As the days get hotter and spring creeps slowly towards summer, there’s a palpable energy at Arizona State’s spring football practice. A vocal offensive unit bounded onto the practice fields at Kajikawa on Wednesday morning with the swagger and hype of a team running out of the tunnel during the first week of September. Daniyel Ngata, Ricky Pearsall, and Jalin Conyers could be heard firing up their teammates, and the infectious energy spread to both sides of the ball. It may just be spring practice, but Arizona State didn’t lack energy during the open portion of practice.
Attendance has been strong for Arizona State this spring, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Chad Johnson Jr. was the most noteworthy absence on Wednesday after being a full participant last week and on Monday. LV Bunkley-Shelton was a full participant after doing light work without cleats for much of last week.
Here’s how the group lined up during the team period:
First-team offense:
QB - Paul Tyson/Trenton Bourguet
RB - Daniyel Ngata
TE Jalin Conyers
WR- Elijah Badger
WR - Ricky Pearsall
WR - Bryan Thompson
OL from left to right: Isaia Glass, LaDarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Spencer Lovell, Des Holmes.
The first team has also been experimenting with a two-tight end set, featuring Messiah Swinson joining Jalin Conyers. Most of the plays ran out of this set simulated the run, with each tight end quickly moving to the second level to meet an invisible linebacker or safety. The tight ends also showcased their pass catching ability a number of times, with Conyers making some nice catches on slants and button hook routes.
Second-team offense:
QB - Finn Collins/Bennet Meredith
RB - Xazavian Valladay
TE - Messiah Swinson
WR - Giovanni Sanders
WR - Andre Johnson
OL from left to right: Emmit Bohle, Armon Bethea, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Chris Martinez, Sione Veikoso.
If spring practice is any indication of what the quarterback competition will be like in August, get ready for a spectacular battle. Trenton Bourguet and Paul Tyson are continuing to split first-team reps, each of them exemplifying an “anything you can do, I can do better” approach. When Bourguet found Bryan Thompson on a beautiful fade route, Tyson followed it by hitting Ricky Pearsall right between the numbers on a deep cross. When Bourguet executed a flawless three-step drop and threw a strike on a slant, Tyson slapped a fastball on Elijah Badger’s crisp out route with authority. Neither candidate is giving an inch, and the competition can only serve to sharpen the iron of the rest of the QB room and offense as a whole.
While the aforementioned duo has separated themselves marginally, it’s not just a two-man race. Bennet Meredith and Finn Collins have also impressed in the grey jerseys. Last spring, Finn Collins was a big story in spring football. He consistently made impressive throws and solidified himself as the backup to Jayden Daniels. This spring, it’s the same Collins with a different cast surrounding him. He and Meredith worked in with the second-team offense. Both made all the throws they should, aside from a cringeworthy duck from Collins that left coaches shaking their heads.
Coaches often reference a running back’s physicality when assessing the position. Without the viewing benefit of full contact practice, this trait can be quantified by how a back looks and feels with the ball in his hands. Daniyel Ngata has personified physicality through five spring practices. His muscular frame looks imposing as he accelerates with the ball, combining power with grace as he turned upfield after receiving a pass in the backfield on a wheel route. He impressed in his limited touches in 2021, and after the departure of Rachaad White (NFL) and Deamonte Trayanum (transfer), Ngata looks poised to take over the No. 1 spot. He won’t go unchallenged, however, as Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay is looking every bit the part of a power five back at spring practice. Valladay exhibited excellent ball skills on Wednesday morning, catching passes out of the backfield and protecting the rock like it was his child as he was poked and prodded by pad bearing coaches in drills. Offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas says he likes an offense with versatility in the backfield. He might be in luck with this two-headed monster taking shape for Arizona State.
If you’re thinking about heading out to Arizona State spring practice as a fan, the entertainment value provided by offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh will make it worth your time alone. His high energy persona is highlighted at each practice, showering his unit with expletive-laden praise, as well as expletive-laden criticism. Wednesday was no different, as the offensive line went through various drills in the hot sun. Punching, cutting, and two hand blocking were emphasized, with players being serenaded by Cavanaugh’s raspy voice after each whistle. Spencer Lovell and LaDarius Henderson look great at the guard spots, with Des Holmes and center Ben Scott progressing nicely as well. This group will have depth, but the effectiveness of that depth is a question mark. Armon Bethea and Emmit Bohle have the physical tools but are often the subject of Cavanaugh’s loud gripes. If nothing else, they sure are getting coached up.
Besides the absence of Johnson Jr, the receiving group was business as usual. Ricky Pearsall led with his play and with his voice, bouncing to the familiar smooth jazz during team stretch. He and Badger made impressive catches during team period, with Badger making an almost incredible catch on a deep ball down the sideline. The pass was broken up, but the chemistry between and Badger is evident.
Attendance has been strong for Arizona State this spring, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Chad Johnson Jr. was the most noteworthy absence on Wednesday after being a full participant last week and on Monday. LV Bunkley-Shelton was a full participant after doing light work without cleats for much of last week.
Here’s how the group lined up during the team period:
First-team offense:
QB - Paul Tyson/Trenton Bourguet
RB - Daniyel Ngata
TE Jalin Conyers
WR- Elijah Badger
WR - Ricky Pearsall
WR - Bryan Thompson
OL from left to right: Isaia Glass, LaDarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Spencer Lovell, Des Holmes.
The first team has also been experimenting with a two-tight end set, featuring Messiah Swinson joining Jalin Conyers. Most of the plays ran out of this set simulated the run, with each tight end quickly moving to the second level to meet an invisible linebacker or safety. The tight ends also showcased their pass catching ability a number of times, with Conyers making some nice catches on slants and button hook routes.
Second-team offense:
QB - Finn Collins/Bennet Meredith
RB - Xazavian Valladay
TE - Messiah Swinson
WR - Giovanni Sanders
WR - Andre Johnson
OL from left to right: Emmit Bohle, Armon Bethea, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Chris Martinez, Sione Veikoso.
If spring practice is any indication of what the quarterback competition will be like in August, get ready for a spectacular battle. Trenton Bourguet and Paul Tyson are continuing to split first-team reps, each of them exemplifying an “anything you can do, I can do better” approach. When Bourguet found Bryan Thompson on a beautiful fade route, Tyson followed it by hitting Ricky Pearsall right between the numbers on a deep cross. When Bourguet executed a flawless three-step drop and threw a strike on a slant, Tyson slapped a fastball on Elijah Badger’s crisp out route with authority. Neither candidate is giving an inch, and the competition can only serve to sharpen the iron of the rest of the QB room and offense as a whole.
While the aforementioned duo has separated themselves marginally, it’s not just a two-man race. Bennet Meredith and Finn Collins have also impressed in the grey jerseys. Last spring, Finn Collins was a big story in spring football. He consistently made impressive throws and solidified himself as the backup to Jayden Daniels. This spring, it’s the same Collins with a different cast surrounding him. He and Meredith worked in with the second-team offense. Both made all the throws they should, aside from a cringeworthy duck from Collins that left coaches shaking their heads.
Coaches often reference a running back’s physicality when assessing the position. Without the viewing benefit of full contact practice, this trait can be quantified by how a back looks and feels with the ball in his hands. Daniyel Ngata has personified physicality through five spring practices. His muscular frame looks imposing as he accelerates with the ball, combining power with grace as he turned upfield after receiving a pass in the backfield on a wheel route. He impressed in his limited touches in 2021, and after the departure of Rachaad White (NFL) and Deamonte Trayanum (transfer), Ngata looks poised to take over the No. 1 spot. He won’t go unchallenged, however, as Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay is looking every bit the part of a power five back at spring practice. Valladay exhibited excellent ball skills on Wednesday morning, catching passes out of the backfield and protecting the rock like it was his child as he was poked and prodded by pad bearing coaches in drills. Offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas says he likes an offense with versatility in the backfield. He might be in luck with this two-headed monster taking shape for Arizona State.
If you’re thinking about heading out to Arizona State spring practice as a fan, the entertainment value provided by offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh will make it worth your time alone. His high energy persona is highlighted at each practice, showering his unit with expletive-laden praise, as well as expletive-laden criticism. Wednesday was no different, as the offensive line went through various drills in the hot sun. Punching, cutting, and two hand blocking were emphasized, with players being serenaded by Cavanaugh’s raspy voice after each whistle. Spencer Lovell and LaDarius Henderson look great at the guard spots, with Des Holmes and center Ben Scott progressing nicely as well. This group will have depth, but the effectiveness of that depth is a question mark. Armon Bethea and Emmit Bohle have the physical tools but are often the subject of Cavanaugh’s loud gripes. If nothing else, they sure are getting coached up.
Besides the absence of Johnson Jr, the receiving group was business as usual. Ricky Pearsall led with his play and with his voice, bouncing to the familiar smooth jazz during team stretch. He and Badger made impressive catches during team period, with Badger making an almost incredible catch on a deep ball down the sideline. The pass was broken up, but the chemistry between and Badger is evident.
