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Wednesday’s Practice Report

On a typical warm July morning, the Sun Devils kicked off their 2024 fall camp in an energetic session. Here are our observations and takeaways.

Ryan Myers with the offensive report:



First Team

QB Sam Leavitt

RB Cam Skattebo

WR Jordyn Tyson

WR Xavier Guillory

WR Melquan Stovall

TE Markeston Douglas

RT Max Iheanachor

RG Cade Briggs

C Leif Fautanu

LG Ben Coleman

LT Emmit Bohle



Sophomore running back Kyson Brown also had snaps with the first team, completing some check-downs for big gains in the 7v7 scrimmage toward the latter end of practice.



Second Team

QB Jeff Sims

RB Kyson Brown

WR Jake Smith

WR Troy Omeire

WR Kaleb Black

TE Coleson Arends

RT Bram Walden

RG Sean Na’a

C Keona Peat

LG Makua Pule

LT Josh Atkins



Max Ware saw time with the second team at WR, Decarlos Brooks played multiple second-team snaps at RB, and veteran QB Trenton Bourguet shared snaps with Sims under center until the 7v7 scrimmage when Sims featured in all second-team plays.



The kickoff of fall camp started ultra-focused for the Sun Devil players, as no music was being played during the team’s stretching and warm-ups, with minimal player chatter as the looming season began to pick up on the athlete’s minds.



The drills got underway, and players got loose as they were split up into groups. The quarterbacks warmed up with the other skill players during security reps. The WR group and RBs would catch 3-yard check-downs and brace through contact.



The team tempo segment got underway shortly after, and the first team was able to move the chains consistently. Tyson grabbed a pass in stride, turning the corner for a double-digit gain. Leavitt looked comfortable with his timing early, especially on mid-distance throws.



The second unit struggled for continuity. Sims was able to find Kyson Brown and Arends after rolling out to his right. However, Black had no targets in the second unit drive, while Jake Smith had just a single target, leading to an incompletion.



After the tempo period, there was a progressive skill work segment. The players again spilled into position groups. QBs and RBs worked on simple handoffs and shooting gaps, progressing into read options and 5-yard completions.



Continued offensive progression saw the offensive line and fullbacks join the I-Form work, with offensive line coach Saga Tuitele paying attention to detail despite the drill being shadow reps.



As this was happening, the northwest side of the field was being reserved for WR vs. DB routes, as receivers and corners went head to head in competitive matchups. Omiere was able to take advantage of smaller corners using his 6-foot-4 frame. Omiere impressed Dillingham tremendously as he ran at him, screaming, “Unguardable! When you use your strength, you’re impossible to guard.”



Dillingham was as energetic as anyone in a jersey. He ran up and down the field, pelted a yoga ball at RBs during drills, and yelled instructions without a breath of air. In the blazing Tempe sun, the youngest head coach in FBS showed his youthful energy all practice long.



The energy amongst the WR group was impeccable during this drill. Redshirt senior Jake Smith was bringing down everything thrown his way, and 5-foot-10 Derek Eusebio even went upstairs for the completion of the day as Leavitt found his back shoulder where Eusebio could make the leap and stay in bounds.



The entire offensive group came together after all the drills to jog through some sets and plays, with all 11 players working on shadow drills and both first and second teams going through the motions about 20 yards apart.



Hydration became a key factor today; with the temperature eclipsing 100 degrees before 10 a.m., the players managed to pick each other up during difficult times. As a veteran on the squad, Fautanu encouraged his teammates to keep moving and push through the exhaustion during drills.



Moving indoors at around 10:45 a.m. rejuvenated the team for the final 45 minutes of practice. The dome created a new level of volume with music playing and whistles blowing. The team went right into 7v7 work, letting the deep balls air out consistently.



Tyson was able to shine when Bourguet was under center. He was consistently open on out routes or fades and scored a touchdown off a bubble screen as well.



Leavitt was not shy of testing his accuracy, he forced Jake Smith into a tough catch in traffic in the middle of the field and tested his accuracy with a couple of deep attempts to Stovall in the slot which ended in some big gains.



The Final part of practice was the 11v11 two-touch scrimmage. All three strings were able to compete hard on both sides. According to WR coach Hines Ward, the receivers lost their rhythm offensively, as the first and second strings were held in check by the defensive unit for the most part.



The biggest play of the closing drill was a Bourguet deep ball right in stride to Tempe native Jamaal Young II. He was able to dust his man downfield and jog into the endzone for a 55-yard TD



After practice, the energy was positive from all the players and coaches, as an exhausted unit looked warned out by the intensity, highlighted no better than Dillingham, who admitted during his media availability that he was tired and was chilling for a short period before leaving the dome.

“We sensed the new intent about our offense. Guys had spent a ton of time together. A player-led summer in college football is a huge opportunity now because they can do so much." The mental offseason gains didn't go unnoticed by ASU's OC

“I’m going to be hard on them any more than anybody because I played the position. I’m not lowering my standards for anyone." ASU's wide receivers coach, Hines Ward, knows his tough love approach has and will continue to better his position group

ASU hosts TCU in 2025

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Bentley, a Pro Bowler, is renowned for preparing offensive linemen for the draft and training NFL linemen. With this partnership with ASU, he's basically NILing out ASU linemen to train with him in the offseason.

Much like the NFL experience of Hines Ward and Diron Reynolds helping attract wide receivers and defensive linemen, respectively, to ASU, Bentley and his NFL credibility can do the same for the recruitment (high school and portal) of offensive linemen.


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Do we know the reason Gilich left ASU baseball for UW after one season and if they are planning on replacing him? Gilich was a great hire (in my opinion) and a big loss.

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Stream | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio | Pocket Casts

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