UW’S NEXT OPPONENT: ARIZONA STATE
Here’s a look at Arizona State, which will face Wisconsin at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium:
OFFENSE
The Sun Devils finished the regular season fifth in the Pacific 12 and 24th nationally at 202.3 rushing yards per game.
However, that was with Rachaad White and DeaMonte Trayanum, and center Dohnovan West in the lineup. White is skipping the bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. He rushed for 1,006 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry, and 15 touchdowns. Trayanum entered the transfer portal and recently announced he plans to play for Ohio State next season. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and finished the season with 402 yards and six touchdowns.
West is out because of a thumb injury. The absence of White and Trayanum will put more pressure on quarterback Jayden Daniels and redshirt freshman tailback Daniyel Ngata.
In addition to passing for 2,222 yards, with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions, Daniels has rushed for 670 yards and six touchdowns. “Some young guys are going to play now,” Arizona State coach Herm Edwards said.
White was also a factor in the Sun Devils’ passing game. He finished with 43 catches, the No. 2 mark on the team, for 456 yards.
Daniels still has several receiving threats.
Tight end Curtis Hodges averages 18.7 yards per catch and has two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall leads the team in catches (44) and touchdown catches (four). Wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton averages 12.8 yards per catch and has two touchdowns.
DEFENSE
Edwards’ defense suffered three departures.
Starting cornerbacks Jack Jones (three interceptions, 42 tackles) and Chase Lucas (six passes broken up, 34 tackles), and linebacker Darien Butler (68 tackles, three interceptions) all opted out of the bowl game.
The loss of Butler could be particularly important as he was one of the keys behind the Sun Devils limiting foes to 129.0 rushing yards per game, No. 3 in the Pacific 12 and No. 32 nationally. Butler missed two games but still finished with 18 tackles for either no gain or loss.
Arizona State’s defensive front will be under pressure to blow up plays at the line of scrimmage and keep linebacker Kyle Soelle (71⁄2 tackles for loss, 82 total tackles) free to flow to the ball. Tackle D.J. Davidson has to be blocked for UW to have success running the ball. Davidson is tied for third on the team in tackles for loss (61⁄2) and total tackles (57), and has broken up four passes.
End Tyler Johnson and tackle Anthonie Cooper have four and 31⁄2 sacks, respectively.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Redshirt freshman D.J. Taylor is an above-average return specialist who is averaging 13.3 yards on punts and 22.6 yards on kickoffs.
Eddie Czaplicki is an outstanding punter with a 43.3-yard average. Thirteen of his 42 punts have been at least 50 yards and he has only three touchbacks. Opponents are averaging 5.6 yards per return.
Kickoff specialist Logan Tyler has 42 touchbacks on 64 kicks.