Edwards giving Devils’ newcomers strong look
Shortly after assembling his first recruiting class, Herm Edwards made it known: Arizona State would not be afraid to use its newcomers in his first season.
That plan appeared to be in motion at this weekend’s first fall practices. ASU had newcomers on both sides line up with the second team. A few got firstteam reps. At this point, this is just to get a look, nothing more, but it shows the program’s intentions.
“I thought the new guys, after about halfway through, the tempo got to them, and that’s OK,” Edwards said. “The veteran guys have gone through the spring and they understand the tempo, but I thought the effort was good.”
The two biggest additions were the easiest to spot. Graduate-transfer Casey Tucker lined up at first-team left tackle, while fellow grad-transfer Roy Hemsley set up at second-team left guard. Tucker – a former Chandler Hamilton High standout – came from Stanford, where he started 22 games. Hemsley came from USC, where he provided depth. They weren’t alone. Freshman receiver Geordon Porter made plays on the second team, as did junior-college transfer Brandon Aiyuk. In the backfield, junior-college transfer Isaiah Floyd, as well as freshmen A.J. Carter and Brock Sturges, got opportunities.
“They’re talented kids,” senior quarterback Manny Wilkins said. “They can do a lot of special things. It’s a different level of playing in the Pac-12; they just need to be coached.”
Sophomore Eno Benjamin is in place as ASU’s top rushing option. Sophomore Trelon Smith is close behind. From there, auditions are underway.
“There’s a nice running-back battle all of a sudden,” Edwards said. “We got to find out who they are. We got to find out what their strengths are.”
Defensively, junior-college transfer Dominique Harrison – who was here in the spring – lined up at a first-team safety position. Prized recruit Merlin Robertson (linebacker) and Aashari Crosswell (safety) got second-team reps. ASU also has high hopes for freshmen Stanley Lambert (linebacker) and Cam Phillips (safety).
“The thing about true freshmen is the speed in which everything happens is so drastically different,” defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said. “Some of them handle it, some of them don’t.”
His general philosophy on playing newcomers:
“The further away from the football you get, the easier it is to play,” Gonzales said. “I don’t think O-linemen and Dlinemen have much of a shot in hell unless they are superb, just a freak of nature. Those guys come around once every 30 years. Linebackers, you don’t have to be as physical, you can use some of your athletic ability to get away.
“Secondary and wide receivers, those guys have a better chance of playing early because their athletic ability gives them the opportunity to match up. Aashari Crosswell, Cam Phillips, those guys have an opportunity if they can learn the speed of the game.”
After the first practice, Edwards was pleased.
“There’s some young, talented guys here,” he said. “This is the first practice, so you can imagine how they were feeling, but I just wanted to watch them run. We got some guys that can run. Now if we can get them to run in the right places, I think we’re OK.”