ASU football holds first practice of season Tuesday morning in Tempe
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoach Todd Graham gives tour of new Student Athlete Facility | 2:51
Members of the media were given their first look at the new Student Athlete Facility in the north end zone of Sun Devil Stadium. The facility is state of the art, according to Head Coach Todd Graham. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football: Breaking of the rock | 1:12
ASU football ended summer workouts on Wednesday, July 19 with its tradition of breaking a rock.
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSImportant dates for ASU football’s 2017 preseason | 1:16
Fans of Arizona State football should keep these key dates in mind as the Sun Devils’ preseason approaches. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSPaying homage to ASU legend Frank Kush | 1:29
Raul Monreal, 45, Chandler, brings flowers to the statue of Arizona State University Head Coach Frank Kush outside Sun Devil Stadium, Thursday, June 22, 2017. Monreal, from ASU Class of 1995, is a big fan of Kush. Tom Tingle/azcentral.com
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football legend Frank Kush passes away at 88 | 1:51
Former ASU coach Frank Kush leaves a lasting memory for Sun Devil fans. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU’s West Side Club at Sun Devil Stadium | 0:49
Ray Anderson (ASU Vice President for Athletics) talks about ASU’s new club level seating at Sun Devil Stadium on June 23, 2017.
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSMixed emotions: Kush’s death; draft excitement | 1:55
Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley give tribute to former ASU football coach Frank Kush and discuss the NBA draft in our Shot Clock video.
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBreaking down Arizona State football’s 2017 schedule | 1:47
A look at each game in the Sun Devils’ 2017 season Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football – 10 players to watch in 2017 | 2:05
Here are 10 Arizona State football players whose performance in 2017 will go a long way toward determining if the Sun Devils will have their first winning season since 2014. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football: 5 areas of concern | 1:00
azcentral sports’ Jeff Metcalfe takes a look at some pressing issues for the Sun Devils heading into 2017. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWho will be the starting QB at ASU? | 0:43
Jay Dieffenbach and Doug Haller discuss: Will it be newcomer Blake Barnett, or will Manny Wilkins hold on to the job? Video: azcentral sports Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS5 observations from ASU spring football | 1:18
Jeff Metcalfe takes a closer look at some of the top issues surrounding the Sun Devils football team. Video: azcentral sports Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSEarly preseason top 10 college football teams for 2017 | 1:02
The college football season doesn’t start until the fall but it’s never too early to start looking ahead. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWide receivers shine in ASU football spring game | 2:52
Wide receivers, including John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome, were the headliners Saturday at the Arizona State football spring game.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, David Kadlubowski/Arizona Republic Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU shows off some offense in spring game | 0:54
Offensive highlights from ASU’s spring game on Saturday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSights from ASU football’s spring game | 0:53
Hyperlapse of ASU’s spring football game.
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS2017 ASU Spring Game & Fan Fest | 0:49
Here’s what you need to know before you head to ASU’s Spring Game and Fan Fest on Saturday. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham: ‘The big thing is to get better fundamentally’ | 2:37
Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham talks about his team’s second spring scrimmage on Friday, April 7. Video: Jeff Metcafle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU coach Graham on Richard, Hill and more | 3:15
ASU football coach Todd Graham talks about Demario Richard, Christian Hill and more after spring practice on Wednesday, April 5.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, Nick Oza/Arizona Republic Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions at practice | 0:27
ASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions to his players at Monday’s workout in Tempe. Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham speaks after ASU holds first spring scrimmage | 2:28
Coach Todd Graham says defense came out ahead by limiting big plays during ASU’s first spring scrimmage on Wednesday. Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football completes second week of spring practice | 3:14
Arizona State football completed its sixth spring practice Friday at Sun Devil Stadium with nine practices remaining over the next three weeks. The spring game is April 15. Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham on new consultants White, Christensen | 2:11
ASU football coach Todd Graham discusses hiring Danny White and Dave Christensen as consultants. Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU QB Blake Barnett on starting spring | 2:36
Quarterback Blake Barnett, a transfer from Alabama, is in his first year at Arizona State. He is competing with four returners to be the starting QB.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, Rob Schumacher, Nick Oza, Thomas Hawthorne/Arizona Republic Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham on opening of ASU spring practice | 0:57
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham discusses the first day of football spring practice on March 14, 2017 at the Kajikawa Practice Facility in Tempe, Ariz. By Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football opens spring practice | 1:33
ASU football begins sixth season under coach Todd Graham with five new assistant coaches. (Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTransfer QB Blake Barnett on coming to ASU to compete | 1:10
Transfer quarterback Blake Barnett talks about coming to ASU to compete for the starting job on Wednesday. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBilly Napier discusses first day of ASU practice | 1:05
Arizona State offensive coordinator Billy Napier discusses the first day of football spring practice on March 14, 2017 at the Kajikawa Practice Facility in Tempe, Ariz. By Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham talks staffing challenges, 2017 season | 3:01
ASU football coach Todd Graham talks about the challenge of hiring “good people” and losing them to other schools entering ASU’s 2017 season on Wednesday. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports
Coach Todd Graham gives tour of new Student Athlete Facility
ASU football: Breaking of the rock
Important dates for ASU football’s 2017 preseason
Paying homage to ASU legend Frank Kush
ASU football legend Frank Kush passes away at 88
ASU’s West Side Club at Sun Devil Stadium
Mixed emotions: Kush’s death; draft excitement
Breaking down Arizona State football’s 2017 schedule
ASU football – 10 players to watch in 2017
ASU football: 5 areas of concern
Who will be the starting QB at ASU?
5 observations from ASU spring football
Early preseason top 10 college football teams for 2017
Wide receivers shine in ASU football spring game
ASU shows off some offense in spring game
Sights from ASU football’s spring game
2017 ASU Spring Game & Fan Fest
Todd Graham: ‘The big thing is to get better fundamentally’
ASU coach Graham on Richard, Hill and more
ASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions at practice
Todd Graham speaks after ASU holds first spring scrimmage
ASU football completes second week of spring practice
Todd Graham on new consultants White, Christensen
ASU QB Blake Barnett on starting spring
Todd Graham on opening of ASU spring practice
ASU football opens spring practice
Transfer QB Blake Barnett on coming to ASU to compete
Billy Napier discusses first day of ASU practice
Todd Graham talks staffing challenges, 2017 season
Arizona State on Tuesday opened coach Todd Graham’s sixth season with the Sun Devils’s first football practice.
ASU is coming off consecutive losing seasons but return standouts including senior running back Kalen Ballage, sophomore receiver N’Keal Harry, senior running back Demario Richard and junior defensive end JoJo Wicker.
At the same time, the Sun Devils have several questions, including a quarterback competition and an inexperienced secondary.
-As expected, junior quarterback Manny Wilkins lined up with the first team during ASU’s initial walk-through. Wilkins is battling sophomore Blake Barnett for ASU’s starting position. Barnett last season played at Alabama before transferring to ASU over the winter. Sophomore Brady White wore a green no-contact jersey. White suffered a season-ending foot injury last season. His recovery likely will take him out of this season’s competition, but Graham has not ruled him out for the season.
-ASU’s secondary obviously will be a concern all season, particularly the corner positions. Lining up with the first-team: Redshirt-freshman Chase Lucas and junior Joseph Bryant, a non-scholarship player who participates on the track team. The safeties were junior Dasmond Tautalatasi and senior Chad Adams.
-ASU recently added Paul Lucas to its roster, but according to a media-relations official, he did not participate in ASU’s first workout. A junior running back, Lucas was an elite sprinter and 3-star football prospect at Phoenix Mountain Pointe. After initially committing to ASU, Lucas signed to play football at Oregon State. As a hybrid running back/wide receiver, Lucas had 22 carries for 171 yards in 2015 and 33 carries for 113 in 2016. He had a combined seven catches in those seasons. In January Lucas transferred to ASU to run track. If he continues his football career with the Sun Devils, he’ll have to sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
–New defensive coordinator Phil Bennett rode his bike to practice. New offensive coordinator Billy Napier ran over from the Carson Center.
— Devil backer Jalen Bates also was among four players in a green non-contact jersey. WR Ryan Jenkins was running on the side.
Depth chart
Here’s how ASU’s first-team defense looked. Keep in mind, it’s the first day.
DE JoJo Wicker*
DT George Lea
DT Tashon Smallwood*
Devil Koron Crump*
LB DJ Calhoun*
LB Christian Sam
Spur J’Marcus Rhodes
CB Joseph Bryant
DB Dasmond Tautalatasi
DB Chad Adams
CB Chase Lucas
*Returning starters
Notes: Senior safety Marcus Ball worked with the second team. I did not see senior corner Maurice Chandler, who last season started four games. (Doesn’t mean he wasn’t there; I just didn’t see him.)
Here’s how the first team offense lined up during an early tempo period:
QB Manny Wilkins*
RB Demario Richard*
WR N’Keal Harry*
WR Jalen Harvey
WR John Humphrey
LT Cohl Cabral
LG Sam Jones*
C A.J. McCollum*
RG Steve Miller
RT Quinn Bailey*
(Did not catch who was lined up on first team at tight end)
The second offensive line was: Tyson Rising, LT; Connor Humphreys, LG; Tyler McClure, C; Alex Losoya, RG; Mason Walter, RT. Walter was listed as backup LT at the end of spring practice.
ASU fan poll: Your biggest concern entering the season:
With the start of practice just days away, Arizona State coach Todd Graham said his approach to the Sun Devils’ quarterback competition was simple.
“We have a returning starter,’’ Graham said. “He’s the starting quarterback until someone beats him out. Is there competition? Big-time competition.”
That suggests that entering Tuesday’s first practice, junior Manny Wilkins is the man to beat as the Sun Devils look to rebound from consecutive losing seasons. Alabama transfer Blake Barnett, however, is right behind him.
Wilkins last season started 10 games, but injuries slowed his development. He completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,329 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Wilkins also was a fearless runner, rushing for 246 yards and five touchdowns.
A five-star high school prospect, Barnett was last year’s Week 1 starter at Alabama. After losing the job, he left the program after four games, transferring to ASU in the winter. Since then, Barnett has established himself within the program, battling Wilkins in the spring and through the summer.
Jalen Nailor, a speedy receiver from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High, committed to Arizona State on Saturday. He is the ninth known commitment in coach Todd Graham’s 2018 recruiting class.
This week, NevadaPreps.com ranked Nailor (5-11, 170 pounds) as the No. 2 receiver/pass catcher in Southern Nevada. Scout.com lists him as the No. 26 receiver in the West.