Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy speaks about ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. — Oklahoma State football head coach Mike Gundy had some words about Arizona State in his weekly press conference. Both teams are excited for Saturday and gearing up for the future conference matchup in Tempe.

Mike Gundy gives thoughts on Arizona State football

Mike Gundy had a lot of praise for the Sun Devils. He specifically praised both Arizona State’s defense and their new quarterback, Jaden Rashada.

“They’re more active on defense than when we played them before,” Gundy said. He’s referencing last year’s matchup between the two schools. Oklahoma State won that one in Stillwater, 34-17. Spencer Sanders had success for the Cowboys last season against ASU, throwing for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

However, most of Oklahoma State’s offensive success came on the ground. The Sun Devil defense had no answers for runningback Dominic Richardson who ran 17 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.

The new activity surrounding ASU’s defense is thanks to new defensive coordinator Brian Ward. Ward was the defensive coordinator at Washington State last season and led the Cougar’s defense to heights the program had never seen before. Washington State was third in the Pac-12 and 33rd in the FBS in allowing just 22.4 points per game. That was tied for the sixth-best total in program history and lowest since a 19.7 mark in 2003.

Those numbers don’t jump off a page until you add some context. Washington State hasn’t finished top-40 in the nation in that stat in over two decades. The Cougars have finished 90th or worse on six separate occasions since 2009. Historically, they can’t defend in Pullman. Ward changed that, and he’s already evolving ASU’s defense.

Mike Gundy is right in saying that this will be a completely different defense he’s going against compared to 2022. It also is in ASU’s favor that they won’t need to go against Spencer Sanders or Dominic Richardson again.

Gundy praises Jaden Rashada

The Oklahoma State headman didn’t just complement Arizona State’s defense. He also had some nice things to say about the true freshman under center for the Sun Devils.

“They have a young quarterback that’s very athletic and has got a cannon,” Gundy said. “He’s going to be a young, active, strong player who can move around.”

Jaden Rashada does indeed have a cannon. His rollout, 55-yard bomb to Xavier Guillory was one of the best deep balls in recent memory in Tempe.

ON FOURTH DOWN NO LESS 🔱 😈 @GuilloryXavier hauls in @jadenrashada first career TD pass to put us back on top.

ASU 14 | SUU 7

📺 Pac-12 Network
📱 https://t.co/ehkubqnO3j#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/wmRQAncjGl

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 1, 2023

On fourth and eight too, no less.

Rashada absolutely has things to sharpen up on, he struggled a bit in the second half against Southern Utah. However, Kenny Dillingham took some responsibility for that, pointing out he needs to do a better job of getting Rashada back into rhythm after a long break like that.

What is clear though, is the freshman can sling it. He also can move pretty well and has the frame and size of an NFL quarterback.

The Sun Devils have a good one in Tempe, and Mike Gundy knows it.

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