Diablos del Sol | Arizona State Sun Devils

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Sun Devils Find CJ Fite's Replacement In Mammoth DT

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DJ Sanders commits to ASU behind massive NIL deal

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By: Emilio Suarez

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It was recently reported that the Arizona State Sun Devils were checking in on 'everybody' as the transfer portal opened up earlier this week. Now, they've put their money where their mouth is.

Former Texas A&M and Florida State DT DJ Sanders announced his decision to join Weis Jr.'s Sun Devils next season, with a gargantuan NIL deal that instantly places the 6-foot-3, 318-pound lineman among one of the highest paid interior lineman in the country.

"The exact details haven't been made public yet. But the general consensus I got when asking around was that Sanders was offered $2.5M by a number of elite programs," confided one ACC insider when reached for comment on Sanders' decision.

"The Sun Devils eclipsed that. I don't think $3M is off the table."

It's a massive commitment for the interior of the Sun Devils defense, but combined with the already announced transfers from Cal, falls in line with what they're trying to build under new defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings.

"Mike likes to play big up front and versatile in the back end. Think how the Pittsburgh Steelers operated for years, with linebackers and safeties attacking from a variety of angles," theorized On3's Anthony Peerman.

"They now have their 'STAR' linebacker with Julian Manson—who also announced his decision to move from Des Moines to Tempe this morning—along with the incumbent Ferrelli and Cal transfers Topa, and Manutai. They needed someone to eat blocks at the point of attack and free up space for all of those guys. Now, they have him."

"Sanders isn't just a big body on the interior of a defensive line, he knows how to use it," added Peerman. "He's got great hands and knows how to occupy multiple blockers at the same time to clear a path for the rest of the defense. He's not the best at rushing the passer one-on-one, but with his size and strength, he pushes the pocket to force the quarterback off his spot, giving the edge rushers time to close the distance."

"I know they were looking to replace Fite. They didn't just replace him with this signing, they upgraded."

Sanders and Julian Manson become the sixth and seventh transfer additions for the Sun Devils this season as Charlie Weis Jr. continues to aggressively pursue talent to not only reach the College Football Playoff, but start marching toward a National Championship.

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LSU Does It Again As Keisean Henderson Announces Commitment

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For the third transfer window in a row, the LSU Tigers have secured one of the top overall QBs

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By: Emilio Suarez

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Two years ago it was Sam Leavitt. Last year it was Bryce Underwood. And now, it's Keisean Henderson.

The previous two transfer QBs to sign in Baton Rouge brought home the Heisman Memorial Trophy, but failed to win a College Football Playoff game. Henderson aims to accomplish both.

"Yeah, I know the expectations coming to LSU. I'm ready for them," proclaimed Henderson when announcing his commitment.

While the Sun Devils have been busy throughout the transfer portal so far, they didn't see Henderson as a realistic target despite bringing him, along with others, in for a visit.

"He [Henderson] had his sights set on Texas or LSU, from the jump," admitted a source close to Graham Rossini, Arizona State's athletic director. "Everyone did their due diligence, just in case, but it was clear anything he got he was using as leverage to get the most he could out of those two programs."

While Henderson was out of their grasp, the Sun Devils are reportedly 'close' on signing a top-tier quarterback of their own in the portal.

When the source was pressed for names, he quickly balked.

"I can't spill that tea. You'll just have to wait until the announcement hits the wire like everyone else," laughed the source.

Keisean Henderson is LSU-bound. Now, the Sun Devil faithful in Tempe await word on who will replace Austin Mack in the Valley of the Sun.

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Sun Devils Have A Need For Speed At Wide Reciever

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ASU targeting burners from Clemson, New Mexico State

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By: Emilio Suarez

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With the departure of Jaren Hamilton and Cam'Ron Lacy, the Sun Devils found themselves lacking one valuable trait in their offensive arsenal.

Speed.

Raiden Vines-Bright is quick and crafty. Jerome Bettis Jr. is more of an in-line slot guy. Zay Robinson is a great route runner. But none of them had that high end speed to take the top off a defense and stretch the field vertically.

With today's announcement that not one, but two receivers are heading to Tempe, that need for speed has been addressed in a big way.

New Mexico State's RJ Mosley hauled in 71 receptions to go with 957 yards and five touchdowns last year, but left Las Cruces in search of an opportunity to play on the biggest stages in college football, and he believes Arizona State is the place to do it.

"You look at what Coach Weis Jr. accomplished in year one and how can you not be excited about the future," marveled Mosley when announcing Tempe as his next destination.

"RJ Mosley doesn't have track speed, per se. His speed is more deceptive," noted On3's Anthony Peerman. "You don't look at him and think burner, until he hits that last gear and is chewing up grass and leaving the defender in the dust. Additionally, at 6-foot-3, he has an exceptional catch radius and uses his body well to shield the defender from the ball."

Mosley might have sneaky speed, but the next receiver to pledge allegiance to Arizona State, Clemson's Connor Salmin, is a speed demon according to Peerman.

"Now that guy, legit track speed. Blink and he's gone. What makes him even scarier is he's got the shiftiness of a guy like Percy Harvin back in the day. He's got enough moves, he could play tag in a cardboard box and not lose."

The two newest Sun Devils offer a starkly different profile, both from a talent standpoint and production.

While Mosley is bringing proven production, Salmin is entirely based on upside, having only caught 11 passes for the Clemson Tigers last year.

The Sun Devils continue to add proven talent all over the field, but the biggest piece to the puzzle has yet to be solved.

Whoever the Sun Devils bring to Tempe to line up under center, he'll not only have a pair of new bookend tackles, but a pair of athletic receivers to pair with the already explosive RVB and Austin Carlisle.

The starting quarterback position in Tempe is looking more advantageous by the moment. And all indications are the Sun Devils aren't anywhere close to done.

[Soapy]

Food chained by LSU.

Again, Carlisle is right there.

[Count]

Mosley sounds intriguing. I like bringing in guys with proven production at lower levels

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Food chained by LSU.

Again, Carlisle is right there.

eh, I didn't really think we had the momentum to pull Henderson anyways.

I used Carlisle in a test practice and brodie left everything lame on deep balls. I need that deep stroke (ayo) from my QB

Mosley sounds intriguing. I like bringing in guys with proven production at lower levels

yeah he instantly stuck out to me in the portal. 6'3 with speed?

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Arizona State Keeps Tapping the SEC Well

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Two more former SEC players heading to The Valley of the Sun

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By: Emilio Suarez

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It's no secret that the SEC is one of, if not the, premier college football conferences in the country, so it's understandable that so many programs prioritize SEC caliber talent in the transfer portal.

The Arizona State Sun Devils understand how the game works and continue tapping that well as they announce two more additions via the transfer portal.

Georgia TE Kaiden Prothro and South Carolina safety J'zavien Currence.

Prothro has been described as a receiver in a tight-end's body, and when you look at his skill set you can see why. The former Bowdon High School recruit stands at 6-foot-6 and clocks in at 216 pounds, putting him near the same measurements as the top linebackers in the country. The difference is, Prothro runs like a gazelle, turning him into a matchup nightmare over the middle.

"It's the same problem teams have had with these athletic tight ends since guys like Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez started terrorizing defenses. You can't put a linebacker on them, because they're too slow. Put the safety on them and they aren't physical enough. And Prothro is right there with them."

"Freak athlete with the skills to match," finished On3's Peerman when assessing the former Bulldog.

It's unclear why Prothro decided to leave his hometown Bulldogs and search for greener pastures after putting up 740 yards and five touchdowns on 61 receptions, but those close to the athlete say the 38-0 loss to Georgia Tech to close out the 2027 season 'weighed on him.'

"He wants to compete and thought he could do that at Georgia, but to be honest, they've kind of fallen by the wayside," said a close family friend speaking on condition of anonymity.

Georgia hasn't reached an SEC Championship Game or the College Football Playoff in either of the last two years.

J'zavien Currence is another uber-athlete from the SEC who's looking for the same opportunity Prothro is: National Championships.

"I just want to win by any means necessary. I'm ready to lay it all out to get that Natty," proclaimed Currence on IG when announcing his decision.

While Currence has played at safety each of the last two years, those close to Michael Hutchings reveal the newly signed defensive coordinator sees Currence as an athletic "STAR" linebacker hybrid for the Sun Devils.

"He's got the size to make his presence felt in the run game and the hands and reaction time to hold his own in coverage," noted Peerman while pointing out Currence's five interceptions over the last two seasons. "They're going to need all the athletes they can get in Tempe under Hutchings, so getting a jack-of-all-trades type of guy falls right in line with everything else they've been building this year."

Both Currence and Prothro announced their decision to transfer to Arizona State today, but neither's NIL offer was disclosed.

The addition of two more players brings Arizona State's total transfer haul to nine now while they await the word of several other prospects in the coming days.

[Captain Canada]

LSU took your bitch again huh. At this point, I would take it personally if I was ASU

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LSU took your bitch again huh. At this point, I would take it personally if I was ASU

like I said, he looked kinda suspect when we played Houston this year anyways

we gonna be iight

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Sun Devils Continue Adding Defensive Talent Via Transfer Portal

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A&M's Marco Jones, Ohio State's Kodie Thompson Jr. latest to join Sun Devils

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By: Emilio Suarez

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The Arizona State Sun Devils have made a concentrated effort to add defensive talent through the transfer portal, and for good reason. Only two members of last year's top-ranked Sun Devils defense return as starters, MLB Luke Ferrelli and LB Barry Seitz. Everyone else is gone.

But just like Captain America in the Avengers, Charlie Weis Jr. is assembling a new squad and he just added two more members with the announcements of Marco Jones and Kodie Thompson Jr.

Marco Jones comes over from the Texas A&M Aggies and while the former Modesto, California product produced at times, he was never able to crack the starting lineup in College Station. Jones appeared in twelve games for the Aggies, mostly on special teams, but shined on the rare opportunity to rush the passer, collecting three sacks during the season.

With Keon Keeley and Quintavius Johnson gone, the Sun Devils are in dire need of a pass rusher, making Jones a natural fit for both parties.

Likewise, Kodie Thompson Jr. left the confines of Columbus, Ohio in search of a clearer path to playing time, after failing to even see the field in his three years with the Buckeyes.

"I just want a chance, and Arizona State offered me that," admitted Thompson Jr. when speaking about his decision to transfer from Ohio State to ASU.

"It's consistent with the other moves Arizona State has made over the last two years," acknowledged a rival Big XII head coach. "They keep adding Big Ten and SEC talent that falls through the cracks, hoping that the same ability that made them enticing to those programs will once again shine through in Maroon and Gold."

"We've seen similar schools follow that same pattern and be wildly successful. The early returns last year were positive, so why would they stop?"

The pieces keep piling up in Tempe as the Sun Devils prepare to make another run at the College Football Playoff, this time with Championship aspirations.