2017 Sun Devil Football Schedule (Final AP Ranking)*

Aug. 31 - New Mexico State
Sept. 9 - San Diego State (25)
Sept. 16 - at Texas Tech
Sept. 23 - Oregon
Sept. 30 - at Stanford (12)
Oct. 7 – Bye Week
Oct. 14 – Washington (4)
Oct. 21 – at Utah (23)
Oct. 28 – USC (3)
Nov. 4 – Colorado (17)
Nov. 11 – at UCLA
Nov. 18 – at Oregon State
Nov. 25 – Arizona

*Times to be announced at later dates

I have been watching college bball for a long time - long enough to see the 3pt line added to the game (1986 in case anyone was curious) and I have been hot/cold/warm about its inception ever since. I am not sure where I stand on it today. Every time I see a game or watch highlights it seems that the 3pt shot has become the go-to weapon for most teams and for most teams big men as well. It used to be that you are not a complete post player unless you can hit the 10-12 foot jump shot. Now you have to hit the 20-25ft shot to be a complete post player.

So I am curious about what the board thinks. By the way, you can vote for multiple choices. I think that there is good and bad.

As I said, feel very good about ASU's chances and they will have to survive his Baylor visit this weekend to secure his services

Gavin Holmes®‏@Gavin_Holmes23
Save the date: I will officially be announcing my commitment on Monday, January 23rd. #TrustingGodsPlan

A source told me that he's considering a transfer, as in grad transfer, to either SMU or Houston. Here's his tweet that implies SMU:

Raymond Epps ‏@Hard2Guard13 1h1 hour ago

In this episode, Justin, Noah and I discuss:

• The addition of top kicker prospect Brandon Ruiz
• The departure of OL coach Chris Thomsen along with the addition of Josh Henson
• ASU's 2017 schedule release
• Do you believe in silent commits?
• A quick wrap-up on the possibility of an early signing day

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The point guard mentioned in this article (no. 7) as just missing out on a triple-double

verballed to Baylor
Also, tiny slot KD Nixon a CU commit just turned down Baylor...so they are fully in the hunt for a tiny slot and Holmes fits that description

Pretty lackluster if you ask me. Going from Leavitt to Eliot is different ends of the spectrum, someone who doesn't have much of a background other then being handed top talent at FSU, is a reach for this program that is supposedly "rising up". He has no West Coast ties, does have some affiliation in Texas where they did show some presence in this this recruiting cycle, so maybe playing off that. The resemblance of Stoops/Eliot is eerily similar to CTG/Patterson. This may put more strain on MacIntyre helping out a raw Eliot so I approve of this.

In four years under Eliot's direction, Kentucky has ranked 85th (2016), 59th (2015), 77th (2014) and 92nd (2013) nationally in total defense.

I know we're still 2 weeks out of NLI Day, but is there anyone that's currently committed at risk to decommit? Looks like Oregon is throwing offers out left and right, so just has me concerned until that pen goes to paper through a 1980s fax machine.

Dennis Dodd says the first hurdle has been cleared. I believe conference commissioners have to agree, and then we're looking at football players having the option to sign in December.

The latest Rivals position rankings are out, and ASU took a pretty big beating this week across the various lists as far as their commits, as well as players leaning this way.

KJ Jarrell fell 8 spots at safety, and is now a 3-star

Ryan Kelley dropped over 100 spots out of the Rivals 250
Eno Benjamin fell 4 spots in the Rivals 100
Trelon Smith fell 3 spots in the overall RB rankings
Alex Perry fell one spot in the DB rankings
Jared Poplawski fell 3 spots in the in-state rankings
Brandon Ruiz dropped from the #1 kicker to the #3 kicker
Tyler Johnson is now at 164 overall (but he's dropped in every update for the last 18 months from a peak of 114)

I know there's a conspiracy theory that basically states once a player picks ASU they start to drop (despite N'Keal Harry becoming and holding Rivals #1 receiver spot over USC, Auburn and Clemson commits), and while I don't think there's anything to it, I'm not sure a justification can be provided for this much coincidence. Especially when it comes to Brandon Ruiz.

I'm not trying to rile up the board. I know y'all are here for what Hod brings more than you're here for the rankings or the affiliated brand. He's awesome at what he does, and that's why I enjoy working for him so much, but I figure it helps to point out that we're neither purely homers, nor purely company men. Life is easier when ASU's doing well, or when Rivals rankings feel to be a more accurate reflection of what we've seen, but we'll point out when either party deviates from what we see to be true in our eyes.

That being said- I've always been surprised by Jarrell's 4-star rating. He's a downhill bonebreaker with limited coverage skills, and to be fair, at Saguaro, he has limited opportunities to do so.

I don't agree with the assessment of Kelley. Especially when I've seen him throw with guys like Garbers and Sears, and when he's on, he has a far superior arm.

I feel Trelon is underrated. I also feel like any assessment of Arizona State rankings is touch without a regional evaluator in place to see them in person, as we had when Blair was here.

Maybe this has been asked and answered, but it seems to me that there is a different star rating system for kickers. Why should not a top kicker get a 5 star.

TEMPE, Ariz.—Josh Henson, a former offensive coordinator at Missouri and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU, has joined the Arizona State University football staff as Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, Head Coach Todd Graham announced Tuesday.

"Josh brings a tremendous background of winning championships at the highest levels," says Graham. "He was the offensive coordinator at Missouri and won back-to-back SEC East Championships. He was the recruiting coordinator at LSU and was recognized as one of the nation's top recruiters for his accomplishments there. He helped LSU win the 2008 BCS National Championship. Josh brings a wealth of knowledge of our system to our staff, in addition to being one of the finest recruiters in the country. He will blend well with Chip Lindsey and Rob Likens.”
Coach Graham’s last three assistant coach hires of Henson (19), Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett (39) and Wide Receiver Coach Rob Likens (25) have a combined total of 83 years of college football coaching experience.

"I am so happy to be at Arizona State University," says Henson. "One of the things that attracted me to ASU is that Coach Graham has a track record of winning wherever he's been. And he has a track record of developing young men. Winning is important, but being involved in their lives is also what appeals to me. I know a lot of members of the current staff and they have great things to say about the university and about the Phoenix area. I came out here years ago as a guest of former ASU assistant football coach Johnny Barr and found it to be one of the best places in the country to live. I am very excited to get started."

A four-year letterman at Oklahoma State from 1994-97, Henson returned to his alma mater in the spring of 2016 to assume the role of offensive analyst. Henson returned to Stillwater after serving the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Missouri, where he helped the Tigers to a trip to the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 2013 season and an appearance in the Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2014 season. The Tigers won back-to-back SEC East titles in 2013 and 2014. In Henson’s first year as offensive coordinator, Missouri ranked 13th nationally in scoring (after ranking 80th in 2012) at 39.1 points per game, 16th in total offense (96th in 2012) at just under 500 yards per game, 16th in rushing (88th in 2012) and 34th in passing efficiency, a year after ranking just 103rd nationally in that category.Henson began at Missouri in 2009 and during his time there he coached the Tiger tight ends and offensive line before being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2013.When Les Miles left Oklahoma State for LSU, he took Henson with him to Baton Rouge and Henson again served as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. As LSU’s recruiting coordinator, Henson assembled a pair of top-10 recruiting classes in 2006 and 2007 that helped the Tigers win the BCS National Championship in 2008. For his efforts, Henson was ranked as one of college football’s top 25 recruiters in 2006 and 2007 by Rivals.com.

He returned to OSU as a grad assistant in 1999 after a high school coaching stint and was elevated to tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 2001. As recruiting coordinator, Henson played a key role in OSU’s 2003 signing class being ranked No. 15 in the nation by Rivals.com. A year earlier, Rivals.com rated the Cowboy class as the 26th-best in the country.
As a player, Henson was a standout offensive lineman for the Cowboys who logged 37 starts over his four-year career. As a senior in 1997, he was a second-team All-Big 12 performer and was a leader for a Cowboy squad that went 8-4 and finished second in the Big 12 South.

After graduating in 1998 with a degree in secondary education, Henson went straight into coaching, serving as a high school football coach in Kingfisher (Okla.). In one season at Kingfisher, he helped guide the Yellowjackets to the Oklahoma state semifinals.

A native of Tuttle, Okla., Henson and his wife Shauna have a son, Will, and a daughter, Kate.

The hire is pending ASU Human Resources paperwork approval.

Henson At A Glance
Alma Mater: Oklahoma State, 1997
Hometown:Tuttle, Oklahoma
Wife: Shauna
Children: Will and Kate
Coaching Experience
2017-Present, Arizona State (Asst. HC/OL/Run Game Coordinator)
2016-17, Oklahoma State (Offensive Analyst)
2013-15, Missouri (Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends/Offensive Line)
2009-12, Missouri (Co-Offensive Line)
2005-08, LSU (Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator)
2001-04, Oklahoma State (Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator)
1999, Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant)
1998, Kingfisher High School (Assistant Coach)
Playing Experience
1994-97, Oklahoma State
Bowl Games – Coach
2016 Alamo Bowl
2014 Citrus Bowl
2014 Cotton Bowl
2011 Independence Bowl
2010 Insight Bowl
2009 Texas Bowl
2008 Peach Bowl
2008 BCS National Championship Game
2007 Sugar Bowl
2005 Peach Bowl
2004 Alamo Bowl
2004 Cotton Bowl
2002 Houston Bowl

This is by no means a complete list but here are the prospects I was able to confirm as of now that are visiting:

K.J. Jarrell – local Spur/Bandit prospect

Jaylon Redd - Oregon DB commit

Malik Young – Eastern Arizona College defensive lineman

Shannon Forman - the defensive tackle is a late addition to the board

Jared Poplawski – local tight end commit

Kyle Soelle – local Devilbacker commit

Corey Stephens - local offensive lineman commit

Odua Isibor has given his verbal to UCLA and won't take any more visits.

At first glance, it might seem strange that ASU struck out on Isibor, My-King Johnson, Jalen Harris and didn't offer Daniel Callender (who has also cancelled all his future visits), but it's important to remember that ASU didn't necessarily view them as high priority targets anyway. Would they have taken a commitment- especially from Harris or Isibor, absolutely, but the way ASU typically treats a high priority in-state target that is an obvious power-5 talent is to be the first to offer.

It's what they did with Harry, Lucas, Kelley, Poplawski, Stephens, Nathe and many many others (Tyler Johnson, Austin Jackson).

ASU was late to the game on Johnson, Isibor and Harris.

ASU was My-King Johnson's 5th offer.
ASU was Odua Isibor's 11th offer.
ASU was Jalen Harris' 9th offer.

University of Arizona was the first power 5 offer for all three of them. From my conversations with members of the coaching staff down in Tucson, they plan to try to get in before ASU on in-state prospects from here on out, as they did with Bryce Gilbert in this class, as well as Solomon Enis and Joey Ramos in next years class.

ASU has shown an ability to close when they prioritize, regardless of the order in which an offer came. Look at Isaiah Pola-Mao- ASU was his 5th offer and he has ASU in his top 3. KJ Jarrell was offered by Washington and UCLA before ASU and neither of those two teams that struck first are being considered above ASU right now.

Johnson, Harris, and Callender are all impressive as far as their frame and potential, but they're all long-term projects. Isibor is a beast in the making, but very raw. It's possible that just wasn't something ASU was initially overly enthusiastic about.

from Eno Benjamin 5 minutes ago. @Hod Rabino any insight on this one?

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ASU fans know how this works- you're lacking in one area so you make a hire to address that specific need. Erickson brought the talent that Koetter couldn't, Graham brought the discipline that Erickson couldn't.

It's a pendulum, and sometimes the pendulum swings too far.

Oregon's reported issues were a lack of effort in the weight room, and a lack of a modern, creative social media presence. If you've been paying attention to the new Oregon staff on social media- they're acting like complete cornballs. Willie Taggart has always been a little goofy on social media, but all of the sudden, Jim Leavitt is talking about dancing on the field at 5AM and suff like that. Their WR coach even accidentally tweeted a picture of ducks flying in an anotomically interesting formation.

Now it comes out that they have three players hospitalized for going too hard in the weight room and in conditioning.

One of the other issues was that they were a little too selective in recruiting. They've been roundly mocked for slow-playing Tua Tagovailoa in favor of Ryan Kelley, and losing him to Alabama, so they've been throwing out offers left and right the last couple weeks. ASU targets Tyler Johnson, Isaiah Pola-Mao and Gary Johnson were all recipeints of offers, and they actually managed to flip Braxton Burmeister from Arizona.

The question I have is basically this: Is Oregon getting back on track, or are they just veering off the other side of the tracks?

Notebook from today's basketball availability by Justin

This is significant since the picture features on-campus recruiting coordinator, Donnie Yantis, who is allowed to be on the road recruiting if ASU is short an assistant who would normally do the recruiting. This is because Joe Seumalo who won't be part of this staff this season isn't on the road recruiting.

Evan Fields ‏@Evan4_ 2m2 minutes ago
Great visit! #ForksUp

California: WR Chad Hansen
Stanford: RB Christian McCaffrey, DL Solomon Thomas
UCLA: DL Eddie Vanderdoes
USC: DB Adoree Jackson, OL Damien Mama, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Utah: OL Garrett Bolles, S Marcus Williams
Washington: S Budda Baker, CB Sidney Jones, DL Elijah Qualls, WR John Ross

The good news for ASU is that Ryan Kelley kept his 4th star. He did, however, drop over 100 spots and out of the Rivals250 altogether.

Tyler Johnson is now #164.

KJ Jarrell was on the borderline every update, and in this one he's out again.

Alex Perry's at #213.

Full list: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals250/2017

Fabian Ardaya analyzes the scheme that will be employed by the Sun Devils' new defensive coordinator

....per Jason Jewell on twitter

Not having much luck reaching some of the uncommitted prospects who visited Tempe, but here’s what I know so far on them:


Tareke Lewis - if there is one prospect from this weekend ASU is feeling very good about it’s the Utah defensive back commit. I’m expecting him to be part of this class.


Brad Stewart – the one guy I was able to get on the phone. Really enjoyed his visit and said that ASU set the bar high for his future visits this month at Virginia Tech, Arkansas and Florida. So with his process nowhere being over and visiting schools much closer to his Louisiana home, I don’t know if ASU is in a good spot here to land him.


George Moore – with Chris Thomsen, his recruiting coach at ASU, leaving for TCU who just happened (sarcasm intended) to offer Moore the same day Thomsen accepted the TCU job, can’t say that ASU is doing as well as they did with Moore just a few days ago. It’s a given now that he will visit TCU, and Oregon State has been coming hard at him for weeks now. Josh Henson, brand new coach and all may have to work some serious magic to make Moore a truly viable ASU prospect.


Jaylon Johnson – another Utah defensive back commit who visited this past weekend although from the limited feedback I have so far, don’t believe he’s bullish on ASU as Lewis is.


Gavin Holmes – on the one hand I feel that ASU is doing very well with him, and between his friendship with Eno Benjamin and the recruiting charm John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome have, I don’t think you can ask from ASU to be in a better position at this point. On the other hand, with upcoming visits to Baylor and Notre Dame the recruiting process for the wide receiver could dramatically change.


Tre Brown – the Oklahoma defensive back commit may be still taking more visits before signing day, but right now I cannot say with certainty that he’s strongly looking to decommit, etc.