The Arizona State Sun Devils are feeling the pressure as their September 5 season opener against Morgan State quickly approaches. Head coach Kenny Dillingham took his squad to Mountain America Stadium for a crucial scrimmage, revealing a mix of explosive playmaking, fierce position battles, and worrying depth chart gaps.
"You could see the last 30 minutes, the offense went on really, really good drives running the football," Dillingham noted, though he stressed the need for more defensive takeaways.
Here is what you need to know from the Sun Devils' final major tune-up.
The Standout Special Teams Battles
Special teams spots are still up for grabs, and the competition is fierce:
- The Kickers: Both Carson Smith and Carston Kieffer successfully converted 52-yard field goals. However, Smith’s kick cleared with yards to spare, and he later added a 38-yarder.
- The Punters: Junior incumbent Kanyon Floyd and 6-foot-7 Ohio State transfer Nick McLarty put on a clinic. Their five combined punts all landed inside the 20-yard line, averaging between 42 and 50 yards with excellent hang time.
Edge Rushers Dominate, Exposing Pass Pro Issues
ASU’s defensive front proved to be a major force. Edge rushers Joshua Shanklin and Emar'rion Winston secured two sacks each, while Roman Pitre and Tristan Bacon each added one.
While the defensive depth is promising, it highlighted a major concern: offensive pass protection. Tight ends struggled heavily with blocking assignments, allowing edge defenders to consistently disrupt quarterbacks and blow up run plays. Dillingham had previously challenged this unit, even moving Clayton Smith to defensive end to spark competition. The struggle is compounded by the absence of star tight end Khamari Anderson, who is recovering from a broken leg.
Backfield Depth and Big Plays
Despite the blocking woes, ASU’s running game flashed serious potential. Lower-depth-chart backs Jason Brown and Demarius "Man Man" Robinson had strong runs, while freshman Cardae Mack consistently moved the pile. The highlight of the night came when sophomore running back Grayson Rigdon caught a spectacular 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mikey Keene.
Crucial Injury Updates
The scrimmage brought some unfortunate roster news. Dillingham announced that sophomore defensive back Nigel Pringle, a transfer from Arkansas, will miss the entire season due to an injury sustained at Camp Tontozona. Pringle is the second key Sun Devil lost for the year, joining defensive lineman My'Keil Gardner, who suffered a torn Achilles.
