Tag: Arizona State Football

Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham gave an absolutely amped postgame interview after upsetting Utah

Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12. Now they’re 5-1 after upsetting Utah.

No one expected much out of Arizona State football in Year Two of the Kenny Dillingham era.

And that’s not hyperbole. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 after going 3-9 last season.

But six games into the season, the Sun Devils look like real contenders in a wide-open conference, especially after upsetting No. 16 Utah on Friday night to improve to 5-1. A year ago, Utah beat Arizona State 55-6. On Friday, the Sun Devils won 27-19 behind 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Cam Skattebo.

And so, Arizona State fans had a lot of reason to rush the field – and did – and amidst the chaos, Dillingham gave a postgame interview where the mix of emotions ranged from incensed to joyful to declarative to wildly happy. The Phoenix native and Arizona State alum was absolutely amped up after getting a signature win.

“He’s got a dog mentality,” Dillingham said of Skattebo. “… This team fights!”

Then: “We fought man! We competed! That’s what football is about! Competing!”

Indeed.

There’s two other highlights from the game worth seeing.

First, Arizona State’s kicker making a big tackle:

And Skattebo rumbling and stumbling and then sprinting for a touchdown:

Arizona State deserves our attention.

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Brandon Aiyuk requests trade: Will Commanders seek a trade?

What ultimately happens between Aiyuk and the 49ers?

There will be more news regarding Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk, who has been publicly desiring a contract extension prior to the start of his fifth NFL season, went a step further Tuesday, officially asking the San Francisco 49ers to trade him.

He is a great wide receiver and would instantly improve rookie Jayden Daniels’s performance on the field. He would be the best receiver on Washington’s team. Teamed with Terry McLaurin, the duo would quickly be a much better threat for the Commanders’ offense.

Another plus for the Commanders is that Aiyuk had a prior relationship with Daniels when the two played together at Arizona State. The two have maintained their friendship, though Daniels transferred to LSU.

However, he clearly was using his friendship with Daniels as a negotiating ploy against the 49ers. Even more, Aiyuk then placed on social media a photo displaying both the offensive and defensive alignment for the Commanders from a recent workout.

But the 49ers won the NFC last year and took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in the Super Bowl. Aiyuk was the No.1 receiver for the 49ers last year. So, why would they simply trade Aiyuk?

A first-round choice in 2020 (25 overall), Aiyuk is set to make much more this season, under the NFL’s fifth-year team option policy. Aiyuk, 26, will haul in a cool $14.124 million.

But Aiyuk doesn’t want that raise. He wants an entirely new deal negotiated and signed before this season. What hasn’t helped the 49ers and Aiyuk to settle on a deal thus far is new contracts to wide receivers have been outrageous!

Justin Jefferson will now receive $88 million in guaranteed money from the Vikings in a deal that averages $35 million over the next five years. The Eagles and A.J. Brown agreed to a deal that averages $32 million. Amon-Ra St Brown and the Lions are joined together in a deal averaging $30 million, as are the Dolphins and Tyreek Hill.

Aiyuk would rather remain with the 49ers and contend for this year’s Super Bowl title than come to Washington and probably play for a team under .500.

The 49ers will most likely offer less than the four top receivers mentioned above. Yet, seeing that it will be much better money than he was set to make this year, Aiyuk will likely agree to a deal.

Doc Walker: ‘Aiyuk was playing Commanders’ Daniels’

Is Aiyuk taking advantage of his good friend to get a better deal from the 49ers?

Jayden Daniels and Brandon Aiyuk are young and like each of us, have many life lessons to learn.

Though they are professional athletes, don’t they still have much to learn? In addition, being like us, won’t they often learn life’s lessons the hard way, through their own mistakes?

Aiyuk is a very talented wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Aiyuk is entering his fifth year, and he wants more money. His on-the-field accomplishments reveal he will receive a new contract with a hefty pay raise.

Daniels and Aiyuk became friends when both were playing at Arizona State. Aiyuk was then drafted by the 49ers in the first round (25 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. Daniels transferred to LSU and, of course, was drafted second overall by the Commanders in April’s draft.

Aiyuk’s public statements in recent weeks about wanting his big pay raise are understandable to some degree. But what is not permissible is his posting a photo of the Commanders’ recent workout.

Daniels and Aiyuk have stated they are good friends. However, we often err when we wrongly think friendships are entirely different than other relationships. In fact, they are like other relationships in the sense all relationships NEED boundaries. If you don’t set up boundaries, there are enough people out there (even those you consider your friends) who will walk all over you.

As Rick “Doc” Walker and Denton Day discussed Monday on the “Kevin Sheehan Show,” Aiyuk was using Daniels. Aiyuk was playing Daniels. Aiyuk is the alpha of that relationship.

When you consider a friend your equal, you respect them. You afford them dignity. Boundaries are set and not to be crossed.

Each of us needs to learn this, and often the hard way. Rather than destroy Daniels now for his immaturity in giving such access to Aiyuk, this is an opportunity for Daniels. Daniels could now set healthy boundaries that will actually help both he and Aiyuk respect each other.

As author Henry Cloud wrote in his book, “Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life.”

Boundaries are a “litmus test” for the quality of our relationships. Those people in our lives who can respect our boundaries will love our wills, our opinions, our separateness. Those who can’t respect our boundaries are telling us that they don’t love our nos. They only love our yeses, our compliance. “I only like it when you do what I want.

Ohio State offers 2026 tight end

Ohio State offers 2026 tight end #GoBucks

Ohio State is holding their high school football camps this month and they are utilizing this opportunity to identify talent and extend offers. These camps offers are more about future classes, but it provides us some insight into who and what to look for the next few years.

Another interesting high school recruit at tight end was extended an offer on Thursday after what was rumored to be an eye catching camp performance. Lincoln Keyes is not yet ranked by many recruiting services, but the Michigan native is expected to be highly ranked within the 2026 class once these services catch on.

Keyes is already 6-foot, 6-inches and 220-pounds with a ton of potential to fill out that massive frame even more before hitting a college campus. The young recruit received his first offer from Arizona State and has also visited Big Ten foe and in-state school, Michigan State.

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USC football’s Pac-12 greatest hits — Arizona State

The 2005 win over Arizona State was a Pete Carroll “always compete” classic.

The USC Trojans welcomed Arizona State to the Pac-10 in 1978. ASU and Arizona turned the Pac-8 into the Pac-10. ASU had no interest in playing nice or thanking the Trojans for their newfound status as a Pac-10 member. The Devils knocked off USC in 1978, giving that Trojan team its only loss of the season. If ASU had not won that game, USC would have been the undisputed national champion. As it was, the Trojans shared the title with Alabama. As we consider the Pac-12 history of USC-Arizona State football, one Trojan victory outshines all the others.

We wrote about that game a few years ago:

“In that abysmal first half, the Trojans and some of their fans wondered if they had already lost the game for reasons beyond the 21-3 score Arizona State accumulated. Matt Leinart took a blow to the head when ASU was whistled for roughing the passer. This was before concussion protocol became a regular part of football game operations and standard practice. Leinart was almost certainly concussed.”

In that October 2005 game at Arizona State — played in 100-degree heat and a burning desert sun — USC’s star quarterback was in bad shape. The Trojans were down 18 points. They were likely to lose. They didn’t care. They slapped a 35-7 second half on the Sun Devils with a dominant offensive line and a ballhawking defense which kept intercepting ASU quarterback Sam Keller. Few games from the Pete Carroll era exhibited USC’s toughness and resolve more than this one.

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Alton McCaskill IV staying within Big 12 Conference

Alton McCaskill IV is keeping his talents within the Big 12

Former Colorado football running back Alton McCaskill IV is keeping his talents within the Big 12 Conference.

After entering the transfer portal last month, McCaskill announced his commitment to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Thursday.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back began his college career at Houston before spending one season with the Buffs. Still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered at Houston, McCaskill played in four games at Colorado before opting to redshirt. He finished the year with 59 rushing yards on 14 carries.

McCaskill, the 2021 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, represents the second former Colorado player to join the Sun Devils this offseason. Short-lived Buff Chamon Metayer committed to ASU on April 24 following about four months in Colorado’s tight end room.

Arizona State, which is joining the Big 12 this summer along with Colorado, Arizona and Utah, finished 3-9 last season under first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham. The Buffs and Sun Devils are not scheduled to meet during the 2024 regular season.

Fellow Colorado transfer RB Dylan Edwards is also staying within the Big 12, recently giving his commitment to Kansas State.

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Texas A&M has reportedly contacted former star Arizona State wide receiver

Texas A&M is officially in the running for former Arizona State WR Elijhah Badger

It’s no secret if you’ve been paying attention to our recent report that Texas A&M is still in search of more wide receiver talent in the transfer portal. Several high-profile veteran pass catchers are still looking for a new home ahead of the 2024 season.

After missing out on KeAndre Lambert-Smith (transferred to Auburn) and Sam Brown (transferred to Miami), A&M is hosting former Auburn wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson this weekend, so at least some progress is being made by head coach Mike Elko and his staff.

Late last month, after former Arizona State WR Elijhah Badger entered the portal, 247Sport’s Chris Karpman reported that Texas A&M was apparently in the running for Badger’s talents. As of Friday, Badger himself released every program that has contacted him, including the Aggies.

A huge target in the passing game, Badger has been the most dependable receiver for every quarterback to be under center for the Sun Devils, recording 135 receptions and 1,500-plus receiving yards in his last two seasons in Tucson.

With players like Noah Thomas and Moose Muhammad III, who have similar skill sets to Badger, already on Texas A&M’s roster, his potential incision would elevate this offense to the top and provide starting quarterback Conner Weigman with a huge confidence boost heading into fall camp.

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Arizona State football CB transfer to announce between Michigan State and Alabama

Alabama or Michigan State? That will be the decision Arizona State CB transfer Ed Woods will make on Tuesday:

Arizona State cornerback transfer Edward Woods has set a date and is prepared to announce what is next for his college career. After visiting both Alabama and Michigan State over the last few days, Woods will be deciding between the two schools on Tuesday.

As of now, Michigan State’s coaching staff feels confident, that they have done all they could to land Woods’ commitment. It looks to be a true 50/50 heading into Tuesday.

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Former Michigan State football QB rumored to be new starter at Arizona State

An MSU transfer QB is in line to take over the starting job at Arizona State

A part of the massive transfer exodus that happened during the transition from Mel Tucker to Jonathan Smith, Michigan State lost quarterback Sam Leavitt to the NCAA transfer portal.

While unfortunate, due to the skillset Leavitt has, it is a move that was best for both parties, especially now.

For MSU, Smith brought in Aidan Chiles, who is the same age as Leavitt. Now, Leavitt appears to be thriving in his new home.

According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, Leavitt outperformed former 5-star Jaden Rashada during spring camp and should be named the starting quarterback, while Rashada is expected to transfer now.

In one season with Michigan State, Leavitt completed 15-of-23 passes for 139 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 67 yards on the ground on 13 carries.

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Former starting quarterback takes visit to Arizona State

Jeff Sims took a visit to Arizona State on Monday. 

A former Nebraska starting quarterback took his first visit since entering the transfer portal. Jeff Sims took a visit to Arizona State on Monday.

Sims started the Huskers’ opening game of the 2023 season. He struggled in his only season in Lincoln, throwing for 282 yards and one touchdown with six interceptions.

The quarterback also added 189 rushing yards on 42 carries with one touchdown. Sims would start the first two games of the season before losing the starting job due to turnovers. He would appear in only three games the rest of the season.

Chris Karpman of Sundevil Source reported the news of the visit.

“Senior Nebraska QB transfer Jeff Sims is currently visiting ASU, I’ve learned. Great size, impressive athlete and arm talent but struggled with turnovers in a few games last season. Before that, he was a three-year starter at Georgia Tech. He has 31 career TD passes and 29 INTs.”

The Sun Devils have only two scholarship quarterbacks on their roster. Senior Trenton Bourguet and redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt are the only two after quarterback Jade Rashada entered the transfer portal.

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