Caleb here with the report:
Offensive Two-Deep:
Group One:
WR: Troy Omeire
WR: Melquan Stovall
LT: Josh Atkins
LG: Sean Na’a
C: Leif Fautanu
RG: “Ise” Matautia
RT: Kyle Scott/Colby Garvin
TE: Bryce Pierre
WR: Kaleb Black
QB: Sam Leavitt
Rb: Raleek Brown/Cam Skattebo
Group Two:
WR: Korbin Hendrix
WR: Jake Smith
LT: Jalen Klemm
LG: Ben Coleman
C: Griffin Schureman/Ian Shewell
RG: Cade Briggs
RT: Kaden Haeckel/Max Iheanachor
TE: Marketson Douglas/Coleson Arends
WR: Patrick Williams II
QB: Trenton Bourguet/Navi Bruzon
RB: George Hart III/DeCarlos Brooks
Defensive Two-Deep:
Group One:
EDGE: Prince Dorbah
DT: CJ Fite
DT: Jacob Kongaika
EDGE: Anthonie Cooper
LB: Caleb McCullough
LB: Keyshaun Elliott
Nickel: Macen Williams
Safety: Kamari Wilson/Montana Warren
Safety: Xavion Alford
CB: Ed Woods
CB: Keith Abney II
Group Two:
EDGE: Elijah O’Neal/Clayton Smith
DT: Tristan Monday/Justin Woodtly
DT: Sam Benjamin/Kyran Bourda
EDGE: Gharin Stansbury
LB: Krew Jackson/Jordan Crook
LB: K’Vion Thunderbird/Zyrus Fiaseu
Nickel: Cole Martin
Safety: Myles “Ghost” Rowser
Safety: Jack Bal/Adama Fall
CB: Rodney Bimage Jr./Laterrence Welch Jr.
CB: Tommy Romano/Keontez Bradley
Two deep labeled in groups as many players rotated, especially on the defensive side, while there was a lot of mismatch on offense
Thursday morning practice marked the second practice of the 2024 campaign for the Sun Devils. It was a cool morning, and players were dressed in spiders, shorts, and helmets, ready to begin the day with a team stretch.
After the team stretch, the first period of practice saw both sides of the ball split as the offensive side went to block for field goals while the defense was working on blocking a field goal. Looking at the offensive side, it seems as if redshirt sophomore placekicker Ian Hershey will head the placekicking duties.
Later in practice, though, placekickers Hershey and redshirt freshman Carston Kieffer kicked their first balls of the spring. Hershey was one for two, good from 47 yards and missing from about 42. Kieffer was two for two from the same distances, as Kieffer makes most of his opportunities today.
Moving from special teams, in the early tempo period at the beginning of practice, the offense saw many short throws and running plays that were effectively cut short because the players were not in full pads. Nonetheless, the defense, much like last fall, set the tone by limiting big plays, which is actually an emphasis point for the offense, according to Kenny Dillingham.
The highlight of the early period was freshman quarterback Navi Bruzon finding redshirt sophomore Joe Dochee Jr. on a nice second-level ball. Bruzon has shown some competitiveness over the first two days in some team periods thus far.
The practice moved into individual position groups following the tempo period. Offensively beginning, the offensive line was quick to work under the direction of offensive line coach Saga Tuitele. The offensive line worked on footwork while striking on the sled and moving down. ASU veterans such as Emmit Bohle, Leif Fautanu, Kyle Scott, and Max Iheanachor lead the now-deep group.
Tight ends working close by under the direction of Jason Mohns worked on blocking on the sled as Bryce Pierre led the group, with redshirt freshman Coleson Arends following closely behind. Arends had a couple of catches later in practice and has done well in position routes, showing promise as a young player in a seasoned group at the top.
In the middle of the field, running backs worked on footwork, with the ball eventually dodging a medicine ball. Much like Arends making his presence known in a group with established veterans, senior running back George Hart III was first in all of the drills, hoping to make sure he does not fall behind too far to the likes of Cam Skattebo, DeCarlos Brooks, and USC transfer Raleek Brown.
Looking at the defensive side of the football, Brian Ward, in his usual way, was very involved with the defensive backs this morning. In particular, the safeties. Safeties led by Xavion Alford worked efficiently on footwork before turning and finishing the drill.
The rest of the defensive backs were right across with defensive backs coach Bryan Carrington effectively doing the same drill. Here, it was apparent today that the leadership role redshirt senior Ed Woods has gained being a part of the Ward system, while also being seasoned at ASU. Woods calmly reminded some of the players to get back in the drill, maintaining the momentum.
New defensive line coach Diron Reynolds, on the opposite side of the field, led the defensive front this morning in cahoots with assistant head coach Charlie Ragle. With a new coach comes new drills, and an interesting one today saw Reynolds throw a tennis ball from behind the down lineman so they would react on a get-off. Even players like Clayton Smith became humorously frustrated with his reaction time.
As many fans became frustrated with the tackling last season, it may be nice to note that tackling was the emphasis for linebacker coach AJ Cooper. The relatively deep core of Caleb McCullough, Tate Romney, Zyrus Fiaseu, and Keyshaun Elliot worked on tackling a person with a bag, setting the physicality bar.
Looking back at the offense during a slower portion of practice ahead of the closing 7v7 and team segments, one of the biggest takeaways from two days of practice is the attentiveness of the new offensive coordinator, Marcus Arroyo. Arroyo worked with quarterbacks, specifically ahead of some one-on-ones.
In said one on ones, Trenton Bourguet looked good in the quick/short passing game which is his forte. Jake Smith battled extremely well in this portion, slipping a few times but battling for balls as he tries to get back to peak form. On the opposite side, Troy Omeire looks to be the “WR1” with Elijhah Badger in recovery from a back injury. Receivers coach Rashaad Samples has been especially vocal with Omeire, as Samples has said he wants Omeire to take the next step in his game.
Additionally, before 7v7, Melquan Stovall had an exceptional practice, looking very sharp over the last two days. Stovall had a nice route that ended with a nice catch in the endzone. Although the offense looked decent, the defense fought back continuously, as sophomore defensive back Keontez Bradley picked off Bourguet at the end of the period.
The defensive momentum carried over into the 7v7 portion of practice. Michigan State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt had a good day and found Skattebo for a nice wheel route completion to start. Skattebo had two more catches, but it was more of a reflection of the defense forcing dump-offs to running backs. It wasn't until Arends aforementioned catches that gave the offense some momentum. Even then, it did not last long as sophomore safety Montana Warren picked off Bourguet.
In the final team segment of the day, which ended the practice, the defense continued its great day. The offense tried to get the run game going with Skattebo, but it did not go to plan, even if the play calls were scripted.
Raleek Brown had a nice run to try and get things going again, but it was not enough to flip the script for the offense. The defensive front especially shined to end the day, as Prince Dorbah, along with C.J. Fite, Justin Woodtly, Clayton Smith, and J.P. Deeter, had a sack.
It did not stop there as Elliot had a sack, along with K’Vion Thunderbird, who were effective in the pursuit of the plays. Skattebo had one more good run with a third group of linemen but again, it was safe to say the defense won the Thursday practice.
ASU will reconvene on Saturday in its first open-to-the-public practice of the spring at 10 am which will also mark the first full pads session for the Sun Devils this spring.
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