ASU football: Two under the radar impact players to watch

TEMPE, Ariz. — Kenny Dillingham and ASU football are bringing in many new players, either via the transfer portal or incoming freshman. 18 recruits in the 2024 class have signed with the Sun Devils, and several are already on campus participating in spring practice. ASU also was active in the portal this offseason, acquiring 23 transfers.

There are plenty of new faces to watch, but there are two that are flying under the radar in my opinion. Both of them aren’t newcomers to the program this offseason, but neither had the opportunity to officially suit up for the Sun Devils in 2023.

Two impact players to watch for ASU football this season

“I never felt like I wasn’t a part of the team,” wide receiver Jake Smith said after the first day of spring practice. “I always felt like I was a part of the team. But obviously, it’s great for X (Xavion Alford) and myself… to know that we can play.”

Smith and Alford were two newcomers to the program last year by way of the transfer portal. However, due to NCAA rules, the pair couldn’t suit up for the Sun Devils in 2023. Both players have followed similar paths, beginning their college careers at Texas before transferring to USC. Then at USC, both missed at least an entire season of action due to injuries.

Both transferred from USC to ASU in the 2022 offseason, and both applied for waivers from the NCAA to allow them to play in 2023. At the time you couldn’t transfer more than once without being a grad transfer or sitting out a season. Both Alford and Smith (and ASU’s coaching staff) believed they met the criteria to receive waivers to play since both had already missed an entire season in their careers due to injuries. The NCAA disagreed.

It was a difficult thing to process for both Smith and Alford, but their Sun Devil teammates provided support.

“They were great,” Smith said about the support his teammates offered. “I feel like this team is extremely close. There’s no bad personalities or egos and I think everybody gets along great.”

Now the two are ready to make an impact this season for ASU.

Jake Smith and Xavion Alford look to make an impact for the Sun Devils

Both Smith and Alford are extremely talented and former four-star recruits. As a true freshman at Texas, Smith hauled in 25 receptions for 274 yards and six touchdowns. He followed that with a 23 reception, three touchdown sophomore campaign.

The Scottsdale native hasn’t seen the field since the 2020 season, but he still has at least two seasons of eligibility, and potentially three due to the 2020 COVID year.

Alford was also a playmaker before coming to ASU. He only played four games in his freshman season (Texas) to preserve a redshirt, but he took off as a redshirt freshman, now with USC.

In 2021 Alford tallied 31 tackles while appearing in 11 games. He proved himself to be a ballhawk, snagging three interceptions, a team-best. USC honored Alford with their 2021 Co-Defensive Perimeter Player of the Year Award. High praise for a redshirt freshman.

Both players have shown enormous potential early in their careers, and Arizona State fans should be excited about what they can bring to the table in 2024.

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