Raleek Brown’s Early Season Breakout Has Been A Long Time Coming

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State’s coaching staff knew they would have a loaded running back room going into the 2025 season. However, they may not have known that two of them would average over eight yards per carry through the Sun Devils first three games.

The even crazier part? Neither was the starter to begin the season. 

Redshirt junior running back Kyson Brown left his homecoming game against Mississippi State with an injury,  and both redshirt junior running back Raleek Brown and junior transfer back Kanye Udoh took off in his absence. The two backs each went for over 100 yards, including a very run-heavy fourth quarter.  

Raleek Brown received a bulk of the carries last Saturday against Texas State in the 34-15 victory. He rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

One of those touchdowns was a 75-yard footrace that put the game on ice.

Raleek Brown’s journey hasn’t been easy

The junior back was forced to take a difficult path to where he is today. Injuries sidelined him for most of the 2024 season following his transfer from USC to ASU.

He only recorded stats in the Texas State and Kansas games last year, tallying nine carries for 42 yards. 

“He’s worked his butt off,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “He’s focused, he’s dialed, he’s competitive, he’s good in pass protection. He’s earned the right to have a game like that.”

Raleek Brown said that throughout his recovery, it was key for him to keep God first and “keep working and trust the process.”

Scouted as a smaller, speedier backfield option, the former Trojan was one of many five-star recruits to come out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.

Over the offseason, Dillingham said that Raleek Brown had put on over 20 pounds of muscle. Based on his long touchdown run Saturday, he’s managed to keep his speed as the muscle has developed.

“You don’t think of him as a between-the-tackle, 200-pound back,” Dillingham said at the Big 12 Media Days in July.

What will ASU’s backfield look like against Baylor?

Dillingham confirmed Saturday after the win that he expects Kyson Brown to make a return to the running back rotation in Waco, Texas, against Baylor, who is just outside of the AP Top 25 poll. 

The competition, however, has never been something that any of the running backs have looked at in a negative light.

All three of Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown, and Udoh have said the competition has made them better running backs. 

“We will always be on each other,” Raleek Brown said. “Always competing, every day is going to make us better no matter what. If you want to go far, you need multiple backs.”

In Baylor’s games against FBS opponents this season, it’s have allowed 41.5 points and 235 rushing yards per game, suggesting that the Sun Devils’ deep running back room can feast. 

Dillingham, however, isn’t taking the Bears’ defense lightly. 

“They do a really good job putting pressure on you,” Dillingham said about Baylor’s defense. “They’re stout up front on their defensive line…they do enough. I think the greatest challenge is putting our guys in the best position to be successful and play fast. I think their coaches do a good job.”

Dillingham has yet to comment on whether Raleek Brown or Udoh’s performances have altered the balance of carries upon the return of Kyson Brown. Regardless, the ASU staff can now rest assured that no matter who gets the ball in the backfield, they’ll always have a fresh, valuable option.

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