Week two of spring practice got underway on Tuesday as the Sun Devils returned to the practice fields in pads:
DAY FOUR DEPTH CHART (TWO-DEEP)
QB: Manny Wilkins – Blake Barnett
RB: Eno Benjamin – Trelon Smith
WR-X: Ryan Jenkins – Terrell Chatman/Curtis Hodges
WR-Y: Kyle Williams – Ryan Newsome
WR-Z: John Humphrey – Frank Darby
TE: Ceejhay French-Love – Tommy Hudson
LT: Tyson Rising – Mason Schell
LG: Alex Losoya – Cade Cote
C: Cohl Cabral – Marshal Nathe
RG: Cade Cote – Corey Stephens
RT: Quinn Bailey – Kyle Breed
DE: Shannon Forman – Jordan Hoyt
NT: Renell Wren – DJ Davidson
DE: Jalen Bates – Doug Subtyl
OLB: Jay Jay Wilson – Parker Higgins
MLB: Khaylan Thomas – Nick Ralston
OLB: Malik Lawal – Kyle Soelle
Tillman: Evan Fields – Tyler Whiley
F-CB: Chase Lucas – Terin Adams
B-CB: Kobe Williams – Kordell Caldwell
F-S (Ranger): Jalen Harvey – Dominique Harrison
B-S (Ranger): Langston Frederick – Caleb McShanag
K: Brandon Ruiz
P: Michael Sleep-Dalton – Matthew Bazarevitsch
LS: Riley John
PR: Ryan Newsome – N’Keal Harry
KR: Eno Benjamin – Ryan Newsome – Trelon Smith
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Rob Likens returned to practice to coach the offense after missing Friday’s session to attend to a family illness.
The team worked on more 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday, including a full team scrimmage at the end of the day. The first team was first to go:
- Manny Wilkins found Eno Benjamin on a short check-down pass
- Wilkins hit Curtis Hodges on a screen pass and made a juke to avoid a Jalen Harvey tackle
- Wilkins couldn’t connect with Frank Darby on a long ball down the right sideline
- Trelon Smith took a read-option handoff up the middle for a nice gain
First-team’s second drive:
- An incomplete screen pass to the right side
- Wilkins couldn’t connect on a quick slant toward the left sideline
- Trelon Smith gets stifled for a short gain on a handoff up the middle
- Trevor Russel catches a short comeback route
- Trelon Smith picks up good yardage running behind the left side of the line
Blake Barnett also led a second-team drive:
- Terrell Chatman makes a short catch on an out route
- Barnett hits Russel for a short gain on a post route
- Mark Cosgrove gets stood up at the line of scrimmage for a short gain
- Kyle Remo catches a pass in the flat for a short gain
The offense was down some key players on Tuesday as well. N’Keal Harry, who was limited during Friday’s practice, was in conditioning on Tuesday and didn’t participate in full team activities. Steven Miller, who suffered an injury on Friday night, also didn’t participate on Tuesday.
During practice, wide receiver John Humphrey sustained a non-contact injury to his right foot during an 11-on-11 drill. Humphrey, who battled injuries throughout last season, was carted to the training table and was wearing a walking boot on his right foot and crutches afterward. Head coach Herm Edwards was not available to the media on Tuesday to update Humphrey’s injury status any further.
The team also spent a lot of time working on kickoffs. A whole group of different players had a chance to take kicks back. Eno Benjamin had one of the best returns of the day, finding a big gap up the left side running behind Langston Frederick.
Ryan Newsome, Trelon Smith and Ryan Jenkins all also returned kicks during the day. Running backs coach John Simon, receivers coach Charlie Fisher and special teams coach Shawn Slocum all instructed during the kick return period.
The offensive line and defensive line squared off in running block and pass block drills on Tuesday as well.
The most intriguing matchup was center Cohl Cabral (6-5, 291) and nose tackle Renell Wren (6-6, 297). Cabral – who played left tackle last year – wasn’t overpowered by the senior interior lineman though was pushed back off the line.
Backups Mason Schell and Corey Stephens also did well in their battles with defensive ends Jordan Hoyt and Doug Subtyl, although Stephens was sent to the ground by 325-pound DJ Davidson.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Jalen Harvey struck again on Tuesday, making his third interception of the spring during one-on-one coverage drills. Covering tight end Kyle Remo in the end zone, the boundary ranger rose up to tip the ball in the air and intercept the Dillon Sterling-Cole throw.
Tillman safety Evans Fields wasn’t so lucky. The sophomore had a chance to make a pick of his own but dropped the ball. ASU’s defense spent an entire period during the practice working on DBs making down-the-field interceptions as well.
Herm Edwards also spent a lot of time with his DBs and CBs on Tuesday. They worked on more jamming drills and on quickly opening the hips. Fundamentals have been a focus for the new coaching staff when dealing with the secondary.
LB coach Antonio Pierce broke the tennis balls out again as well, working on the groups hand-eye and agility to get into tackling position.
The most intriguing defensive drill was when DL coach Shaun Nua pitted pairs of his linemen against in each in a wrestling-like circle, testing their strength in one-on-one battles.
Something else to note: It seems like the coaching staff is working on making sophomore CB Chase Lucas more of a leader. Edwards had Lucas lead CBs drills on the sleds and has consistently pulled the all-conference CB aside to give him individualized tips.
INJURIES
In addition to Harry’s and Miller’s absences – as well as Humphrey’s injury – here is the group of Sun Devils to not participate on Tuesday:
DE Darius Slade (who should be back to full participation later this week), LB Koron Crump (went through non-contact drills during defensive walk-throughs, again shadowing Malik Lawal at OLB), CB Joey Bryant (also was limited to non-contact walk-through), S Demonte King, S Dasmond Tautalatasi (though he did some drills but no contact), OL Mason Walter, S KJ Jarrell, LB Deion Guignard, DT George Lea, S Cody French
DAY FOUR DEPTH CHART (TWO-DEEP)
QB: Manny Wilkins – Blake Barnett
RB: Eno Benjamin – Trelon Smith
WR-X: Ryan Jenkins – Terrell Chatman/Curtis Hodges
WR-Y: Kyle Williams – Ryan Newsome
WR-Z: John Humphrey – Frank Darby
TE: Ceejhay French-Love – Tommy Hudson
LT: Tyson Rising – Mason Schell
LG: Alex Losoya – Cade Cote
C: Cohl Cabral – Marshal Nathe
RG: Cade Cote – Corey Stephens
RT: Quinn Bailey – Kyle Breed
DE: Shannon Forman – Jordan Hoyt
NT: Renell Wren – DJ Davidson
DE: Jalen Bates – Doug Subtyl
OLB: Jay Jay Wilson – Parker Higgins
MLB: Khaylan Thomas – Nick Ralston
OLB: Malik Lawal – Kyle Soelle
Tillman: Evan Fields – Tyler Whiley
F-CB: Chase Lucas – Terin Adams
B-CB: Kobe Williams – Kordell Caldwell
F-S (Ranger): Jalen Harvey – Dominique Harrison
B-S (Ranger): Langston Frederick – Caleb McShanag
K: Brandon Ruiz
P: Michael Sleep-Dalton – Matthew Bazarevitsch
LS: Riley John
PR: Ryan Newsome – N’Keal Harry
KR: Eno Benjamin – Ryan Newsome – Trelon Smith
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Rob Likens returned to practice to coach the offense after missing Friday’s session to attend to a family illness.
The team worked on more 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday, including a full team scrimmage at the end of the day. The first team was first to go:
- Manny Wilkins found Eno Benjamin on a short check-down pass
- Wilkins hit Curtis Hodges on a screen pass and made a juke to avoid a Jalen Harvey tackle
- Wilkins couldn’t connect with Frank Darby on a long ball down the right sideline
- Trelon Smith took a read-option handoff up the middle for a nice gain
First-team’s second drive:
- An incomplete screen pass to the right side
- Wilkins couldn’t connect on a quick slant toward the left sideline
- Trelon Smith gets stifled for a short gain on a handoff up the middle
- Trevor Russel catches a short comeback route
- Trelon Smith picks up good yardage running behind the left side of the line
Blake Barnett also led a second-team drive:
- Terrell Chatman makes a short catch on an out route
- Barnett hits Russel for a short gain on a post route
- Mark Cosgrove gets stood up at the line of scrimmage for a short gain
- Kyle Remo catches a pass in the flat for a short gain
The offense was down some key players on Tuesday as well. N’Keal Harry, who was limited during Friday’s practice, was in conditioning on Tuesday and didn’t participate in full team activities. Steven Miller, who suffered an injury on Friday night, also didn’t participate on Tuesday.
During practice, wide receiver John Humphrey sustained a non-contact injury to his right foot during an 11-on-11 drill. Humphrey, who battled injuries throughout last season, was carted to the training table and was wearing a walking boot on his right foot and crutches afterward. Head coach Herm Edwards was not available to the media on Tuesday to update Humphrey’s injury status any further.
The team also spent a lot of time working on kickoffs. A whole group of different players had a chance to take kicks back. Eno Benjamin had one of the best returns of the day, finding a big gap up the left side running behind Langston Frederick.
Ryan Newsome, Trelon Smith and Ryan Jenkins all also returned kicks during the day. Running backs coach John Simon, receivers coach Charlie Fisher and special teams coach Shawn Slocum all instructed during the kick return period.
The offensive line and defensive line squared off in running block and pass block drills on Tuesday as well.
The most intriguing matchup was center Cohl Cabral (6-5, 291) and nose tackle Renell Wren (6-6, 297). Cabral – who played left tackle last year – wasn’t overpowered by the senior interior lineman though was pushed back off the line.
Backups Mason Schell and Corey Stephens also did well in their battles with defensive ends Jordan Hoyt and Doug Subtyl, although Stephens was sent to the ground by 325-pound DJ Davidson.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Jalen Harvey struck again on Tuesday, making his third interception of the spring during one-on-one coverage drills. Covering tight end Kyle Remo in the end zone, the boundary ranger rose up to tip the ball in the air and intercept the Dillon Sterling-Cole throw.
Tillman safety Evans Fields wasn’t so lucky. The sophomore had a chance to make a pick of his own but dropped the ball. ASU’s defense spent an entire period during the practice working on DBs making down-the-field interceptions as well.
Herm Edwards also spent a lot of time with his DBs and CBs on Tuesday. They worked on more jamming drills and on quickly opening the hips. Fundamentals have been a focus for the new coaching staff when dealing with the secondary.
LB coach Antonio Pierce broke the tennis balls out again as well, working on the groups hand-eye and agility to get into tackling position.
The most intriguing defensive drill was when DL coach Shaun Nua pitted pairs of his linemen against in each in a wrestling-like circle, testing their strength in one-on-one battles.
Something else to note: It seems like the coaching staff is working on making sophomore CB Chase Lucas more of a leader. Edwards had Lucas lead CBs drills on the sleds and has consistently pulled the all-conference CB aside to give him individualized tips.
INJURIES
In addition to Harry’s and Miller’s absences – as well as Humphrey’s injury – here is the group of Sun Devils to not participate on Tuesday:
DE Darius Slade (who should be back to full participation later this week), LB Koron Crump (went through non-contact drills during defensive walk-throughs, again shadowing Malik Lawal at OLB), CB Joey Bryant (also was limited to non-contact walk-through), S Demonte King, S Dasmond Tautalatasi (though he did some drills but no contact), OL Mason Walter, S KJ Jarrell, LB Deion Guignard, DT George Lea, S Cody French
