a high note...

The Devils drive me crazy but they still are my team to root for not matter what...

I know that you are all with me on that...

I have to give them credit for not throwing in the towel during this miserable season and credit to Hurley, as well, for not letting things go completely to hell...

Go Devils!!!

In a city such as Las Vegas, you have to make your own luck rather than hope for some to come your way. And that's exactly what ASU did versus Washington State on both ends of the floor in the waning moments of the contest. Mac Friday's report from the Pac-12 tournament

A recent meeting in Tempe on Feb. 27th between the Sun Devils and the Cougars resulted in a thrilling 77-74 overtime win by Arizona State. Will history repeat itself today in the Pac-12 Tournament? Erik Pierson takes a look at Wednesday's afternoon matchup

Some physical battles here in this 30-plus minute video

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“It’s scary to have three backs like we do. To know what we are capable of and know that we are not near the peak of our games yet." Even for a group that achieved much success last season, the chip on the shoulder factor for the ASU RB's is still alive and well. Story by Gabe Swartz

Mac Friday is in Las Vegas and will be handing the @DevilsDigest Twitter

Yours truly will be here on the game thread

Starting five for ASU:

G Holland Woods
G Remy Martin
G Alonzo Verge Jr.
F Kimani Lawrence
F Jalen Graham

WSU's leading scorer Isaac Bonton who missed the ASU OT win is playing and starting for the Cougars.

ASU's running backs coach Shaun Aguano has the proverbial "good headache" with a deep and proven group. As Gabe Swartz reports, Aguano knows that a unit that was solely made up of newcomers last year still needs to hone their skills and fully realize their abilities

Jayden Daniels' grandpa passed away and he's flying today for the viewing. Since he has to have a negative test upon arrival back hard to say when he can resume practices.

Hurley just announced

Aside from my own observations in practice wanted to give you some more information about the team since I'm obviously not able to attend each and every spring practice, but did talk to some individuals within the team.

The coaches, like myself, have been very impressed with QB Finn Collins. While there is no doubt that Daylin McLemore has shown improvement from last year and was able to gain some necessary weight, there's also no denying that Collins, in comparison, has really hit the ground running. After the first spring practice, my assertion that Collins could be the favorite to win the no. 2 quarterback job has been confirmed with folks who are close to the situation. Besides being able to effectively grasp the scheme better than expected this early in his ASU career and display an impressive arm talent for such a young signal-caller, Collins' athleticism is really what's allowing him to shine. Movement in the pocket and getting out of jams with his feet if needed are abilities Collins displays at a better than expected level. It's not that a Zak Hill scheme necessarily does heavily lean on a very mobile quarterback, but it's certainly a trait that can only enhance your overall abilities to run this offense, and this was one trait that was (and no longer is) a question mark with Collins when you compare him to McLemore. I still want to be cautious and not paint a picture stating that Macklemore has no chance whatsoever to be the no. 2 quarterback. But one thing I can say for sure is that the overall talent in the quarterback room is more impressive than this time last year, and that's significant in the most important two-deep position on the team.


The move of Dohnovan West to center has been going well so far. I would be cautious about etching it in stone at this point as the season opening starter because there's certainly a chance that Ben Scott will still be tried at center as well, but as long as the snap exchange Daniels is going smoothly for the most part that is certainly a good sign. The ball's not hitting in the ground, which is really paramount for obvious reasons in those exchanges, but keeping the snaps lower on average is something West will still have to work on, although it's not as if I would characterize that as a dire factor in need of repair.

LaDarius Henderson's play at left guard, West's position last year, and one that earned him All Pac-12 honors has naturally allowed West's shift to center. For such a young player, it seems like Henderson has had some sharp peaks and valleys, starting nearly his entire freshman year at left tackle, a move that's really unheard of among the vast majority of Power 5 programs then the following year, he loses his starting position altogether with the emergence of Ben Scott occupying the right tackle position and obviously the arrival of Texas A&M transfer Kellen Diesch who has been a godsend at left tackle.

And it goes without saying that when you move such a young player between different positions (remember, at times, he played both right tackle and right guard last year) that in some ways, you are doing a disservice to him. I'm not implying the coaches were careless or incompetent in this regard; it's just the unfortunate circumstances where there are better options ahead of Henderson on the offensive line, which necessitated all these position moves for him. He's the norm not being able to handle all these transitions seamlessly, and West being successful in that regard as an underclassman is an exception.

It certainly not out of the question for Henderson to settle at left guard, but this will depend not only on his own showing in spring practice but also on assuming that West has settled himself on the center position and ultimately does present the best option in that role. I don't know if enigma is too strong of a word to describe North Carolina transfer Triston Miller who, by the way, could end up being a swing tackle himself, but I don't believe I'm in the minority thinking that he's one newcomer you probably expected a stronger first week of spring practice from. It will be interesting to see if he can change the narrative these next couple of weeks.

A newcomer on the offensive line that has been a pleasant surprise early on is local Queen Creek product Isaia (pronounced eye-sa-ya) Glass. His athleticism was a known commodity but still has been encouraging to see how well it's serving him at the next level for such an inexperienced player. He's on the third team these days but knocking pretty loudly on the second team door.

Prior to spring practice, I mentioned the fact that ASU was in a two-tight end sets 57% of the time. There's no reason to see that figure significantly diminish in 2021, and that's not to say it would significantly increase either, but the bigger question is, what is the exact personnel we'll see in those alignments. Curtis Hodges and Case Hatch right now are the preferable tandem in that regard. So what about Oklahoma transfer Jalin Conyers and his prospects in a two-tight end set? Well, this ties into his abilities of being a blocking tight end. The jury is still out on whether he can develop as one, but I do get the sense that the coaches will not rush that aspect and really have him shine the best he can as a receiving tight end. So Hodges and Conyers on the field at the same time is going to be work in progress, but something I believe we will definitely see at times during the season and with Conyers' development rate determining their frequency of his presence in that alignment.

I'll preface my next paragraph saying that I don't think any sirens or red flags should go off concerning the defensive line, but it's fair to say that you really have an incomplete picture with the absences of Jermayne Lole and Tyler Johnson and due to injury not be able to have younger players such as Stephon Wright and Amiri Johnson develop and put themselves in the position to be contributors to this group. Stanley Lambert has been another pleasant surprise early on, but generally speaking, I see the overall pass rush capabilities, at least in this juncture with the currently available personnel, as an unknown. LSU transfer Travez Moore has come in here with tempered expectations, and I can't say I'm surprised that even in a situation where he could really assert himself by default as a veteran player hasn't taken place yet. Like any newcomer, even though he's a senior, there is an acclimation process you just have to go through, and some newcomers have an easier time than others, and the fact that you're a freshman or grad transfer will not always determine the rate of success. I'm very curious to see how this defensive line is going to look at the conclusion of spring practice. Again I'm very cautious of being over critical over here with so many players missing from spring practice, but at the same time, this is one unit that really could use more shining moments, if you will, during the spring just to come into Fall camp with some more swagger knowing that seldom used and newcomer players have really made their mark in the spring enhancing the competition and the overall quality of the front four when those aforementioned absent players are back in the fold in August.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about these takeaways or any other player or positions that I did not mention.