ASU football: Will Shaffer and defense focused on forcing turnovers

TEMPE, Ariz. — The season is still young, but ASU football has yet to force a turnover this season. Linebacker Will Shaffer and the Arizona State defense are looking to change that this weekend. The Sun Devils welcome the Fresno State Bulldogs to Tempe for a 7:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday night.

Will Shaffer and the defense look to force turnovers

Redshirt junior linebacker Will Shaffer is a key part of both Arizona State football’s defense and their special teams unit. Last season the Scottsdale native appeared on 195 special teams plays, good for the 19th most in the Pac-12. Shaffer and the defense are ready for their next challenge, the balanced attack of the Fresno State Bulldogs.

“We got a lot of good things we’re rolling at them,” Shaffer said. “Able to get the quarterback out of the spot, Mikey (Keene), he likes to set up quick, so we got some stuff for him. To get in the passing lanes, to get some tips, finally get some turnovers on defense.”

The Sun Devil defense is still looking to force its first turnover of the season.

“We gotta take more shots at the ball, the second man in has to come in and strip. Tips and overthrows, we gotta get those in the game. So just making sure we’re all rallying to the ball because that’s how you get turnovers,” Shaffer said. “It’s not one guy making a crazy play… Making sure we’re getting to the ball, rallying, getting strips, and everything.”

The Fresno State offense is extremely balanced. So far this season they’ve only thrown the ball 13 more times than they’ve run it. Shaffer and the Sun Devil defense will look to cause chaos and create their first turnover of the 2023 season.

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