As of today, Arizona State has yet to offer a 2018 local recruit, but they're building relationships with several. In the coming months (possibly weeks) we should see Arizona State expand beyond their current local targets for 2017, as well as adding offers for the 2018 class. Let's take a comprehensive look at where they're at right now, which locals they're pursuing, and which locals they could be pursuing in the near future.
2017: On the board
QB
Ryan Kelley
Ryan Kelley may be playing in his final varsity contest on Friday, and has put together an impressive high school career. This year, despite a dip in his team's overall success, Kelley made improvements to his downfield accuracy, and continues to be a judicious runner that can make plays with his legs just as well as his arm. While he cut down on turnovers this season, he has had a bit of an issue with fumbling, which can be attributed to both issues on his offensive line, and his propensity to try and extend plays.
WR
Curtis Hodges
With Mata'ava Ta'ase graduated, I had thought Hodges would make the transition to Mountain View's primary WR. Instead, he's continued to be a secondary option and downfield target, as well as a bailout option when they need someone to go up and get a deep ball (like
here, and
here). It helps to be 6-7.
He moves well for his size, and is as excited about being a Sun Devil as any recruit they'll have in this class, having attended every home game.
TE
Jared Poplawski
OL
Corey Stephens
LB
Kyle Soelle
The Saguaro trio have been tearing through the competition at the 4A level this year, and are a shoe in for a state championship. Jared Poplawski is noticeably bigger and stronger, and his play on the defensive line has been an interesting surprise that has me wondering if ASU might not explore more uses for him besides the tight end role, especially in Chip Lindsey's TE-light offense. Corey Stephens has reshaped his body, and is the true leader of the offensive unit. Every player I talked to said they're a much better team with him on the field (he missed a month with an MCL injury). Kyle Soelle has not looked as strong as his fellow Sun Devil commits this year. Part of that is he's being used as a 3-4 rush end on both sides of the ball. He's better against the run than I thought he'd be at this point, and from purely a high school football stat-stuffing standpoint, he'd probably be better suited to play as an inside linebacker- but obviously that's not his role at the next level, and Saguaro already has a couple of those in Brandt Casey and Carson Nugent. What has looked promising is Soelle's speed. Two of his five sacks came against a team that tries to get the ball out in less than 3 seconds (Higley).
2017: High Priority Targets
OT
Austin Jackson
Jackson's high school career may be over. Despite a vast improvement, North Canyon will not make the playoffs, and Jackson is currently out with an ankle injury. He remains ASU's #1 priority in this recruiting class, and the Sun Devils are in the mix, along with USC, Michigan, and potentially Texas A&M. I've been open about the fact that Austin Jackson's play on the field last season did not impress me (relative to his ranking). To me, he's improved as much as anyone in the state from his junior to his senior season- and considering he's been pegged as the state's top recruit for two years now, it's scary to think what his ceiling could be.
ATH
Isaiah Pola-Mao
To me this is the best skill-position prospect in the state, and the most under-recruited 2017 player in the country. He's been on several unofficials/game visits to ASU, and has a strong interest in staying close to home. Washington is probably the only team that could pry him away from the valley and his younger brother Matthew. USC has also made up for getting in on his recruitment later than they should have.
ATH
Tyler Johnson
Johnson has missed most of this season with neck, wrist and hamstring issues. He's been to four total ASU games over the last two years, and has really started to warm up to the idea of staying home (as long as he can play as a freshman). He really likes Chase Lucas and Bryce Perkins, and if he applies himself he could be one of the best players to come out of Arizona, regardless of where he plays on the field (ASU likes him on defense).
S
KJ Jarrell
My favorite 'hitter' from the 2017 class, Jarrell's improved athleticism and field awareness make him worthy of a 4-star ranking that I thought was granted to him a tad prematurely by Rivals. ASU has done a good job selling the program to Jarrell and his family, but his heart may be in California. We'll see. Jarrell has already taken an official to USC, and an unofficial to UCLA in the spring.
DE
My-King Johnson
All My-King Johnson needed to become an elite defensive pass rusher was more strength. He's taken getting bigger very seriously, and he's really starting to look the part of a dangerous FBS prospect. His official visit to Texas A&M is the key to everything right now, and that will be in the next few weeks. I'd put ASU on the outside looking in at this point (Oregon, USC, A&M leading), though he has been around the program quite a bit.
DE
Odua Isibor
Isibor came into the season still learning his position, and is leaving the season as an absolute monster. He's the leading tackler among defensive linemen in the state, and I've heard from players on multiple teams that he's the best payer they've faced this year, including a couple of players at Saguaro. My theory on Isibor is that, being a basketball guy, he's more prone to leave the state than some. He was at the UCLA game on an unofficial visit, but I think he has his eye on trying to qualify at Stanford at the moment. He has also claimed to be planning an Illinois visit, which is the first time the Illini's Arizona-heavy recruiting strategy will have paid off in any way.
2017 Commits (Still in Play)
If we've learned anything from the full court press on Byron Murphy up until the fax was sent last year, or Chip Lindsey going after a committed Ryan Kelley this year, we know that ASU doesn't give up on local prospects it wants to bring into the fold. Here's who I see them continuing to pursue:
K
Brandon Ruiz
It would be absurd to think that Arizona State wouldn't capitalize on one of the best careers a kicker has ever had to entice Alabama commit Brandon Ruiz to take over that legacy.
Note: ASU could also look to land Cristian Zendejas (Perry) or Jeff McGuire (Pinnacle) as either a scholarship or walk-on kicking option.
DE
Jalen Harris
The longshot of all longshots due to his father's legacy at Arizona, Harris has still been to ASU's campus several times.
2017 Commits (that they should come in on)
Every year there seems to be a glaringly obvious miss by the recruiting staff who commits early to a less-heralded program. Two years ago it was Isaiah Oliver at Brophy. Last year it was Hamilcar Rashed Jr at Chandler. This year it's another pair of Wolves that I believe are worth consideration.
RB
TJ Green
The only reason the entire Pac-12 isn't in on Green, who has 37 touchdowns on 256 varsity touches, is because he was a late bloomer. I'm not sure if anything could pry Green away from the tight-knit Chandler-to-Corvallis community, but it would be a mistake not to try. Same goes for his teammate, WR
Johnny Johnson III, who is currently pledged to UNLV.
