*This is part of a series of previews for Student Union Sports, for teams other than Arizona State, see here.
So, year one for Herm Edwards and Arizona State was a pleasant surprise. Many thought that they would tank, badly, but 7-6 is not a bad start for Herm. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, they lost the three biggest parts of their offense. So if Herm is going to succeed, he will have to rebuild the Arizona State offense quickly.
Prestige Ranking: 3*
Throughout their history, Arizona State has not done much at all. The last time they won a conference title was 2007, during which Dennis Erickson was the head coach, and the conference was the PAC-10. So yeah, the Sun Devils are the definition of a middle-of-the-road program.
Last Year’s Record: 7-6 (5-4 PAC-12)
After the 2017 season, Arizona State fired Todd Graham for going 7-6. Seeking an improved record, the Sun Devils hired Herm, who proceeded to go 7-6. They could have potentially won 9 games, but losses to San Diego State and Colorado (when they were still good) doomed that.
Projected Returning Starters
Offense: 7
- RB Eno Benjamin
- WR Frank Darby
- WR Kyle Williams
- LT Zach Robertson
- LG Alex Losoya
- C Cohl Cabral
- TE Tommy Hudson
With the loss of QB Manny Wilkins, the Sun Devils will have a new man behind center for the first time in three years. Freshman Jayden Daniels was just named the starter this year. The first true freshman to start in Arizona State history, Daniels put up video game numbers in high school and looks to be a future star.
Running back Eno Benjamin will be the star of the offense. One of the best backs in the conference, Benjamin totaled 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. With a freshman QB, Benjamin will be carrying a load this season. Depth behind him is a concern, with backup Isaiah Floyd totaling only 209 yards last season.
The Sun Devils lose 1,000 receiver N’keal Harry, but return the next top two targets in Kyle Williams and Frank Darby. Brandon Aiyuk looks to be the number one target for the offense, and the athletic senior will be relied upon to help Daniels acclimate as a freshman.
The offensive line looks to be the strength of the team, with five likely seniors starting and three returning starters, including star center Cohl Cabral. They should open up ample running lanes for Benjamin and Daniels.
Defense: 6
- DT Shannon Forman
- OLB Merlin Robertson
- ILB Darien Butler
- CB Chase Lucas
- CB Kobe Williams
- S Aashari Croswell
Last year, Arizona State fielded one of the youngest defenses in college football. The teams top two tacklers are only sophomores, being linebackers Merlin Robertson and Darien Butler. In addition, the third linebacker spot is occupied by yet another sophomore.
The biggest concern is the defensive line, where no starters return. There is experience there, but if the any part of the defense struggles, it will be here. The line is young though, with only George Lea being a senior. Lea started at DE towards the end of the year and showed potential.
The secondary has a healthy mix of experience and youth, which should help both now and in the future. Sophomore safety Aashari Crosswell led the team in interceptions a year ago, and should be one of the better safeties in the conference.
Specialists:1
- K Brandon Ruiz
Kicker Brandon Ruiz went 18-22 last season, so Arizona State should be fine there. They are breaking in a new punter in Michael Turk, but the Sun Devils believe he will be an improvement.
Key Losses
QB Manny Wilkins- Three year starter and leader, his loss will be especially felt if Jayden Daniels struggles.
DT Renell Wren- Wren was dominant in the middle of the line, and if the D-line struggles, Wren will be especially missed.
Key Newcomer on Offense: QB Jayden Daniels
After putting up insane numbers in high school, Daniels is being looked at as a potential star for Arizona State. If he can get a handle on the offense, stay healthy, and use his athleticism, he has a chance to take the Pac-12 by storm.
Key Newcomer on Defense: OLB Tyler Johnson
Johnson is stepping in as a new starter at LB, but coaches already love his potential. With two experienced linebackers next to him, Johnson could be primed for a big year.
Win the Conference if:
If we are being honest, Arizona State is not going to win the conference. They lost a lot from last year, and are a bit young. They could contend in a few years, but not this year.
Circle this game: Arizona
Last year, Arizona State pulled a few upsets over USC and Arizona. With the expectation that the Sun Devils will struggle this year, the Arizona game may have bowl implications. Even if not, beating their in-state rival two years in a row would have the folks in Tucson sweating.
2019 Outlook: 5-7
Last year, I was not a Herm believer at all. That is less true this year. That being said, I think that the losses coupled with a young QB may keep Arizona State from the postseason. However, the future is bright, especially if Herm can keep his recruiting up.