4. College Football News Preview 2020: Arizona State Sun Devils Defense 3 Things To Know
– Herm Edwards’ defense is supposed to be fantastic. It wasn’t always a rock, but it allowed fewer than 400 yards and 23 points per game, it was terrific against the run, and it was amazing at taking the ball away. The Sun Devils were fourth in the nation in takeaways, it held six teams to 17 points or fewer and now eight starters are expected back.
– The linebacking tandem of Merlin Roberson in the middle and Darien Butler on the outside will be among the best in the Pac-12. They’re big veteran thumpers who combined for 162 tackles and should be a rock from the start.
They’ll clean everything up behind a talented front three led by 284-pound pass rushing junior Jermayne Lole, an all-star at one end, and 313-pound DJ Davidson a 51-tackle veteran in the middle.
– The secondary gave up enough big plays to be a problem – it allowed over 400 yards twice and over 300 to other times – but it was also terrific late in the year at coming up with picks. The interceptions were missing for most of the season – with just four in the first ten games – and then came on with nine in the last three.
Evan Fields is a good tackler – finishing with 83 stops – at one safety spot, and corners Jack Jones and Chase Lucas are solid corners who could use a little more help from the pass rush.