Anyone creating a bowl pick'em league for this year for the huddle? Only a couple days before the first games.

Just out of curiosity I looked up the Rivals team recruiting rankings for both schools from 2019 to 2023 and this is what I found...

2019 - Mich ranked #10 with two five-star and 13 four-star recruits for an average player rating of 3.65

Wash ranked #16 with 14 four-star players and average player rating of 3.57

2020 - Mich ranked #11 with 13 four-star recruits with an average player rating of 3.57

Wash ranked #19 with 10 four-star recruits and average player rating of 3.26

2021 - Mich ranked #10 with 13 four-star recruits for an average player rating of 3.55 (QB J J McCarthy was in this class)

Wash ranked #42 with one five star (Sam Huard-QB) and five four-star recruits for an average player rating of 3.4

2022 - Mich ranked #9 with one five star and 9 four-star recruits for a player average of 3.50

Wash ranked #89 (coaching change) with one four-star recruit but also picked up QB Michael Penix from transfer portal (player average rating 3.00

2023 - Mich ranked #18 with 11 four-star recruits for a player average of 3.4

Wash ranked #24 with 6 four-star recruits and a player average rating of 3.29

Given what Harbaugh has been doing with recruiting it should not surprise anyone with Michigan winning the national championship as Talent Is Destiny...

It also goes to show what good coaching can do like what Kalen DeBoer did with the Huskies and a great QB like Michael Penix...

BTW - Mich was ranked #13 in 2024 with 17 four-star recruits with an average player rating of 3.59

While Wash was ranked #46 with four four-star recruits with a 3.38 average player rating

It would appear that Michigan will keep on rolling while Wash may not but time will tell...

As there is also the transfer portal dynamic at work here that really helped the Huskies with the acquisition of QB Penix and really helped Harbaugh this past year, who had nine key transfers to bolster his already powerful Michigan team before the 2023 season started...

I'm glad we're going to the Big 12 and not the Big 10 although I'm sure that this coming season the "experts" won't have us picked any higher than somewhere in the bottom third of the Big 12...

Talent Is Destiny...Go Devils!!!

Did Fisch not coach a stint under Harbaugh at Meechigan? Has Fisch still not signed his new contract that has great pay raises for staff? Did his DC just leave - IMO the integral reason for their improvement (they've often had great offense)? If this actually were to happen would Fifita and TMac follow? A lot of BIG ifs. But, IF happended, au back to 5 win season maybe battling for bowl game, if they continue to have those now we have a 12 team playoff. Hopeful thinking on my end for sure. But no crazier than a4 fans thinking Bill Bilichek would move on to be their DC. 🔱⬆️

Top 20 US public university

Best in AZ

Top 200 universities in the world

Aside from Cole Martin visiting today, here are the other visitors scheduled to be here throughout the weekend:

New Mexico defensive lineman transfer Sterling Webb tweeted a while back that he will be here on the 6th and that is still the plan

Roman Pitre is an edge transfer from Purdue whom we previously talked about being recruited by the previous ASU staff scheduled to visit here

ASU will host safety Randon Fontenette looking to flip the Vanderbilt commit who transferred from TCU and committed the Vanderbilt just a few days after after entering the portal. Obviously has a relationship with Bryan Carrington, which makes this visit possible.

Mentioned in another thread that Hawaii left tackle transfer Josh Atkins cannot visit here due to illness but didn't rule out committing to ASU without visiting

New Mexico linebacker transfer Keyshaun Elliott who already committed to ASU visiting as well, if you recall he said that in our interview

Myles Rower, a safety transfer from New Mexico State, won't be visiting this weekend but could still be a possibility for a future visit if things go south with Randon Fontenette

Fellow Huddle Members! It's back!

I'm starting my own Fantasy Football League again that I know many in the Huddle have participated in in years past.

This event is NOT sponsored or endorsed by Devils Digest....it's just my own personal Fantasy Football League that I'd like to announce to anyone on here who's interested.

If you are, feel free to shoot me a response below or PM me and I'll send you the invite link and the rules.

Thanks and looking forward to another fun year!!

Good evening Huddle members,

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Defensive Line (22 scholarship players, 9 EDGE and 13 interior linemen)


Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Anthonie Cooper (interior lineman)

Senior Elijah O’Neal (EDGE)

Senior Harold Brooks III (interior lineman)

Senior Jeff Clark (interior lineman)

Senior Prince Dorbah (EDGE)

Junior Jacob Kongaika (interior lineman)

Junior Gharin Stansbury (EDGE)

Junior Clayton Smith (EDGE)

Junior Justin Wodtly (interior lineman)

Sophomore Sam Benjamin (interior lineman)

Sophomore CJ Fite (interior lineman)

Sophomore Roman Pitre (EDGE)

Sophomore Tristan Monday (interior lineman)

Sophomore Blazen Lono-Wong (interior lineman)

Redshirt Freshman JP Deeter (interior lineman)

Redshirt Freshman Landen Thomas (EDGE)

Redshirt Freshman Kyran Bourda (interior lineman)

Freshman Ramar Williams (interior lineman)

Freshman James Giggey (EDGE)

Freshman Salesi Manu (EDGE)

Freshman Albert Smith (EDGE)


Position snapshot: 22 defensive linemen is an embarrassment of riches. But post-spring attrition can really come into play when you have a first-year position coach, as in ASU’s Diron Reynolds, who likely would want just around 15 players. That doesn't mean that we are guaranteed to see seven departures, but more than one or two departures is fully expected.

The need for defensive tackle quality depth is more or less fulfilled, but if there’s any addition in this position room (Reynold will coach both EDGE and interior linemen), this will be the need rather than EDGE.



Linebacker (8 scholarship players)


Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Caleb McCullough

Junior Zyrus Fiaseu

Junior Keyshaun Elliott

Junior Jordan Crook

Junior Krew Jackson

Sophomore Tate Romney

Redshirt freshman K’Vion Thunderbird

Freshman Martell Hughes

Position snapshot: Granted, in a scheme that will often feature two linebackers, you don’t need an abundance of players in this unit. But the extremely shallow depth following the 2023 season is all but a distant memory, thanks to an outstanding job by the staff. The addition of Elliott may eliminate the need for a spring transfer here.



Safety (including nickel back) (8 scholarship players)

Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Shamari Simmons

Senior Macen Williams

Junior Myles “Ghost” Rowser

Junior Xavion Alford

Sophomore Kamari Wilson

Sophomore Cole Martin

Redshirt freshman Montana Warren

Freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba (could play corner)

Position snapshot: Great depth here with Alford, who is essentially the best 2024 addition (after being ruled ineligible in 2023), and Simmons likely starters at safety. But Wilson and Rowser will push both of them, and Warren may have the biggest upside of any of the safety of this group, although they could also be at the nickel rotation.

Cole Martin likely to be slated as the starting nickel, with Macen Williams as the primary backup. Tony-Luis Nkuba is a promising freshman that can play multiple positions in the backfield.


Cornerback (10 scholarship players)


Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Ed Woods

Senior Roman Rashada

Junior Laterrance Welch

Sophomore Javan Robinson

Sophomore Keith Abney II

Redshirt freshman Keontez Bradley

Redshirt freshman Lenox Lawson

Freshman Plas Johnson

Freshman Chris Johnson

Freshman Rodney Bimage


Position snapshot: Woods is a proven starter, and Welch and Robinson both add much needed experience here and are expected to push Woods. Abney is someone I do expect to take that next step after showing flashes as a freshman. This role offers a huge opportunity for both the freshmen who redshirted and the incoming freshmen to carve a niche in the rotation. The future of this group does look bright, and no additions are expected here.


Special teams (2 scholarship players)

Junior Parker Lewis

Freshman Kanyon Floyd

Along with walk-on and sophomore Ian Hershey, who did redshirt last year and is expected to receive a scholarship, all three will sort out the placekicker and punter duties only in fall camp when Lewis and Floyd arrive.

Quarterback (4 scholarship players)


Current scholarship players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Trenton Bourguet

Junior Jacob Conover

Redshirt freshman Jaden Rashada

Redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt


Position snapshot: ASU is done adding quarterbacks. I don’t expect any attrition to take place Conover is the only one I can think of, and that’s not a guarantee), but if it does, then yes, they will be forced to add another signal-caller, although I wouldn’t expect that to happen before the spring. All in all, ASU is staying put here.


Running back (7 scholarship players)


Current scholarship players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior DeCarlos Brooks

Senior Cameron Skattebo

Senior George Hart III

Junior Tevin White

Sophomore Raleek Brown

Sophomore Kyson Brown

Freshman Jason Brown


Position snapshot: ASU is more than likely staying put in this position and not seeking additions here, having seven scholarship players. Much like quarterback, only a post-spring attrition could perhaps have them get into the transfer market to see a replacement.


Wide Receiver (9 scholarship players)


Current scholarship players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Elijhah Badger

Senior Xavier Guillory

Senior Melquan Stovall

Senior Jake Smith

Senior Troy Omeire

Sophomore Jordan Tyson

Redshirt freshman Kaleb Black

Redshirt freshman Korbin Hendrix

Freshman Zechariah Sample


Position snapshot: This position is one where I don’t expect to see much movement in terms of players departing and/or portal additions, and having 9 scholarship players is an ideal number. Said for weeks that I fully expect Elijah Badger to remain at ASU, making this a stacked room with a lot of talent that does not need any further additions and one that I fully expect to play at a much higher level now that ASU will have Jordan Tyson and Jake Smith for a whole year.

As a reminder, Cullen Charles, who is part of the 2024 class, didn’t sign a Letter of Intent since he may only arrive in 2025, basically being the old-school greyshirt that we rarely see these days.


Offensive Line (15 scholarship players)


Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Emmit Bohle

Senior Ben Coleman

Senior Leif Fautanu

Senior Cade Briggs

Senior Max Iheanachor

Junior Kyle Scott

Junior Shancco Matautia

Junior Bram Walden

Sophomore Sean Na’a

Sophomore Josh Atkins

Redshirt freshman Joey Su’a

Redshirt freshman Sirri Kandiyeli

Freshman Semisi Tonga

Freshman Champ Westbrooks

Freshman Terrell Kim

*Freshman Filiva’a Saluni will be on campus in 2026 after serving an LDS Church mission.

Position snapshot: The ideal number here is 15 scholarship players, and ASU has met that number. If a can’t-miss left tackle presents itself when the April portal window opens, I can definitely see ASU making a move. And attrition taking place at this role isn’t at this role out of the question.


Tight Ends (4 scholarship players)


Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):


Senior Bryce Pierre

Junior Markeston Douglas

Sophomore Cameron Harpole

Freshman Jayden Fortier


Position snapshot: Adding Douglas and Harpole from the portal was big for ASU. But since Fortier tore his ACL in the state championship, not only will he not be ready for spring practice, but practicing fully in fall camp is not a given. ASU, being in the market for a spring portal addition, is all but a guarantee.

ASU is scheduled to start its spring practice later than usual on March 26th. Assuming they stick to the same format they had last year having three practices a week for five weeks this means that the spring game will be later than usual, possibly on April 27th.

Now what you're going to hear publicly is that this is done so the winter strength and conditioning session is able to be longer in duration, and having especially the newcomers get a few more weeks of those workouts before spring practice starts can only help them be stronger and faster once those 15 sessions begin.

From a recruiting standpoint, since the transfer portal is going to open on April 15th, which is normally just around the day that ASU would have its spring game, now you can have transfer portal visitors check the team out while they're practicing in the spring which obviously adds a different and a more significant element to an off-season visit.

For obvious reasons, what you're not going to hear publicly, and I think this may be an approach that a lot of other teams are going to take with their spring practice scheduling, is the timing of the transfer portal.

What does that mean?

When you have your spring game, let's say on April 15th, which is the same day as a transfer portal opening then you may have players that are going to bail out right after that spring practice ends and maybe some of those players are ones that you would want to see on the team come fall camp.

But when you give players literally just a few days in between the spring game and the transfer portal window closing on April 30th, then you're obviously not hurting your chances of losing those players to the portal. As I mentioned many times before, there is going to be some post-spring practice attrition that is going to be largely rooted in players who are simply going to be lost in the depth chart and be advised that if they want any chance to see the playing field they would be better off doing that elsewhere.

But it's not out of the question that you always have a chance that some of that post-spring practice attrition will actually involve players that you do very much want to see on the team. So again when you're giving them literally 72 hours in between the end of spring practice and the transfer portal window closing then you're doing anything but hurting your chances of retaining them.

The 2024 class was announced today. Terrell Suggs was on the ballot but was not selected.

This was his first year on the ballot (I believe pro players need to be retired five years before being eligible), but still. Should have been a first-ballot guy, IMO.

There is an interesting opinion piece in the Daily Star this morning by a retired newsman (Michael A. Chihak) in Tucson, who wonders if president Robbins has the right priorities in place since he places such a high priority on Wildcat athletics...

Robbins has called himself the No. One AU sports fan and can be seen at both home and away Wildcat athletic events, especially in football and basketball...

Chihak says that the idea that the university sports pay for themselves is a myth, especially given the current financial circumstances at the university, where the school loaned the athletic dept $87 million dollars that has not been paid back, thus far...

He then compares the salaries for the Cats football and basketball coaches to the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral colleges who oversees 10,000 students for an annual salary of $300,000 and points out that the approximate median salary for a tenured professor at the school is about $130,000, while the basketball and football coaches rake in millions in salary for their school associated efforts...

He also points out that the ratio of football players to coaches is about 10-1 while the ratio of students to faculty at the school is about 18 to 1...

He concludes that the "athletic tale has wagged the academic dog" at the school for too long and that Robbins should be replaced or made to change his priorities...

Yada, Yada, Yada...

As Babe Ruth might have said...both BB coach LLoyd and football coach Fisch had much better years than any Dean or tenured professor at the school, as far as any fan is concerned...

It also goes without saying that there are so many basically worthless degrees (IMHO) offered at schools any more, in terms of preparing you for a career somewhere, and the cost is staggering that leaves so many with unmanageable dept when they leave school...

Additionally, how many plumbers do you know that are unemployed and still living at home with their parents in their 30s and beyond...

This is not to disparage education but to only put it into some perspective since all of the fans I know who are wearing AU athletic paraphernalia here in Geezerville, from other states, do so because the Cats have an elite BB program and now have a football program that appears to be headed in a very favorable direction...

Plus, not only do football and basketball draw fans attention to what they are doing at any given time but they also pay for all of the sports offered in the Cats athletic dept...

I know that some college researchers who study mice with attached electrodes in their brains may lead to something wonderful like a cure for brain cancer but it still isn't the same as watching my Sun Devils sweep a weekend basketball series from Utah and Colorado...

So, in conclusion, I guess my priorities are pretty screwed up, too, since I appreciate education but not like I do Sun Devil athletics...

How about you..??

Of course, if they (whoever they are) want to fire Robbins and defund the whole AU athletic dept that would be fine with me...

Go Devils!!!

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = New Year Off To A Good Start

The Sun Devil basketball team is now 4-0 in the PAC and tied with Oregon for the conference lead...

The Ducks are 12-3 while our Devils are 10-5...

The Sun Devil hockey team is ranked #13 in the country, as an independent, with an 11-3-4 record, so could make the 16 team hockey playoff field in the future if it keeps it up...

Next year, the team will be a member of the NCHC which is a conference, I think, whose conference champ gets an automatic bid to the national playoffs...

If I still lived in the Valley, I would have Sun Devil hockey season tickets since the program has a winner in Greg Powers, who has taken hockey to a good place in the desert...

And, then we have Dilly and his staff who have been very successful in addressing roster needs through the transfer portal, etc...

It seems that this year Dilly and his staff are bringing in a higher quality of player than what happened last year in his first recruiting cycle at ASU...

And, they are not finished yet and, hopefully, after this weekend, will add some other quality players to the roster through the portal...

Does this mean that we can expect more than three wins in this next football season in the Big 12..??

I think so but remember how far off I was last year when I expected a lot more out of the Devils than what happened on the field in 2023...

We still need some quality OT and some quality interior DL but the portal seems full of potential candidates as it keeps growing in numbers all of the time...

It's like a free for all which is very difficult to keep track of even if you had a scorecard...

And, where it ends nobody seems to know for sure but it is allowing down programs like ASU to turn things around quicker if they get the right players in place through the portal...

One of the only constants in life is change but that is hard for many to embrace when it also means a lot of chaos and turmoil along the way...

On a different note, I wonder how many more games the Devils BB team would've won over the years if they had led the PAC in free throw shooting instead of being so poor in it all of the time..??

Well, Colorado leads the PAC right now in FT shooting at 77% while our Devils are last in the PAC at 63% but we all know who won the game between the two schools last night...

Fingers crossed that we can continue to win in both basketball and hockey and that Dilly and his staff can continue to fill roster needs with quality players...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

“My visit this time felt a lot more organized, and the coaches showed me a lot of love. I was with Coach Dillingham a lot throughout the visit, and he interacted with me a lot." Recruiting process comes full circle with 6-5 245-pound Purdue EDGE Roman Pitre

"It might seem to other people that I have to prove myself, but I feel no pressure because I’ve always known that I was supposed to be on his level." Myles "Ghost" Rowser who was a standout safety at New Mexico State eager to showcase his skills with the Sun Devils

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6-1 190-pound New Mexico State junior safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser commits to ASU. Had 70 tackles, 2 PD, INT and a forced fumble in 2023, and was a four-star prospect out of high school. Very solid addition here.

6-0 290-pound defensive tackle Jeff Clark appeared in 13 games as a reserve defensive tackle, and recorded 14 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss

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“A lot of people told me that they didn’t want me to go visit there, but I just think I should give everybody a shot because you never know. Your enemy may be your best friend.” U of A DT Jacob Kongaika discusses his Sun Devil pledge

Didn’t play in his two years for the Boilermakers. Was offered by the previous ASU staff. Another Louisiana player joins the ranks in Tempe.

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From the UFL dispersal draft.

Baker took 3 knees at the 10 dang it.