Arizona State Sun Devils Football Offseason Preview

It was a disastrous offseason for Arizona State football under head coach Herman Edwards. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, easily the best and most important player on the roster, transferred out and headed to LSU to play for first-year head coach Brian Kelly, who left Notre Dame to take on the challenge of coaching in the SEC. Eric Gentry, a very talented young linebacker who was expected to be a centerpiece player on the defense, not only transferred out of the program, but joined rival USC. Jermayne Lole has entered the transfer portal and is expected to leave the program. Ricky Pearsall, a productive wide receiver, transferred to Florida. This all occurs on top of the fact that some players left for the NFL and were taken in the recent draft. Arizona State has also finished near the bottom in Pac-12 recruiting for the 2022 cycle. It is just a miserable scene in Tempe, all the way around. There is no way to sugar-coat this or put a happy face on it. The recruiting, transfer portal changes, and the overall mood around the program all went in a negative direction this offseason. Keep in mind that a COVID-19 recruiting scandal has put the Sun Devils in the NCAA’s crosshairs. A decision on punishments for that scandal could come later this year. This cloud of uncertainty is a big and central reason why players have been transferring out of the program. Arizona State wants to know what it will face in terms of punishments so that it can plan ahead, but without a ruling, this program is stuck in limbo and doesn’t know what to do. It’s a very uncomfortable place for a football team to inhabit, but that is the reality at Arizona State heading into the season.

Key Personnel Lost

Quarterback Jayden Daniels, running back Rachaad White, defensive back Chase Lucas, defensive tackle D.J. Davidson, cornerback Jack Jones, linebacker Eric Gentry, receiver Ricky Pearsall, defensive lineman Jermayne Lole – all of these crucial and central performers will not be part of the 2022 team, a devastating turn of events for Edwards, who has also lost his 2021 defensive coordinator, Antonio Pierce, who got caught in the COVID-19 recruiting scandal and has become a casualty of that scandal. Other assistant coaches who were on the job at the start of the 2021 season are no longer in Tempe for the same reason. No Pac-12 football program has suffered more – or worse – personnel losses than Arizona State has between 2021 and 2022.

Important Incoming Freshmen

Running back Tevin White, defensive end Dylan Hall, and defensive tackle Jalil Rivera-Harvey will try to compensate for all the losses Arizona State has absorbed.

Key Position Battles

The Sun Devils are alarmingly thin at numerous position groups, but the biggest concern is the defensive front seven. Defensive line and linebacker are now positions where Arizona State simply does not have much depth. Making sure the best players see the field is something the coaching staff will need to tend to.

Biggest Offseason Goal(s)

The biggest offseason goal is frankly to avoid major NCAA punishments, such as a one-year bowl ban or major scholarship reductions for future recruiting. The program needs to get clarity from the NCAA and enter the 2022 season in September knowing what the future will look like. This lack of certainty has to end. The program needs to be able to plan for the road ahead, which will be very difficult regardless of what the NCAA ultimately decides.