QB Daniels remains top draw for Devils
ASU prepares for start of spring football practices
Last spring Arizona State freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels sat in the athletes dining room at the student-athlete facility fielding questions from reporters for the first time. He was one of four candidates for the starting QB job and the others competing for the spot sat at adjacent tables.
When the Sun Devils again gathered before the media on Thursday prior to opening spring practice, Daniels was again the main attraction.
The Sun Devils will hold their first of 15 spring football practices on Monday at the Kajikawa practice fields. All will be open to the public.
Daniels is coming off a stellar freshman campaign and while he had a lot to learn coming in as a freshman, this season is shaping up to be just as much of a learning experience.
Among the many newcomers on the coaching staff is offensive coordinator Zak Hill, who will be implementing on a new offense, so Daniels will be starting from square one. And he won’t have the luxury of as many veteran skill positions around him as he did last year.
“Crazy to think its been a while year,” Daniels said. “The biggest thing I’m working on is being more vocal and being a leader. I know a lot more is going to be expected of me but I’m ready.”
Before Daniels sat down, head coach Herm Edwards said he had modest goals for Daniels as a freshman — manage the game and take care of the football. Everyone expects the reigns to come off and Daniels to have more freedom in the flow of the offense as a sophomore — just what every quarterback wants to hear.
“I’m excited,” he said. “That’s what every quarterback wants. I know we lost some guys but we have others guys ready to step up.”
Like the others, Daniels has also been working on getting stronger under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Joe Connolly.
Edwards says the quarterback is still in his office every day, something he has joked about in the past, even if it is just doing homework.
Hill also spoke with the media, as did co-defensive coordinators Antonio Pierce and Marvin Lewis. Lewis, the veteran NFL coach who came aboard with Edwards last spring as a special adviser, volunteered to take on a bigger role when Tony White, who had been elevated to defensive coordinator after the departure of Danny Gonzales, left for the same position at Syracuse.
So Lewis is not working in a limited capacity any longer.
“He came to me and said, ‘I got your back,’ “Edwards said.
Lewis admitted he’s only “handling the baton” for the season because he knew Edwards had enough to handle in replacing the other coaches that left.
Pierce spoke about his various labels. In addition to being linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, he’s also recruiting coordinator as well as associate head coach He says he is the most content when he is the busiest.
“I like organized chaos,” he laughed. Among the others that stopped to talk were running backs Daniyel Ngata and DeaMonte Trayanum, two of the eight true freshman who enrolled in January, so they could participate in spring practice. The two fielded questions like seasoned veterans.
The team will have 20 freshmen and two graduate transfers — both along the offensive line. But the Sun Devils aren’t necessarily done looking for players.
Special teams coach Shawn Slocum said he is looking to address the punter position through the transfer portal. He admitted being surprised sophomore Michael Turk declared for the draft but says he is confident he will have a replacement by the time the fall rolls around.
The Sun Devils, coming off an 8-5 campaign, open the new season Sept. 3 against Northern Arizona.