ASU Football: The transfer portal is open, what to expect from the Sun Devils

TEMPE, Ariz. – The NCAA transfer portal opened Monday and will close on December 28, or 48 hours following the conclusion of a team’s season (this affects teams in the College Football Playoffs). Head coach Kenny Dillingham said Arizona State football will look to add eight or nine players from the portal, but has its base set in Tempe.

“I think that guys will want to come here. The success we’ve had with the guys that have come here speaks for itself. I think the relationships we’ve had and built with the guys that are coming back here and those guys hopefully not choosing to enter the portal but choosing to stay here and continue to build this is a testament to the culture that we have,” Dillingham said. “I think that’s really what matters. Is the people that come here love it here, and the people who transfer here want to be here and want to stay here.”

Dillingham made big splashes in the portal a year ago with the addition of redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt.  On the defensive side, additions like junior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and junior defensive back Malik “Ghost” Rowser made huge impacts as leaders this season, among many others.

ASU football transfer portal plan

This weekend, Dillingham laid out the positions ASU will target in the transfer portal. The Sun Devils will look for some wide receivers, a couple of offensive linemen, defensive line help, a power running back, and possibly a safety. Let’s take a deeper dive into each position group.

Wide receivers

This is a position group that Dillingham believes can be very talented. Everyone witnessed what wide receiver coach Hines Ward did in one season with Tyson: 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown receiver. In addition, ASU should have one of the best young quarterbacks in the country under center for the next three years.

Jordyn Tyson of ASU football celebrates a touchdown against Kansas on Oct. 5, 2024. (Photo by Sedona Levy/ Sun Devil Daily)

“We definitely have a lot of interest, particularly you know, (at) the wide receiver position. A lot of people have been reaching out,” Dillingham said. “So, it’s positive.”

ASU will need to add some depth to the position and look for younger players to grow into larger roles. The Sun Devils will lose graduate student Melquan Stovall, and redshirt seniors Xavier Guillory and Jake Smith. All three guys played important roles on the offense at times throughout this season.

Guillory is third on the team in receiving yards and has four touchdowns in his last three games, including two in the Big 12 Championship game. Stovall ranks fifth in receiving yards and caught four passes for 91 yards in the Championship game. Smith is a depth receiver who played in 10 games this season, with a season-high 47 yards in the ASU home opener.

However, ASU will return Tyson who leads the team in every receiving category. Tyson was having a phenomenal season before his collarbone injury against Arizona. He will be healed and ready for the 2025 season according to Dillingham.

Dillingham said ASU will take a wideout in the transfer portal. But depending on other transfers, ASU may take a couple of wideouts or rely on younger players to step up in 2025.

Offensive line

ASU’s offensive line was much improved from a season ago and is a significant reason for ASU’s success. The improvement was much in part due to health, depth, leadership, and improved play up front.

The Sun Devils will lose three offensive linemen, including their leader on the line, redshirt senior center Leif Fautanu. This will be a big loss to the team as a whole. However, Fautanu is the only bona fide starter on the line ASU will lose.

“We’re going to move some guys around, so we’re going to take a couple, one if not two offensive linemen,” Dillingham said.

ASU will need to focus on depth in replenishing the offensive line. The 2023 season emphasized how important that was when ASU could barely field a starting five midseason. However, the work Dillingham and his coaching staff did in 2024 showed they have the solution.

Defensive position groups

ASU’s defense played lights out all season long under defensive coordinator Brian Ward. However, the Sun Devils will have to fill some key holes after this season.

Graduate students, safety Shamari Simmons and defensive lineman Jeff Clark, as well as senior defensive lineman Elijah O’Neal, will all depart following the 2024 season.

Simmons is a captain on defense and led the team with seven TFLs and three forced fumbles. He ranked No. 4 in total tackles and added an interception. Clark and O’Neal have combined for 48 total tackles, six TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. Also, if you haven’t had the chance to watch Jeff Clark play, tune into the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It’s a homecoming game for him and he’s fired up.

“We’re losing an end and a D-tackle,” Dillingham said. “So, one end, one defensive tackle, and then probably one safety, depending on what happens here in the next week or so.”

ASU has a lot of young talent at the defensive back position, so Dillingham will be selective when it comes to the safety position. But look for the Sun Devils to make a couple of splashes on the defensive line during this transfer portal window.

Running back

ASU has a deep, talented running back group, but you can’t exactly say ‘next man up’ to replace a Heisman finalist. Senior running back Cam Skattebo will graduate and likely enter the NFL draft following this season.

Arizona State will need to find a replacement at running back in the transfer portal, following the departure of standout Cam Skattebo. (Photo by Sedona Levy/Sun Devil Daily)

“Skat is leaving, and Skat is pretty good,” Dillingham laughed. “We need to find somebody to take on some of these carries. I feel good about the guys behind Skat, but Skat is a bigger back so we’ve got to get another bigger back in here to replace him.”

ASU’s running back group will consist of three speedsters in sophomore Kyson Brown, redshirt sophomore Raleek Brown, and redshirt junior Alton McCaskill. The lone bulkier back left will be freshman Jason Brown Jr., as redshirt senior DeCarlos Brooks will graduate.

Jason Brown showed burst, strength, and balance in practice scrimmages and ASU’s opener against Wyoming this season. However, ASU will look to find a Skattebo-type running back in the transfer portal to add depth and bulk to the position.

Kenny Dillingham’s message regarding transfers

Over the next three weeks, we’ll see transfers coming and going from ASU’s roster. Dillingham made it an emphasis to let his players know even if they’re transferring they have a spot on the roster until they make that decision and he wants to set them up for the most success going forward.

“Our guys have the opportunity to stay on our football team. That’s not fair to you to go in after our run is over. I want you to have the best opportunity to find a spot. You can go in right now, day one. We’ll help you find a spot and stay on our football team if you want to stay on our football team, and let’s go on this ride together the rest of the way,” Dillingham said. “I didn’t want those guys to feel like they had to wait to go in because they wanted the opportunity to have a bigger role for a program until after the CFP. I think that would have hurt their chances.”

As for the guys who are choosing to return and continue to build ASU’s program into what Dillingham has a vision for and the newcomers, he made it loud and clear he’s trying to create the best team possible.

Roster construction

“What we’re looking to do is make our team better. Like I tell every person I ever sign, my job is to sign somebody better than you, point blank, and that’s going to be from now until forever. If you want something guaranteed, this is not the place for you. If you want somebody to tell you the truth and be honest with you, this is a great spot,” Dillingham said, “But you’d better not have soft feelings because when we get in my office and we have a real conversation, it’s going to be real. I think that’s what it’s about. I think that’s what guys need more than ever is real conversations.”

Dillingham is not shy when it comes to his coaching style and the relationships he’s trying to build with his players. The relationships he builds, and his drive are what he feels are needed to have success in college football.

“I think that says something about the guys and the relationships in today’s day and age in college football,” Dillingham said.

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