There’s almost no one who has remained more committed to the Arizona State Sun Devils football program over the past couple of years than linebacker Caleb McCullough. It’s been hard for fans to witness the lowest of the lows with the team. From the NCAA violation to the multiple three-win seasons, it’s been tougher for McCullough, who has been through it all on the team.
Barely any player stuck around after the Herm Edwards era when the team was battling mediocrity. However, McCollough did and hung on when head coach Kenny Dillingham took over. Now, in the greatest moment the program has had in years, McCollough was on the field, helping his long-time team beat No. 16 Utah 27-19 on Friday.
“That’s a guy who was here through all the mess, and he was here when all the bad things were happening,” Dillingham said. “He was here the 3-9 season. Then I show up and tell him, just stay. Just stay. He’s here again. We’re 3-9, and we suck again. Just stay. I believe he’s one of the few people who stayed, and for him to make that play is awesome. I mean, kudos to him.”
McCollough made two vital interceptions to help his team secure a win. The first before the end of the first half right near the red zone and the second with only 1:40 remaining in the game to secure the win for the Sun Devils.
Starting in the game on Friday meant a lot for McCollough. The linebacker knew that his day in the spotlight would come soon. After all the work he put in for the past couple of seasons with the Sun Devils, the work finally paid off.
“I put in a lot of work to get to this position, and I just tell my family and everything that one day I’m gonna get my opportunity,” McCollough said. “When you do get that opportunity, the work you put in is gonna show.”
The team around McCollough has changed throughout the years he’s been with the maroon and gold. However, the Oxnard native changed the team too when he started on Friday. It makes the whole team and atmosphere different from last season when the Sun Devils were embarrassed 55-3 in Salt Lake City. Now, there’s a whole lot of trust around the locker room.
“It’s a different football team,” running back Cam Skattebo said. “This guy (McCullough) didn’t have two picks last year. We had different guys on the field. We have guys that are playing together every snap. We got guys that trust me, trust the defense, trust (redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt), trust the whole line. Everybody trusts each other. It’s incredible. We got our fire back since Texas Tech. And I mean, guys are playing for each other, and it’s a whole different football team than it was last year.”
Since the loss to Texas Tech, the Sun Devils have won their past two games. The team was picked by the media during the Big 12 preseason press conference to finish dead last in the conference and only win four games. Now, the team has won five including against the Utes who were picked to finish first in the conference.
To become a better football team, it takes hardworking players who are dedicated to being the best they can be and making the team they play for the best they can be. Dillingham sees McCullough as one of those players which makes him one of his favorites.
“Caleb’s one of my favorite kids on the team, because he just does everything you ask over and over and over again,” Dillingham said. “He’s in the best shape of his life right now. He’s bigger than he’s ever been, he’s faster than he’s ever been, and he’s playing better football and he’s ever played. And like I said, we’re talking about a dude who just persevered, persevered, persevered through it all.”
For McCullough, he’s just happy to be helping his team make big plays. It’s a dream come true for the linebacker who is finally getting to experience a winning culture.
“It just means the most to me to be able to make plays,” McCullough said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid. Finally on the big stage, being able to make plays, my team is winning, and we beat a ranked team. I’m just happy.”
It could be the start of a bigger role for McCullough going into the next game against Cincinnati. Even if it doesn’t, he’ll always go down in Sun Devils history and the hearts of fans for his two big moments helping take down their first-ranked opponent since 2022.
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