3-9 season a roller coaster of highs, lows
Another season is in the books for the Arizona State Sun Devils who settled for a 3-9 record, with a 2-7 in Pac-12 play.
A mere 48 hours after the regular season finale a new era was ushered in with Kenny Dillingham, formerly offensive coordinator at Oregon, appointed head coach. The newcomer confirmed that interim coach Shaun Aguano, who took over under difficult circumstances, would be staying on staff although that role has not been carved out.
Let’s look back at the high and lows of the just completed season:
MVP (Offense): Senior running back Xazavian Valladay
The Wyoming transfer ran for 1,192 yards on 215 tries with 16 touchdowns, highlighted by seven games in which he rushed for 100 or more yards. This marked the third season in which he has had 1,000 yards and he’s the active career rushing leader among all FBS runners. Making this season more noteworthy is that he played behind an offensive line that was missing two or more starters the last five games. He led the Pac 12 in scoring and was second in rushing.
MVP (Defense): Senior linebacker Kyle Soelle
The Saguaro graduate registered a team-high 110 tackles with two interceptions. He had six straight games in which he managed double digits in tackles with a career-high 18 coming in the loss to Eastern Michigan. He had 16 the previous week for an impressive total of 34 in back-to-back games. Soelle finished 10th in the nation in tackles at 10 per game. Honorable mention to safety Khoury Bethley.
Breakout player: Sophomore wide receiver Elijhah Badger
For as bad as the season was, there are a lot of candidates here. If we have to pick one let’s go with wide receiver Elijhah Badger, who arrived in the fall of 2020 as a four-star prospect with enormous athletic potential. It may have taken a while for that ability to shine through but better late than never. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder finished with 70 receptions for 866 yards and seven touchdowns with a career-best of nine catches for 137 yards in the 42-34 win at Colorado. Honorable mention here to tight end Jalin Conyers, wide receiver Giovanni Sanders, quarterback Trenton Bourguet and cornerback Ed Woods.
Most underutilized player: Sophomore running back Daniyel Ngata
That’s an easy selection here, redshirt sophomore running back Daniyel Ngata who had the misfortune of playing behind Rachaad White and Chip Trayanum for two years, then with both of those gone he looked to have more of a role.
Enter Valladay. Ngata finished with 272 yards on 54 carries (5 ypc) with one touchdown. The Sun Devils also tried to work him into the mix on special teams where he had 18 returns for 411 yards (22.83 ypr) with a long of 58 yards.
Top freshman: Kicker Carter Brown
This is an area ASU had really struggled with the past few years. In 2021 the longest field goal ASU managed was 40 yards so Brown was a significant upgrade with a best of 53 yards against Washington, longest by a true freshman in school history and sixth longest ever. On the season he was 11-for-14 with five of 40 yards or more and was selected as Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week twice. Honorable mention to defensive back Isaiah Johnson.
Most pleasant surprise: Wide receiving corps
That would have to be the performance of the wide receivers group as a whole. The Sun Devils lost their top four pass catchers and six of their top seven from last season and it was anybody’s guess who was going to step up and be the go-to guy this season. Not only did Badger blossom, so did Giovanni Sanders, a one-time walk-on, as well as Conyers.
Bryan Thompson was fourth on the team in receiving but had some clutch catches and some difficult ones as well. Thompson is the only athlete of that group that graduates so it the unit stays in tact, it will be even more potent come 2023.
Biggest disappointment: Defense
We have to go with a defense as a whole. There were enough returning players that more was expected. The Sun Devils were eighth (387.3 ypg) overall and ninth in scoring defense (31.4 ppg). And while they were tied for fourth in interceptions with 11, they were eighth in sacks (17) and managed only one, yes one, fumble recovery. They forced only five.
Best offensive play: Badger eludes defenders after catch
This usually goes for a big play that resulted in a touchdown. But we’re going with a 37-yard reception by Badger from Bourguet late in the first quarter against Colorado that took the ball from the ASU 10 to the ASU 47. The notable thing about the play was Badger’s effort after the catch as nine different defenders had him in their grasp.
Best defensive play: Jordan Clark’s pick-six vs. Washington
As mentioned the unit underachieved so that weren’t a whole lot of plays to choose from. The highlight, and a significant one because it came in a big win, was Jordan Clark’s 38-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Sun Devils 45-38 upset of Washington. That play came in the first half and gave ASU a 2410 lead.
Most memorable game: Upset win over Washington
Another one that is isn’t difficult given that there were just three victories to choose from. That would be the 45-38 win over a Washington team then ranked No. 21 in the country and boasting the top passer in college football in Michael Penix. It was also the first win for ASU under Aguano.
Worst game: Loss to Eastern Michigan
It has to be the 30-21 loss to Eastern Michigan. It’s one thing to lost to Utah, USC or Oregon. It’s another to lost to Eastern Michigan. Granted EMU finished 8-4 and won its division of the MAC but a Pac-12 team losing to a MAC school is a bad look. It was also the way in which ASU looked, uninspired and undisciplined with the loss leading to the end of the Herm Edwards tenure. And yes honorable mention to the 38-35 loss to rival Arizona in the Territorial Cup showdown, not because it was a loss, but it was loss of state bragging rights and the end of a five-year run with the Cup.
Most injury plagued unit: Offensive line slammed with injuries
Local product Joey Ramos, who was excited about playing at home after transferring from Iowa State, sustained a season-ending ankle injury in the season opener while left guard LaDarius Henderson missed the last six games with a hand injury. In addition right tackle-right guard Des Holmes missed two games and center Ben Scott missed one. That’s a unit that really needs continuity, and it was difficult late in the season.
Best interview: Senior DL Nesta Jade Silvera
Another category with a lot of strong candidates but we’ll go with senior defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera. Honorable mention here to fullback Case Hatch and junior offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson. Defensive end Michael Matus would have been right up there too had he not gotten injured before the first game, taking him out of the mix.
Funniest moments: Silvera provides laughs
Silvera provided a couple of them. In the game against USC at the Coliseum he had a water bottle in his hand while on the sideline and squirted USC quarterback Caleb Williams as he ran by. The gesture got out on social media, drawing the expected amusement for ASU faithful and ridicule from those on the other side. Then after the game against Washington, the big lineman ran around on the field frantically looking for the Victory Bell which he wanted to ring but it was not brought out because of the number of people on the field after the upset.