Thursday night’s game against Texas State marks the first road game of the season for Arizona State’s football team. However, for ASU starting defensive tackle, sophomore C.J. Fite, only one word comes to mind: home.
In just his second season, Fite has made his presence known throughout the first two games for the Sun Devils. Now with a homecoming game in Texas, he eagerly awaits the opportunity to continue his hot start to the fall in front of friends and family.
“To play in front of them again it feels like high school,” Fite said. “It’s a good experience. I’m glad to be back and excited for my teammates to see what it’s like playing in Texas.”
With two starts under his belt, Fite managed to establish himself as a key contributor to the Sun Devils defense. The lineman anchors a run defense that through two weeks allowed just 32 rushing yards per game. This ranks second in the nation in the category and remains a key factor in ASU’s early-season defensive success.
Fite even managed to work himself onto the score sheet against Mississippi State in week two. In the highlight of the night, he found the end zone on a rare defensive lineman scoop-and-score touchdown to cap off a stellar start to the season.
UNREAL BIG-MAN TD 😱 pic.twitter.com/4h7xlhhWg2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 8, 2024
“We set a standard on defense that any time a ball comes out we go pick it up,” Fite said. “I was close to the pylon, so I stuck the ball out. When I saw the referee called it a touchdown I was excited.”
Fite, a product of ASU recruiting efforts in the state of Texas, serves as a shining star in the Texas to Tempe movement. The talent-riddled state stands as one of ASU’s top recruiting pipelines and produced 22 players on the roster this season.
“In the Big 12, we’re going to play more games in Texas, so that’s going to be the footprint,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “I think it’s great for us to have more Texas kids on the roster than there’s ever been and now we play back-to-back games there. I think it’s awesome for those guys to get to go back home.”
Playing in Texas presents a prime opportunity for the Sun Devils to showcase some top talent recruited from the state. With the possibility of recruits in attendance, Fite hopes to help display what the program has to offer in his home state.
“Going to Texas and showing recruits what ASU is about first-hand (is important),” Fite said. “They might not want to travel to an ASU (home) game, but they can go to our game in Texas and see a Texas team play ASU, so it helps for recruiting.”
Despite the game feeling like a homecoming for Fite, he remains excited about the opportunity to play in a road environment against his father’s alma mater and looks forward to feasting off of a raucous crowd.
“The first thing I wanted to do in college was experience a road game,” Fite said. “Going into Texas State I’ve seen stuff on my feed of (their fans) talking. I like that kind of energy and hate in the air.”
Fite and the Sun Devils hope to secure their first road win of the season on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against Texas State.
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