No. 18 Arizona State: It’s time for the Sun Devils to take the next step
Dr. Saturday will unveil its preseason Top 25 team-by-team during the next 25 days. This list is based on returning starters, schedule and prospects. However, we all know that once the games begin, things can change very quickly. Still, we thought we’d give our best guess heading into the 2015 season.
No. 18 Arizona State
2014 record: 10-3, 6-3 Pac-12
Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
2015 Outlook: Coach Todd Graham has turned Arizona State from a middling Pac-12 team to a full-fledged playoff contender in just three short seasons. He won eight games in his first year and 10 games each of the last two seasons, the first back-to-back 10-win seasons for the Sun Devils since the early 70s.
But now it’s time for this team to take the next step. In 2013 it won the Pac-12 South, but lost the conference title game. A year ago, it finished second in its division to rival Arizona. The pieces are there this season for the Sun Devils to contend for the conference title, but the team will need better play from its defense to achieve that feat.
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The Sun Devils ranked sixth in the conference in scoring defense (27.9 points per game) and seventh in total defense (417.1 yards per game). In its three losses last season, it allowed 35 or more points.
The offense, however, should be one of the best in the country even without quarterback Taylor Kelly and receivers Jaelen Strong, who left for the NFL and Cameron Smith, who will miss the season with injury. Quarterback Mike Bercovici had three starts last year and performed admirably in all of them. He’s had rave reviews coming out of spring football and should be ready to take the reins of the program immediately. It doesn’t hurt that he returns most of his offensive line and several playmakers at skill positions. If there’s one weakness on offense, it’s finding more receiving playmakers beyond D.J. Foster.
We should know early on how good this team can be since it opens the season against a revamped Texas A&M squad that should resemble the style of a lot of the teams the Sun Devils will see in the Pac-12.
Player to watch: D.J. Foster, WR
Foster led the team with 194 carries for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns last year, but changed positions to slot receiver this spring in an effort to perhaps accentuate his offensive potential.
In addition to being the Sun Devils’ top rushing threat, he was second on the team in receiving with 62 catches for 688 yards and three scores, making him the only player in the nation to finish with more than 1,000 rushing yards and 600 yards receiving. He’s the FBS returning leader in all-purpose yards.
With star receiver Jaelen Strong gone to the NFL, Foster becomes the team’s most dominant offensive threat and this season could be his time to shine in an offense that is poised to be one of the best in the Pac-12 and the country.
Breakout player: De’Chavon Hayes, RB
Nicknamed “Gump” for his Forrest Gump-like speed, Hayes, a junior college transfer who sat out last season, is a perfect fit for Arizona State’s up-tempo offense and could be the breakout running back in the Pac-12 this season.
Hayes shined during the Sun Devils’ bowl practices and spring game. He split carries with sophomores Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage, but showed a versatility that the other backs don’t have. He can catch out of the backfield, run reverses, sweeps, and perhaps even compensate for the loss of star receiver Jaelen Strong. Many are already likening him to D.J. Foster of a year ago.
Coach Todd Graham said Hayes definitely would have played last year had he been eligible, but Hayes thinks the year provided a valuable opportunity.
“I got mentally smarter, physically stronger,” Hayes said. “I got the playbook down and I’ve gotten more focused.”
Miss one of our Top 25? No. 19 Oklahoma, No. 20 Arizona, No. 21 Tennessee, No. 22 Missouri, No. 23 Stanford, No. 24 Boise State, No. 25 Wisconsin.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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