A 3-9 (2-7) record in their last season in the Pac-12 Conference was not something Arizona State football fans or first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham hoped for. The Sun Devils’ make-shift offense featured a quarterback carousel highlighted by former four-star recruit freshman Jaden Rasaha. Despite all the struggling change, this year’s team is full of new faces as excitement builds towards joining the Big 12 Conference.
ASU hosts the University of Wyoming Cowboys at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
The Sun Devils will look to redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt. The Michigan State transfer beat out transfer senior Jeff Sims and redshirt senior Trenton Bourguet for the starting quarterback position.
Leavitt played four games for the MSU last season, completing 65.2% of his passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also reliable using his legs, rushing for 67 yards for an average of 5.2 yards per carry.
The Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference went 9-4 last season. Junior quarterback Evan Svoboda has taken the reigns for Wyoming. The Mesa, Arizona native returns to the desert with a chip on his shoulder. His lone start of last season came against the No. 4 ranked Texas Longhorns, throwing for 136 yards and one interception.
Arizona State’s offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo supported the decision to name Leavitt the starting quarterback.
“He’s earned it. Everyone’s very clear how that’s been earned and taken. I think we are excited about it,” Arroyo told reporters the day Leavitt was named ASU’s starting quarterback.
Throughout their Tontozona Camp in Payson, Arizona up to this week’s practices, Dillingham highlighted his team’s willingness to get better.
“Our guys want it, they want to be good. They want to be successful, they love the game. That’s what I’m most pleased with through it all,” Dillingham told reports on Monday.
The Sun Devils will have their hands full with the Cowboys’ senior Harrison Waylee. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound running back was Wyoming’s leading rusher with 947 yards last season.
Highly touted transfer redshirt sophomore running back Raleek Brown is doubtful with a back injury, Dillingham announced Monday.
Brown was a solid two-way threat out of the backfield who played at the University of Southern California previously. Looking to relieve senior running back Cam Skattebo of his weighted workload from last season, Brown seemed to be the pass-catching back this year.
For now, Skattebo, who was Arizona State’s all-purpose yards and touchdown leader (10 touchdowns and over 1,000 total yards), will be the go-to running back.
Nonetheless, it should be another interesting season with all the uncertainty surrounding the team’s success heading into a new conference. One thing is for certain; Dillingham is confident that this team is better than last season’s roster.
“I know for a fact we’re a better football team,” Dillingham told reporters on Wednesday. “Overall, I can say that with complete confidence.”
Kick-off is set for 7:30 P.M. MST on Saturday in Tempe.
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