Arizona State spring 2025 football practice reports

TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, questions surrounded the Sun Devil football program after enduring a 3-9 season.

This year, Arizona State is coming off an 11-win campaign in which they won the Big 12 Conference championship. With star quarterback Sam Leavitt among most of the team’s starters back, the expectations for head coach Kenny Dillingham in his third season are sky high.

For each practice, we’ll provide notable updates and observations, as well as interviews with key Sun Devil players and coaches. Watch for new Speak of the Devils episodes each Tuesday night during spring for in-depth recaps of the key developments.

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Practice 14: April 23

The final full practice session of spring was a more balanced affair, with a slight lean towards the defense. Spring ball will officially conclude on Friday with the Fan Fest at Mountain America Stadium, with gates opening at 5 p.m.

Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said he was pleased with the offense’s progress throughout spring, given the number of new players being integrated, citing the development of roster depth, adding new schematic looks, and getting guys to play faster.

“I do like what we’ve done in spring,” Arroyo said. “I like the juice and energy the new guys have brought to it.”

That includes not just the transfer players added that figure to play key roles, but members of the 2025 signing class as well, most notably tight end A.J. Ia and wide receiver Harry Hassmann.

“The freshmen we have in have adapted really quickly,” Arroyo said. “To see the young freshmen we recruited come in and do things athletically and mentally in the system right now has been really cool.”

On defense, coordinator Brian Ward has also liked what he’s seen with his veteran-laden side over the last five weeks, but noted they are far from a finished product.

“It’s been solid, constant growth,” Ward said. “We still have to work through the blown assignments and the mistakes, and we have to become more disciplined up front.”

• The star of the penultimate practice was defensive end Clayton Smith. Beyond having a strong spring as a pass rusher, he was given a chance during the team’s “main event” session—a brief mid-practice period in which Kenny Dillingham gets some fun 1-on-1 matchups in front of the entire team—to run a pass route with wide receiver Jalen Moss in coverage.

But he wasn’t done. For fun, he took a few reps in a later wide receivers vs. defensive backs drill, and looked good.

• The defensive line has had issues with jumping offsides over the last two practices, and after an emphatic reminder from Dillingham, the group took it upon themselves to reinforce the “earmuffs” message, reminding each other to go on the snap, not the quarterback’s cadence.

• The tight ends remain one of the most impressive groups throughout spring. Starter Chamon Metayer hauled in a deep touchdown during an early 11-on-11 two-minute drill on a well-thrown ball from Sam Leavitt.
• Leavitt remained sharp, but backup Jeff Sims had a rough day with his accuracy. He’s otherwise had a pretty strong spring showing.
• It was a quiet day for the running backs, but Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown still appear poised atop the depth chart, but Kanye Udoh is looking more comfortable in the offense. After years of having a clear lead back, could ASU use all three in a committee? “Regardless of what kind of play design you have, you still, in my opinion, got to fit it around the players,” Arroyo said. “Matching up the scheme to the players is something that we’ve done. I’ve got a pretty good feel on some of these guys and what they are capable of doing.”
• Some more snapping issues hampered the offense today, with a low snap from Ben Coleman to Leavitt on a two-point conversion that derailed the play’s timing being the most notable. But Arroyo thinks there is plenty of time for Coleman—who is moving to center from left guard—to iron things out. “I think (Coleman) can be pretty special (at center),” said Arroyo.
• Star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson participated in 7-on-7, marking the second practice in a row he took team reps. Jalen Moss had the biggest play by a receiver on the day, finding a hole on the coverage for a sizeable gain in the middle of the field, and he looks primed to be the starter at slot receiver. “Jalen Moss is exactly what we thought,” said Arroyo. “Experienced guy who is tough, knows the pass game.” Arroyo feels the summer workouts and player-led sessions will be a significant boost to the group’s development and chemistry.
• The pass rush is a targeted area of improvement for this season, and Ward thinks it is coming along, but the real tests are ahead. “We have (seen progress), but we also have had some of those top guys not practicing much this spring. It’s really going to show itself this fall camp. I feel like there’s times we’ve shown that, and we’ve been able to be a little bit more creative in how we’ve been able to develop our pass rush.”
• Perhaps the biggest remaining position battle on defense is at nickel, where Montana Warren and Purdue transfer Kyndrich Breedlove have competed. “It’s still may the best man win, but I feel great about both of those guys,” Ward said. “Both those guys are going to play a lot of football for us.” Warren’s familiarity with the defense has been apparent, but Breedlove has impressed in recent weeks.
• Redshirt freshman cornerback Rodney Bimage continued a strong spring and may be pushing the starting tandem of Keith Abney and Javan Robinson a bit, with Purdue transfer Nyland Green rounding out the top four of the group. “(Bimage is a) guy that we think can contend in that starting rotation and a guy that is going to play a lot of snaps for us,” Ward said. “Really, really pleased with Rodney.”

• Jesus Gomez continues to impress as the new kicker. He made field goals from 28, 38, and 48 yards, and his only miss was a block by Rodney Bimage who got a great jump off the edge.

Practice 13: April 21

ASU’s final week of spring practices did not get off to a good start, at least according to head coach Kenny Dillingham. Practicing in Mountain America Stadium at night following the Easter holiday, the Sun Devils put forth a mistake-ridden session that left their leader disappointed.

“Average to below average,” Dillingham said of the night. “Gave them three days off for Easter, we came back, and the focus just wasn’t there.”

Dillingham cited uncharacteristic procedural errors, such as several offsides penalties and multiple instances of not having enough players on the field, as signs of the lackluster day. However, despite the setback, he felt that the team has accomplished much of what it needed to over the last five weeks.

“For the most part, yes,” Dillingham said. “I still want to see those younger guys, who those guys are going to be, and can they do it these last couple of days. But I think for the most part, we got a lot of good stuff accomplished.”

• The players were in helmets, jerseys, and shorts, practicing without pads for the first time since the first week of spring.
• Kicker Jesus Gomez continues to show why he was such a key pickup through the transfer portal for the Sun Devils. He ended a special teams portion by easily making a field goal from about 55 yards. “Jesus is killing it right now,” Dillingham said. “He’s just absolutely smoking the ball.”
• None of the quarterback were consistently sharp during the night, and that contributed to some offensive inconsistencies. They were also plagued by some key drops by receivers.
• The team did four drives of simulated late-game situations. The first saw the first and second teams each start a drive near midfield with 53 seconds left and needing a field goal.
  • The defense appeared to be in great position for a stop after a Malik McClain drop and a PBU by Jordan Crook, but an offsides penalty gave the offense a new set of downs. Sam Leavitt connected with McClain and Jaren Hamilton on consecutive passes to get into field goal range. After a spike to stop the clock, Gomez made his kick from 34 yards.
  • A pass deflection by Chris Johnson and a sack by Justin Wodtly put the offense’s back against the wall quickly, and two incompletions ended the second-team offense’s threat.
• Next was a situation in which the offense needed a touchdown, taking the ball at their own 25 with 1:53 on the clock. These series were more productive for the offense.
  • Tight end Chamon Metayer made two receptions, one off a tipped ball, to get things going. Leavitt wa able to draw the defense offsides with a hard count on a fourth down, and connected with McClain for 15 yards between two PBUs by cornerback Nyland Green. But Leavitt then threw a well-placed sideline dart to Noble Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown. A fierce pass rush on the ensuing two-point conversion led to a desperation pass that fell incomplete.
  • After Derek Eusebio caught two short passes from Sims, Sims aired it out deep to freshman receiver Harry Hassmann, who beat Nyland Green and ran in the reception 70 yards for the score.
• A later 11-on-11 session for was controlled by the defense, highlighted by a interception return for a touchdown by Keith Abney. Most notably for the offense, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson took reps for the first time since an ankle injury in later March. He caught both balls thrown his way, and his burst seemed as potent as ever.
• The night’s final drive ended when Leavitt made an ill-advised toss after evading pressure that was tipped and intercepted by defensive end Justin Wodtly.

Practice 12: April 18

The fourth week of spring practices came to an end with a scrimmage heavy session on a breezy day at the Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe. Here’s a rundown of the 11-on-11 drives.

• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: Quarterback Sam Leavitt was in a good rhythm early, completing his first seven throws, including a nice out to Malik McClain that had moved the chains after a good tackle-for-loss by defensive end Prince Dorbah and a run stuff by linebacker Jordan Crook. However, the defense held firm, and after a third-down pass breakup by Xavion Alford, the offense had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez.
• SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: Quarterback Jeff Sims and wide receiver Noble Johnson connected a few times to get the offense moving, with a good run up the middle from Kanye Udoh adding to the mix. Tight end Cameron Harpole had a nice block to spring Sims for a lengthy scramble, and Demarius Robinson followed with a powerful run that put the offense in scoring range. But like the first drive, the defense held, punctuated by a PBU by Jack Bal. Gomez’s field goal from 36 yards was good.
• THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: A Navi Bruzon pass bounced off the hands of receiver Uriah Neloms and was intercepted by Joseph McGinnis.
• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from deep in their own end]: Leavitt connected with receiver Jaren Hamilton for about a 40-yard gain to midfield, but a few incompletions brough the drive to and end.
• SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from deep in their own end]: Some good coverage led to three straight incompletions to end the drive.
• THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from deep in their own end]: Defensive end Roman Pitre continued his strong camp with a good run stuff. Bruzon hit Zechariah Sample over the middle with a slant, but good pressure on third down resulted in an incomplete pass.
• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from midfield]: The defensive line continued to provide good pressure. Jalen Moss made an impressive one-handed catch for a first down, but a pass knockdown at the line by defensive tackle Zac Swanson forced the offense into a 55-yard field goal try by Carston Kieffer, and his kick was well short.
• SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from midfield]: The drive heavily featured wide receiver Derek Eusebio, who made three short catches, was targeted on another, and ran a jet sweep. Along with catches by Johnson and Harry Hassmann, the offense moved into the redzone. Pitre had another tackle-for-loss, but the offense was bailed out on the next play by a defensive holding penalty. Sims overthrew tight end A.J. Ia in the endzone, led a diving Khamari Anderson too much in the corner of the endzone, and missed seeing a wide open Eusebio on a third down that failed to convert.
• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: Leavitt found Malik McClain on a post for a good gain to midfield, and then found Harpole on an out to get to the 30-yard line. Raleek Brown then made a great cut on a run outside, and raced down the sideline untouched for the touchdown.
• SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: The defense won this series, capped by a Justin Wodtly sack on third down.
• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: The drive opened with a defensive pass interference penalty on Nyland Green on a Leavitt fade ball to McClain, but that was it for the offense. Linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu had a PBU, nickel Kyndrich Breedlove had great coverage, and the drive ended on the next play with an incomplete pass.
• SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: A Sims scramble was the highlight of the drive for the offense. Linebacker Krew Jackson and defensive end Albert Smith had good plays against the run, and a slant completion to Sample was called back due to holding. Defensive tackle Ian Shewell ended the drive with a tackle for loss.
• FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE [starting from the 25-yard line]: The Leavitt-to-Hamilton connection was at it again, with a nice completion on a third-down post pattern for a sizeable gain. Leavitt then dropped in a rainbow pass to Kyson Brown on a wheel route for about 30 yards to get the offense inside the 10-yard line. But cornerback Rodney Bimage sniffed out a screen pass for a tackle-for-loss, and on the day’s final play, Albert Smith had what would have been a likely sack, but Leavitt’s throw in the endzone to Harpole was dropped.
• Final tally over 13 drives: Offense with one touchdown and two field goals. The defense: 10 stops, including a missed field goal and one interception.
• In the middle of the day, there was some punt team work. The punters struggled a but kicking into the wind gusts. Raleek Brown, Jalen Moss, and Cory Butler took reps at returner.

Practice 11: April 16

As the Sun Devils’ spring hits the homestretch, both offensive and defensive coordinators are pleased with the progress their sides are making.

“Things are going really, really well,” defensive coordinator Brian Ward said. “We’re really developing the depth of our defense.”

Both sides of the ball have seen the returning starters and veterans scale back their workload as the younger players have received more reps and a chance to shine, and that continued on Wednesday.

“We’re in a really good spot,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “Guys have been practicing their tails off. We got everybody in rotations, we have multiple personnels, moving guys around. The majority of what we’re going to get in spring is in. We have days now where we can queue up other things.”

Those other things include some more situational work, such as a two-minute drill in the team tempo period, and a few lengthy drives near the end of the day.

• Like Monday, the team tempo period was devoted to a two-minute drive situation. And like Monday, the defense made stops both times. A Sam Leavitt scramble got things moving to start, but the drive ultimately stalled out and ended with a sack by Clayton Smith. On the second drive, Jeff Sims was intercepted to end the offense’s threat.
• Things went better for the offense in a mid-practice 11-on-11. Following a good catch over the middle by Jalen Moss, Raleek Brown took a handoff and made a sharp cut outside and raced 40 yards for a touchdown.
• Brown continues to be a standout in the spring, and along with junior Kyson Brown, is receiving the bulk of the first-team work so far. Kyson Brown also had a strong showing that included a long run during 11-on-11 late in the day. “I like the depth at back,” said Arroyo. “When you go by committee, sometimes there’s a stagnation. None of them get off the ground because you don’t give enough because you’re spreading it too thin. All the backs have really done a good job. When they’ve had their turn, they’ve taken shots.”
• Redshirt freshman Zechariah Sample was the day’s standout. He made some good catches in 11-on-11 with the second team, including a slant that hu turned upfield for a huge gain. He also had a pair of highlight reel catches in the 1-on-1 period.

• While Sample battles for reps, the trio of transfer wide receivers—Jaren Hamilton, Noble Johnson, and Jalen Moss—continue to earn first-team reps and are getting more comfortable in the offense. “All those guys have the critical skills we need,” Arroyo said of the trio. “Guys who can run routes, can catch the ball, get in and out of breaks, bigger, longer guys who can be physical and play the ball down the field.” Hamilton continued his hot stretch with a long touchdown on a deep pass from Sam Leavitt. Moss, who had 103 catches at Fresno State, continues to look like the leader to start at slot. “I think (Moss is) going to plug and play pretty fast,” Arroyo said.

• ASU’s tight ends are going to be a problem for defenses. True freshman A.J. Ia in particular has been impressive. “The tight ends are going to be a huge weapon,” Arroyo said. “A.J. is a weapon as a freshman who you’re like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to keep you off the field.’”
• The defensive front still has an edge over the offensive line. Justin Wodtly was a force today. Clayton Smith and Albert Smith III registered sacks, and the linebackers did a good job against the run.
• Defensive tackle J.P. Deeter announced he would enter the portal. He has had an impressive spring, but was buried on the depth chart. One of those players at the top, Zac Swanson, had another strong session that included this win in a pass rush drill.

• With the ACL injury to redshirt freshman cornerback Plas Johnson, who had been putting together an impressive spring, the play of Purdue transfer Nyland Green will be critical. Now back from a minor injury, Green is impressing Ward and had another good practice on Wednesday. He’s doing excellent,” Ward said. “He’s just learning the defense. Each day, it becomes slower and makes more sense to him ... We’re fired up about him.”
• Jesus Gomez showed off his kicking prowess again, making both of his kicks from mid-40-yard range. Carston Kieffer made both of his attempts from the same range, while Ian Hershey missed both.
• After announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal, quarterback Navi Bruzon practiced with the team, and continued to receive the third-team reps. He had a few nice connections with true freshman wide receiver Cory Butler later in the day.

Practice 10: April 14

A cloudy and milder day kicked off ASU’s 4th week of spring practices.

• The team ran two drives of a simulated two-minute situation early in the practice, with the defense making stops on each. Defensive end Clayton Smith registered a would-be sack on the final play of the first drive, while Keith Abney picked off Jeff Sims to end the second. Both groups saw a lot of personnel rotation.
• Later in the morning in another 11-on-11 session, there was better back-and-forth between the offense and defense. Kyson Brown had a 75-yard touchdown run in which he ran untouched through the left side. Abney then delivered a big hit to jar a ball loose from a receiver on the next play, and safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser delivered a massive hit on freshman running back Demarius “Man Man” Robinson after a modest gain. But on the next play, Robinson did a terrific job in blitz pickup that allowed quarterback Sam Leavitt to hit Jalen Moss deep downfield for a large gain. The second team then got a drive, and Noble Johnson made an excellent leaping catch before the defense stiffened and ended the drive a few plays later with a run stuff by Elijah O’Neal.
• Leavitt had an accurate day, placing the ball well in team sessions, even if sometimes the receiver was unable to hold on.
• After suffering a minor ankle injury in the first week of spring camp, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson participating in position drills. He did not take any 11-on-11 team reps.

• Tyson is entrenched as the team’s top wide receiver, and the race to fill out the ranks behind him has been a key focus of spring. Speedy Alabama transfer Jaren Hamilton had two touchdowns on Saturday and is developing a rapport with Leavitt. Fellow transfers Jalen Moss and Noble Johnson continue to make plays and appear to be getting more comfortable as camp continues. Returner Malik McClain continues to run with the top offense, and redshirt freshman Zechariah Sample had a strong day in which he saw reps with the second-team offense.

• Freshman tight end A.J. Ia continues to shine. His physicality was on display late in the day when he made a catch over the middle, took a hit from multiple defenders, and still hung on and gained a few more yards. He should be in the rotation this fall.
• Cornerback Rodney Bimage had another excellent practice, locking down several Sun Devil receivers in drills and in 11-on-11

• In the 1-on-1 offensive line vs. defensive line pass rush session, the defense again held the edge in the proceedings.
• Kicker Jesus Gomez showed off his strong left leg near the end of the day by hitting a field goal from 55-57 yards. During an earlier field goal kicking session, Gomez made from about 43 yards and missed from 48. Carston Kieffer made from 43 but missed from 48, and Ian Hershey missed from both 43 and 48.

Practice 8: April 10

A toasty Thursday session saw the defense have the edge over the offense during a session that saw some tempers flare. In recent practices, the offense has had a better showing, but the defense clamped down today.

“That’s a damn good defense,” said offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. “There’s nothing better than to go against a great defense with a scheme that is not vanilla.”

The eighth session also continued the trend of focusing on scheme installations and teaching, and both coordinators are pleased with the progress so far.

“I thought guys have done a really good job of being aggressive in regards to coming in during some of the dark hours and off days and trying to learn the offense,” said Arroyo.

“We’re trying to put pressure on these guys to understand situations,” said defensive coordinator Brian Ward.

• The defensive line, praised by Kenny Dillingham on Tuesday as the spring’s top performing group, was again in control on Thursday. Justin Wodtly in particular had another strong day, standing out in the inside run drill and the OL vs. DL 1-on-1s while bringing the usual high energy and emotion to the drill. He also picked up a sack in the 11-on-11 scrimmaging at the end.
• The battle for nickel continues. Montana Warren is still running with the ones, but Purdue transfer Kyndrich Breedlove had an outstanding showing in the 11-on-11. He had a pass breakup on one drive, delivered a huge hit to jar the ball loose from a receiver on another, and on the ensuing drive, he had a strong rep in run support to force Kyson Brown wide and bring him down.
• After success on Tuesday, the Sun Devil running backs didn’t have too much room to run on Thursday, but the deep group—headlined by Kyson Brown, Kanye Udoh, and Raleek Brown. Raleek Brown had the best showing on Thursday, with some nice catch-and-runs throughout the morning. “You got a committee you’re pretty excited about,” Arroyo said. “We’ve got a good plan between me and Coach (Shaun) Aguano, and he does a great job developing them.”
• Several young defensive backs continue to shine, in particular redshirt freshman Rodney Bimage. “Rodney is right there with the older guys,” Ward said. “He just doesn’t have the game experience. I’d say he’s ahead of some of those other guys, maybe even in the same class.” He received first-team reps yet again today. Fellow redshirt freshman Plas Johnson is also making the most of his reps. “Plas has a ton of ability and a ton of talent. It’s just a matter of him learning the playbook at slowing down,” said Ward.
• The receivers had a relatively quiet day compared to recent sessions. Noble Johnson had the ball stripped from him after a catch in team tempo, but Jaren Hamilton and Zechariah Sample had good gains on jet sweeps. Hamilton also had some receptions in 11-on-11.
• The offensive line had struggles in keeping back the Sun Devil defensive front, but had a better showing in the inside run drill. On one rep, left guard Sean Na’a and center Ben Coleman opened up a huge hole for Kanye Udoh.
• The offensive starters today: QB: Sam Leavitt, RB: Kyson Brown (others rotated in), WR Noble Johnson, Malik McClain, Jalen Moss (slot), TE: Chamon Metayer, LT: Josh Atkins, LG: Sean Na’a, C: Ben Coleman, RG: Kyle Scott, RT: Jalen Klemm (returning RT starter Max Iheanachor is out for spring).
• The defensive starters today: DT: Blazen Lono-Wong, Zac Swanson, DE: Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Rodney Bimage, S: Xavion Alford, Myles Rowser, Nickel: Montana Warren.
• Former Devils Jordan Clark, Brock Osweiler, Corey Adams, and Lawrence Guy were watching practice.

Practice 7: April 8

The third week of spring ball got underway on a warm Tuesday morning. It was a session that saw the offense strike with some big plays, yet some costly miscues undercut that progress.

“Today was the first day when we took out a couple of those high-high rep guys on offense and defense, the offense just kicked the ever-loving crap out of the defense,” Kenny Dillingham said. “Now the negative was, in six series, four offensive touchdowns and two turnovers. No team wins. Either side of the ball there doesn’t win.”

With much of the roster from last season’s Big 12 champion team returning, many veterans have had lighter workloads in 11-on-11 sessions, particularly in live periods. This has given the younger players a chance to make their mark, but much as he did after Saturday’s scrimmage, Dillingham expressed his desire to see more from the youngsters.

“I want to see some of these young guys have some dawg, man,” Dillingham said. “I want to see somebody with the mindset of ‘I belong’ not ‘I’m waiting my turn.’”

• The ground game had its best day of spring so far. “We really put the foot on the gas this practice,” quarterback Sam Leavitt said. “I saw something I haven’t seen in a while where we’re carrying the pile with the running back. Guys are pushing them. You love to see that dawg and fight out of people. We’re finding who we are.”
• ASU’s running backs are a deep group. “It’s awesome, we got like four or five guys that can really go,” said Leavitt. “A couple youngsters in there. We got some speed, we got some strength, we got a mix.” Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown continue to get the bulk of the first-team chances, with Army transfer Kanye Udoh mixing in. Udoh had a nice run showing off a sharp cut during team session, and Raleek Brown finished the day with an impressive run up the middle in which he broke multiple tackles before finding the endzone on a subsequent carry. Redshirt freshman Jason Brown burst for a big gain later in the day in 11-on-11, but had a fumble later on that was recovered by linebacker Tate Romney. True freshman Demarius “Man Man” Robinson continues to stand out this spring with his toughness and explosiveness.

• We’ve reported consistently through spring that ASU’s defensive front has been in control most of the time through camp, and Dillingham echoed that today, saying the defensive line has been the most impressive group. “Our defensive line is super, super competitive right now,” said Dillingham. “I think Clayton, and Prince (Dorbah), and Wodt (Justin Wodtly), and C.J. (Fite) obviously, a lot of these guys are playing at the best level they’ve played at since they’ve been here.”
• The offensive line continues to look a little better after a rough start. Last week’s snapping issues seem to be a blip. Redshirt sophomore Sean Na’a continues to run with the starters at left guard while also getting reps at center. “He’s returning to the Sean of his true freshman year,” Dillingham said. “He’s trending in the right direction.” True freshman Maki Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder, was tabbed by Dillingham as “a guy that could help us this year.”
• The wide receivers had a solid day. Of Alabama transfer Jaren Hamilton, Leavitt said, “He’s got a lot of juice.” Jalen Moss continues to get more comfortable with the first team at slot and showcased a nice leaping grab during 11-on-11s. True freshman Harry Hassmann continues to get second-team reps. Derek Eusebio continues to push Moss at slot, and made a nice grab in 1-on-1s on nickel Montana Warren.

• Malik McClain also had a good rep against Keith Abney

• In the only field goal visible to media today, Jesus Gomez made his kick from 41 yards with plenty of room to spare.

Practice 6: April 5

The final practice of spring’s second week took place in Mountain America Stadium and consisted primarily of scrimmage sessions. Like Thursday’s session, the defense seemed to have the edge while the offense countered with enough big plays that head coach Kenny Dillingham said he didn’t think there was a “winner” on the night.

So far through two weeks, things are progressing as Dillingham envisioned.

“It’s been back and forth,” said Dillingham. “The defense is a little ahead. That’s natural. Offense has more new players, and we didn’t slow down the installs. Offense, obviously we’re a little bit behind, but we should be behind on offense and the defense should be ahead. We have a lot of returners.”

After practice, Dillingham said that he hopes to see more younger players make their mark on a team that returned most of its starters.

“What I’ve noticed is we need some more young guys to step up,” Dillingham said. “We need some more young guys to take that next step. That’s what I’m looking for in spring, is what young guys are we going to be able to count on? Hopefully, these next three weeks we find six to 12 more guys that we’re like, ‘Man, we can count on you to help us as a redshirt freshman or whatever year that is.’”

I asked Dillingham which younger players have caught his eye thus far, and he cited tight end A.J. Ia, linebacker Martell Hughes, and cornerbacks Rodney Bimage and Plas Johnson. Dillingham hopes that list grows soon.

“We need more of these guys to make tackles in space, right?” he said. “We need more of these guys to know the system good enough to where they’re verbalizing it louder and confident, and I know that doesn’t happen overnight. That’s the part of development. But you know, it’s, you should never be satisfied with where you’re at. You’re always try to push yourself.”

• Starting quarterback Sam Leavitt didn’t have his best day, tossing two interceptions including an ill-advised across-the-field ball that a leaping Jordan Crook was able to pick off. But backup Jeff Sims had a strong day in leading the second-team offense. He had two touchdown runs, one on a short keep and another a 60-70 yard run which showcased his breakaway speed. Sims added touchdown passes, one on a rollout pass to wide receiver Jalen Moss and another to Derek Eusebio. Eusebio added a touchdown run later on a jet sweep as he rotates with Moss at slot.
• Moss had perhaps his best practice of the spring, making several catches with both the first and second teams.
• Running back Kyson Brown continues to get the most reps with the first team ad had a good night. He made a good run up the middle on the first drive of the session, and later had an impressive play in which he took a swing pass and ran over safety Montana Warren on the way to a sizeable gain. Freshman Demarius Robinson added a touchdown run with the first team.
• Cornerback Keith Abney continues to show that he is making strides after his breakout season in 2024. He picked off Leavitt on a deep ball into the endzone early in the night.
• The main event session featured fun matchups with some role reversals, as defenders ran routes with offensive players in coverage. Unfortunately, linebacker Jordan Crook and nickel Montana Warren couldn’t hold onto the passes. Tight end A.J. Ia and running back Jason Brown also had drops, but Brown did have a good rep in breaking a tackle on a toss play.
• Jesus Gomez capped the practice by nailing a 48-yard field goal with plenty of distance to spare.
• Sun Devil legend Demario Richard was in attendance. During his career from 2014-2017, he ran for 3,202 yards, the fourth-best total in program history.

Practice 5: April 3

After a lackluster showing during Tuesday’s fourth spring session, the Sun Devils rebounded on Thursday. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said, “We need days like (Tuesday) to pull us back down to Earth sometimes.”

• Quarterback Sam Leavitt had another solid day, and showed off a Patrick Mahomes-ish ability to throw on the run with altered arm angles during a team session while under pressure. Arroyo said that his young star will “have an ability to handle elevated things in the game” as he enters his second year as the starter, including managing protections.
• The tight ends had another strong day. Arroyo called the position “a primary focus,” and the group has lived up to the billing. Khamari Anderson had another long catch-and-run touchdown reception from quarterback Sam Leavitt, with true freshman A.J. Ia also making his mark in spring behind starter Chamon Metayer. “We’ve got three guys we couldn’t be more fired about about,” Arroyo said. With the added depth at the position, Arroyo has said they are able to play more 12 personnel packages.
• With Jordyn Tyson continuing to be sidelined, the other wide receivers are trying to make their mark on the coaching staff. Malik McClain continues to impress as a starter, and he followed a strong 1-on-1 period with a dazzling diving touchdown catch in 7-on-7. Jalen Moss and Derek Eusebio are battling in the slot, and Jaren Hamilton’s speed stands out.

• The running backs took on the linebackers in a blitz pickup drill. It was a fairly even matchup, with each group scoring wins. True freshmen running back Demarius “Man Man” Robinson had the highlight, taking on a blitzing ‘backer and taking him to the ground. “Pound for pound, he’s exactly what we saw on film,” Arroyo said of the 4-star signee. Robinson scored a touchdown to end the day in an 11-on-11 redzone session and then led the team in a breakdown to end practice.

• The running game had some nice moments today after being held in check during most of spring so far. Kyson Brown, still getting the most first-team reps, had a nice run to the left in team tempo. In a mid-practice 11-on-11, Kanye Udoh and Demarius Robinson each had impressive gains to the left. Alton McCaskill had a long touchdown run in the middle with the third-team offense in 11-on-11 near the end of the day, and Robinson’s tough touchdown run in the 11-on-11 redzone session was the day’s final play. Arroyo said “the pressure’s on” the running backs as they jockey to replace Cam Skattebo’s record-setting production, and with ASU’s depth, a committee approach could make sense.
• ASU’s defense, specifically the pass rush, continues to have the edge early in camp. Defensive lineman Justin Wodtly had a strong day making several plays behind the line of scrimmage and batted down a pass at the line. Elijah O’Neal had a pair of sacks, while Roman Pitre and Clayton Smith each had one.
• The linebackers, led by starters Jordan Crook and Keyshaun Elliott, appear more comfortable in their second year in the system. “Those guys are playing at a high level right now,” said defensive coordinator Brian Ward.
• Redshirt freshman cornerback Plas Johnson continued his strong spring showing and has mixed in with the first and second-team defenses. During a drill, he made a great one-handed catch, earning praise from Dillingham who yelled about the former multi-position Chaparral star “He was a wideout!”

• Other young defensive backs continue to shine. Redshirt freshmen Tony Louis-Nkuba and Chris Johnson are doing well in their moves from corner to safety, and redshirt freshmen cornerback Rodney Bimage continues to shine and make a strong push for playing time behind starters Javan Robinson and Keith Abney. Said defensive coordinator Brian Ward of Bimage and Plas Johnson making a push for time: “Those guys are ultra-talented guys. The challenge for those younger guys is not to have the deer-in-the-headlights mentality” and to continue to prepare like starters.

• The offensive starters today: QB: Sam Leavitt, RB: Kyson Brown, WR Noble Johnson, Malik McClain, Jalen Moss (slot), TE: Chamon Metayer, LT: Josh Atkins, LG: Sean Na’a, C: Ben Coleman, RG: Kyle Scott, RT: Jalen Klemm (returning RT starter Max Iheanachor is out for spring).
• The defensive starters today: DT: C.J. Fite, Zac Swanson, DE: Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Javan Robinson, S: Xavion Alford, Myles Rowser, Nickel: Montana Warren.

Practice 4: April 1

After a productive and energetic Saturday practice that was open to the fans, Kenny Dillingham found Tuesday’s start to the second week of spring practice lacking. He felt the defense brought “fake energy” earlier in the day, while the offense ended the day with “the worst last two periods of offensive football I’ve seen in a long time.” He specified snapping issues as a major concern of a “sloppy” end.

• The tight ends position continues to shine, particularly the depth behind returning All-Big 12 starter Chamon Metayer. Today, Kentucky transfer Khamari Anderson shone, and he had a long touchdown on a perfectly thrown ball by Sam Leavitt. Dillingham said of the group, “Not only are they really good, freakish talents, they’re really good kids, really intelligent, and they all care.”
• Leavitt had a steady day despite the pressure from the defense. He added a touchdown run during an 11-on-11 redzone period.
• When asked if he wants a featured back or a by-committee approach from his running backs, Dillingham simply said he wants whatever it will take to win. Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown, and newcomer Kanye Udoh have led the way in workload so far in camp, and Dillingham said that he has “a lot of guys who deserve to play.”
• There were some low snaps from starter Ben Coleman and some high snaps from reserves.
• The defensive front appeared to continue to have the upper hand, keeping the offense’s ground game in check and pressuring the Sun Devil quarterbacks. Interior pressure continues to be noticeable, as C.J. Fite and Zac Swanson have had success, while linebackers Tate Romney and Jordan Crook had sacks today. Defensive end Roman Pitre was in the backfield often and knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
• A few receivers had standout days. True freshman Harry Hassman made multiple impressive catches in the 7-on-7 session and saw second-team reps. Speedy redshirt freshman Zechariah Sample dominated in the 1-on-1 period, first beating All-Big 12 safety Xavion Alford on a go route for a touchdown, then making a tough catch over the middle through tight coverage, and finished the period with a impressive diving touchdown.

• But the day’s star may have been Clemson transfer Noble Johnson, who continued to receive first-team reps with the continued absence of Jordyn Tyson. His highlight of the day came with a nasty move to shake Rodney Bimage for a touchdown in the 1-on-1 period. Johnson, along with Fresno State transfer Jalen Moss, and Jaren Hamilton (Alabama) have been coming along and impressed Dillingham with their athleticism. He said he expects improved performance from them as they get more comfortable in the scheme.

• Tuesday saw the return of starting cornerback Javan Robinson and starting safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser to the team periods. Fellow starting cornerback Keith Abney put together a strong day, as he appears poised to take a big step forward in 2025. Redshirt freshman cornerback Plas Johnson continues to put together a strong start to camp. He picked off a pass today in 1-on-1.

• Purdue transfer defensive back Kyndrich Breedlove had an interception off a tipped ball in the team period and added another later on via a deep ball from quarterback Jeff Sims.
• The offensive starters today: QB: Sam Leavitt, RB: Kyson Brown, WR Noble Johnson, Malik McClain, Jalen Moss (slot), TE: Chamon Metayer, LT: Josh Atkins, LG: Sean Na’a, C: Ben Coleman, RG: Kyle Scott, RT: Jalen Klemm (returning RT starter Max Iheanachor is out for spring).
• The defensive starters today: DT: C.J. Fite, Zac Swanson, DE: Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Javan Robinson, S: Xavion Alford, Myles Rowser, Nickel: Montana Warren.

Practice 3: March 29

Saturday’s session saw the Sun Devils under the lights with the first night practice of the spring. It also was an open practice, with hundreds of ASU fans flocking to the Kajikawa Practice Fields to watch their team in action. The practice capped an initial week of spring ball that Kenny Dillingham termed as “good, not to be confused with great.”

The team donned shoulder pads for the first time this spring, and rise in physicality and intensity was noticeable. On more than one occasion, some extra shoves and words were exchanged after the whistle.

After practice, Dillingham said that star receiver Jordyn Tyson and starting safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser were held out due to injury reasons. With both entrenched in the starting lineup, Dillingham said they will be “protective” of them and other top players in terms of availability in spring.

• Even without his go-to target in Tyson, quarterback Sam Leavitt had a strong session, especially attacking downfield, highlighted by a pair of deep connections with Derek Eusebio and Noble Johnson in the 7-on-7 period, and a deep bomb to Malik McClain in 1-on-1s

• With Tyson out, other receivers stepped up. Jaren Hamilton came away with a nice contested catch along the sidelines in 1-on-1s before hauling in a deep ball from Leavitt in the final 11-on-11 period. True freshman Cory Butler’s quickness was on display during a rep in which he juked his defender off balance, earning a loud reaction from his teammates. Jalen Moss ended the night with a catch and stretch to the goal line on a ball from Jeff Sims. But perhaps the best practice belonged to redshirt sophomore Derek Eusebio, who made several impressive catches, including a leaping grab in 1-on-1s.

• The pass rush was able to generate some consistent pressure throughout the night, especially up the middle. C.J. Fite and Zac Swanson each were able to get in the backfield to disrupt the quarterbacks.
• The defensive play of the night came on a pick six by linebacker Tate Romney, who intercepted Michael “Butter” Tollefson and ran it back for a score.
• A trio of young pass rushers had strong showings in the 1-on-1 matchups with the offensive and defensive lines. Redshirt freshmen Salesi Manu and Albert Smith III each beat opposing tackles with quickness off the edges for wins, while Roman Pitre showed off a dazzling spin move on a rep to beat Jalen Klemm.

• Offensive linemen who shined during the drill: right guard Kyle Scott, left guard Jimeto Obigbo, center/guard Sean Na’a, and true freshman Maki Stewart.
• The fans got an extended look at the team’s kickers. Eastern Michigan transfer Jesus Gomez had a rough early showing, making just one of four kicks (ranging from 38 to 50 yards) while Carston Kieffer made both of his attempts (38 and 40 yards), as did Ian Hershey (43 and 50). However, Gomez rebounded with an impressive make from 58 yards, proving his confidence in a team meeting earlier in the day was founded.

• The offensive starters today: QB: Sam Leavitt, RB: Kyson Brown, WR Noble Johnson, Malik McClain, Derek Eusebio (slot), TE: Chamon Metayer, LT: Josh Atkins, LG: Sean Na’a, C: Ben Coleman, RG: Kyle Scott, RT: Jalen Klemm (returning RT starter Max Iheanachor is out for spring).
• The defensive starters today: DT: C.J. Fite, Zac Swanson, DE: Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Rodney Bimage, S: Xavion Alford, Jack Bal, Nickel: Montana Warren.

Practice 2: March 27

Kenny Dillingham’s musical mental campaign continued. Like Tuesday’s practice, Queen’s “We Are The Champions” was played on repeat throughout practice, as Dillingham aims to ensure his players don’t rest on their laurels. Thursday’s session was conducted in helmets, jerseys, and shorts.

• Dillingham announced that Saturday’s practice will be open to the public, starting at 6 p.m. at the Kajikawa Practice Fields. He mentioned that, beyond the fan engagement, he sees it as a chance to further motivate the players with hundreds in attendance. ASU is urging fans to park across Rural from the practice fields, near the tennis courts and Desert Financial Arena, as construction has closed the parking lot entrance.
• We got our first look at new kicker Jesus Gomez. The All-MAC transfer from Eastern Michigan showed off his strong left leg, nailing a kick form about 47 yards with plenty of room to spare. With ASU’s kicking issues in 2024, Gomez will be looked at to play a key role. Learn more about Gomez’s journey here.
• It was a big day for some new pass catchers. Alabama transfer Jaren Hamilton had a few notable plays on the, including a deep scoring grab from Jeff Sims in the 11-on-11 period and another in the redzone 11-on-11. He also showed off a good move during the main event to spring for a score.

• The play of the day belonged to true freshman tight end A.J. Ia, who burned his defender on a long scoring pass after which his momentum had him run over a student photographer. She was OK. Ia cuts an impressive physical figure at 6′6″, 240 pounds, and Dillingham thinks he could be in line to contribute early.

• The defensive backs continue to look good. Newcomer Nyland Green had multiple pass breakups and Keith Abney looks strong entering his second season as a starter. Green, along with fellow Purdue transfer Kyndrich Breedlove (at nickel), could push for significant roles in the secondary. Rodney Bimage continued his impressive start to spring, earning first-team reps and making a nice interception while falling down.

• Wide receivers Jordyn Tyson and Jalen Moss, and running backs Raleek Brown and Demarius Robinson saw time at punt returner.
• Sophomore punter Kanyon Floyd had a strong day with his kicks.
• Leif Fautanu, ASU’s starting center the last two seasons, was in attendance.
• The offensive starters today: QB: Sam Leavitt, RB: Raleek Brown, WR Jordyn Tyson, Malik McClain, Derek Eusebio (slot), TE: Chamon Metayer, LT: Josh Atkins, LG: Sean Na’a, C: Ben Coleman, RG: Kyle Scott, RT: Jalen Klemm (returning RT starter Max Iheanachor is out for spring).
• The defensive starters today: DT: C.J. Fite, Zac Swanson, DE: Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Rodney Bimage, S: Xavion Alford, Myles Rowser, Nickel: Montana Warren.

Practice 1: March 25

The mind games of Kenny Dillingham were evident right off the bat for spring’s first practice. Queen’s “We are the Champions” blasted through the speakers at the Kajikawa Practice Fields as the team took the field...and didn’t stop. The song played dozens of times over the course of the two-hour practice, and like all things with Dillingham, it was with intent. He wants his team fully focused on the task ahead this season, not resting on their laurels.

“I want it to become monotonous, like who gives a crap?” Dillingham said of the playlist choice. “We’re trying to make last year irrelevant because nobody cares anymore.”

Per regulations, the first few practices of spring are held with the players in helmets, jerseys, and shorts, so the first day featured limited contact and no hitting. As is typical for early camp sessions, the defense had the edge overall.

• After the team stretch and some light position drills, the team went into an 11-on-11 team tempo session. Kyson Brown got the first reps at running back alongside star quarterback Sam Leavitt, with Malik McClain and newcomer Jalen Moss (slot) starting at wide receiver with returning star Jordyn Tyson. The offensive line had a new look, with last year’s starting left guard, Ben Coleman, taking over at center. Redshirt sophomore Sean Na’a saw the first reps at left guard, with returning starters Josh Atkins (left tackle) and Kyle Scott (right guard). With starting right tackle Max Iheanachor out for spring due to injury, Jalen Klemm got the nod there.
• The battle at wide receiver behind Tyson will be an important one to watch. McClain saw action last year, and Moss transferred to ASU after posting over 100 catches at Fresno State. Jaren Hamilton (Alabama) and Noble Johnson (Clemson) are newcomers from Power 5 programs, but it was one of four true freshman who had a few big plays today. Harry Hassmann, a 6-foot-2 Texan, had a standout rep in the team’s main event, then later caught a deep touchdown in 1-on-1s.

• Another key battle will be at running back, with Kyson Brown and Army transfer Kanye Udoh. We’ll get a better sense of the battle once the pads come on, but they figure to jockey for much of the work in replacing All-American Cam Skattebo. Raleek Brown, who medically redshirted last year, also saw time, including running with the first team during 7-on-7s.

• The starting defense was mostly unchanged from last year: DT - C.J. Fite, Zac Swanson, DE - Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, LB - Keyshaun Elliott, Jordan Crook, CB: Keith Abney, Rodney Bimage, S - Xavion Alford, Myles Rowser, Nickel - Montana Warren.
• The defensive backs had a strong day. Rodney Bimage had a great interception during the main event and followed it up with good reps in 1-on-1s. He’ll battle to be the team’s third cornerback behind Abney and Javan Robinson. First-team All-Big 12 safety Xavion Alford and newcomer Kyndrich Breedlove (Purdue) also had impressive reps.

• After an install period, the skill players went into a 7-on-7 session. Leavitt connected on a nice back-shoulder throw to Tyson before Jeff Sims connected with tight end Cameron Harpole for a big gain on a deep seam route. Freshman quarterback Michael “Butter” Tollefson threw a bad interception, and Myles Rowser later picked off Leavitt on what would have been a pick six. Leavitt would find Tyson for a touchdown when the session moved into the redzone.
• During the final 11-on-11 period, the defense held firm, with Abney registering an interception of Leavitt and Elijah O’Neal posting what would have been a strip sack.
• Tuesday was also the coaching debut of Trenton Bourguet. A six-year quarterback for the Devils, Bourguet is now an assistant running backs coach under Shaun Aguano.

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