Arizona State football Saturday night scrimmage recap

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State football’s season opener is just under two weeks away, and a Sun Devil Saturday night scrimmage gave us a small look at what to expect for this season.

New changes for the 2024 NCAA football season

The 2024 college football season will have many changes to it. The biggest change was the playoff expansion to a 12-team playoff format. However, smaller changes that will affect every play and players’ communication on the field will also be made.

The NCAA made a big step in making the college game more like the NFL this year. There will now be a two-minute warning similar to the NFL, and players will have helmet communication on the field and tablets on the sideline.

One player on each team will have a device inside their helmet to communicate with the coaching staff. This player will be marked with a green sticker. The communication inside the helmet will be cut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first. In addition, teams will be allowed 18 Microsoft tablets on the sideline, in the coach’s box, or in the locker room to review live game footage.

Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham talks about tech changes

One main aspect of ASU’s scrimmage Saturday night was to get used to these changes and learn how to use them most effectively.

“This tablet deal, watching full video live, I know it feels like a little thing that’s like fun to talk about, but most people it’s very difficult to see the game live and adjust,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “(For) Some people that are really good, it takes a drive. Some people that are good, it takes a half. Some people never see it all game, right?”

The ability to watch the live game footage, pick apart coverages, and notice alignments both for the defense and offense to adjust will change the college game. Dillingham went on to explain how as players and a coaching staff, they will need to be ready to make adjustments because opponents will figure them out much quicker now.

“The ability for both sides of the ball to watch every play changes the game, at such a higher rate, because you’re going to have to change what you do more than you ever have,” Dillingham said. “You can’t just carry in your nine-play, first and 10 defense, or four-play calls, because people are going to figure out. So you better have a variety of things to change up your calls with this new technology and that’s what we were practicing today.”

How did the scrimmage go?

As for the play on the field Saturday night, the first group was impressive. The second group had some turnover issues but rebounded with a long touchdown drive.

The ones took the first six possessions and scored two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt led both touchdown drives during his four drives with the ones. Leavitt will be the starting quarterback this season for Arizona State football.

Dillingham pointed out it was good to finally see everybody tackling. He said the scrimmage was a good physical and mental test for the players.

During the two touchdown drives, the ones were able to stay ahead of the chains, not turn the ball over, and stay penalty-free.

“When you don’t do all the things that make you a bad football team, it’s not that hard to move the ball, if you stay out of your own way,” Dillingham said. “It’s when you get in your own way, it becomes really difficult.”

Players to watch as the season begins for Arizona State football

There were many players that had their chance to be noticed and catch the attention of coaches Saturday night to try to earn their way to playing time this season.

Some guys may have flown under the radar and some guys are expected to be big pieces of a growth season for Sun Devil football.

DB Xavion Alford

Redshirt junior defensive back Xavion Alford has met all expectations early to likely earn a starting role at safety. Alford transferred to ASU from USC prior to the 2023 season, however, the NCAA denied his eligibility request as it was his second transfer. Therefore, Alford was not able to play last season.

Through his two seasons, one at Texas and one at USC, Alford has played in 15 games but started just two. He racked up 35 tackles and three interceptions. Alford could be a big part of ASU’s defense this season and has been showing why through fall camp.

“He’s (Alford) playing some post-safety now, it’s definitely very fitting for him. He has a really good knack for the football,” Dillingham said. “We’ve created more takeaways with him in the post than we had before, so I think he’s had a really good transition into being able to play multiple roles.”

DL Elijah O’Neal

Senior defensive lineman Elijah O’Neal has continued to improve every year of college. This year might be the year he breaks out at the D1 level. O’Neal has gotten more reps this fall with injuries to other players and has done nothing but embrace it.

“He (O’Neal) could be the most improved player on the team since spring, I mean point blank. When we got him last year out of JUCO, he was as raw as you could get,” Dillingham said. “But that kid’s gotten better and better and better, and every single cycle, I think he’s been one of our most improved.”

O’Neal played in 12 games last season for the Sun Devils and totaled 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a half sack. However, in his final season at Butte College, he picked up 66 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, 26 TFLs, and two forced fumbles.

Watch out for O’Neal to build on last season and make a difference for ASU’s defense this year.

RB Jason Brown Jr.

Freshman running back Jason Brown Jr. may have been the most impressive player on the field Saturday night. He bounced off of tacklers and displayed his powerful running style.

“It was funny because that was the first day… he’s gotten a lot of carries live, it was hard to tackle,” Dillingham said. “I mean, sometimes you don’t know. I mean, running back, the goal is to not go down, right? So if you don’t ever, if you don’t tackle them, how do you know if they go down? And today we really got to see him just not go down and create balance. He’s a shorter guy, he’s a powerful guy. So, those types of guys have to play behind their pads and have to have elite balance.”

Brown left Dillingham a little short of words to describe his ability to stay up and bounce off tacklers Saturday night. The freshman running back is listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds.

Brown was a four-star prospect, a top 20-ranked running back nationally, and a top-five prospect in Washington. He rushed for nearly 6,500 yards and 100 touchdowns at O’Dea High School and became the all-time leading rusher.

ASU’s backfield is crowded but look for the Sun Devils to find ways to get Brown touches to make a difference this season.

Looking ahead for Arizona State football

With the home opener less than two weeks away, we should have some clarity on starters soon. This is a big season for Dillingham and the Sun Devils, to improve on last season, along with the move to the Big 12.

ASU opens its season on Saturday, August 31, at 7:30 p.m. against Wyoming.

Thank you for reading Sun Devil Daily! Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with Arizona State news! For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at brendonpricco@gmail.com. Also, make sure to check out the Sun Devil Daily shop for merchandise! Forks up!