2021 Arizona State Sun Devils Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Jayden Daniels, RB/PR Rachaad White, WR L.V. Bunkley-Shelton, WR Ricky Pearsall, OC Dohnovan West, OG Henry Hattis, OT Kellen Diesch, OT Ben Scott, DE Tyler Johnson, DE Michael Matus, NT D.J. Davison, LB Darien Butler, LB Merlin Robertson, LB Kyle Soelle, CB Chase Lucas, NB Jordan Clark, NB Timarcus Davis, FS Evan Fields, SS DeAndre Pierce, and KR D.J. Taylor.

Key Players Departing:

OC Cade Cote, PK Jack Luckhurst, PK Christian Zendejas, and PT Michael Turk.

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
CB Isaiah Johnson (Playa Del Ray, California), ATH Tommi Hill (Orlando, Florida), and OG Ezra Dotson-Oyetade (Garland, Texas), and WR Junior Alexander (Burien, Washington).

3 Star Recruits:  CB Robert Regen (Orange, California), DT Matthew Pola-Mao (Kansas State transfer), QB Finn Collins (Mission Hills, California), DE Eric Gentry (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), OT Austin Berry (Riverside, California), OT Isaia Glass (Queen Creek, Arizona), and DE Gharin Stansbury (Franklin, Louisiana).

2020 Results:

G01  at 20 USC Trojans  L  27-28
G02  UCLA  L  18-25
G03  at Arizona  W  70-7
G04  at Oregon State  W  46-33

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  2-2 (4th in PAC-12 South)

Home:  0-1
Away:  2-1
Neutral:  0-0
P12:  2-2
Non-P12:  0-0

Head Coach:  Herm Edwards

Arizona State:  17-13
Career:  17-13
Bowls:  1-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Jayden Daniels (49-84, 701 yards, 58.3%, 8.3 avg., 5 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing:  Rachaad White (42 car., 420 yards, 10.0 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving:  L.V. Bunkley-Shelton (11 rec., 100 yards, 9.1 avg., 0 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Rachaad White (6)
Sacks:  Tyler Johnson (5)
Tackles:  Evan Fields (38)
Interceptions:  5 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections:  Timarcus Davis/Chase Lucas (5)
Tackles For Loss:  Tyler Johnson (7.5)
Forced Fumbles:  Evan Fields (3)
Kick Returns:  D.J. Taylor (8 ret., 279 yards, 34.9 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  Rachaad White (3 ret., 11 yards, 3.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  None
Punting:  Michael Turk (14 punts, 631 yards, 45.1 avg., 6 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  5  Jayden Daniels  (JR)
RB:  3  Rachaad White  (SR/TR)
WR:  14  Johnny Wilson  (RS FR)
WR:  82  Andre Johnson  (RS FR)
WR:  19  Ricky Pearsall  (SO)
TE:  12  Jalin Conyers  (RS FR/TR)
LT:  74  Kellen Diesch  (GR/TR)
LG:  77  LaDarius Henderson  (SO)
OC:  61  Dohnovan West  (SO)
RG:  70  Henry Hattis  (GR/TR)
RT:  66  Ben Scott  (RS FR)
KR:  9  D.J. Taylor  (FR)
PK:  16  Eddie Czaplicki  (FR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  41  Tyler Johnson  (GR)
NT:  98  D.J. Davidson  (RS JR)
DT:  55  Omarr Norman-Lott  (RS FR)
DE:  91  Michael Matus  (RS JR)
LB:  8  Merlin Robertson  (SR)
LB:  20  Darien Butler  (SR)
LB:  34  Kyle Soelle  (RS JR)
CB:  00  Jack Jones  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  24  Chase Lucas  (RS SR)
FS:  4  Evan Fields  (SR)
SS:  2  DeAndre Pierce  (GR/TR)
PR:  3  Rachaad White  (SR/TR)
PT:  16  Eddie Czaplicki  (FR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/02 
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/11  UNLV REBELS  |  Arizona State lost (20-23 OT) the only prior meeting between schools in 2008.

09/18  at BYU Cougars |  Arizona State leads the series 20-7.  The Sun Devils lost (6-26) the last meeting between schools in 1998.

09/25  COLORADO BUFFALOES  |  Arizona State leads the series 8-3.  The Sun Devils are 6-3 since 2011, and they lost (31-34) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

10/02  at UCLA Bruins  |  Arizona State trails the series 14-22-1.  The Sun Devils are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (31-28) was in 2018.

10/08  STANFORD CARDINAL  |  Arizona State leads the series 17-15.  The Sun Devils are 1-4 since renewing the series in 2013, and they lost (13-20) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

10/16  at Utah Utes  |  Arizona State leads the series 22-9.  The Sun Devils are 6-3 since 2011, and they lost (3-21) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

10/30  WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS  |  Arizona State leads the series 28-14-2.  The Sun Devils are 4-3 since 2011, and they won (38-34) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/06  USC TROJANS  |  Arizona State trails the series 13-24.  The Sun Devils are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (38-35) was in 2018.

11/13  at Washington Huskies  |  Arizona State leads the series 20-16.  The Sun Devils are 4-2 since renewing the series 2013, and they lost (20-27) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

11/20  at Oregon State Beavers  |  Arizona State trails the series 30-14-1.  The Dun Devils are 5-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (34-35) was in 2019.

11/27  ARIZONA WILDCATS  |  Arizona State trails the series 44-49-1.  The Sun Devils are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (35-56) was in 2017.

Predictions:

Home:  6-1
Away:  2-3
Neutral:  0-0
P12:  5-4
Non-P12:  3-0

Overall:  8-4 (4th in PAC-12 South)