There is no shortage of big names on the ASU defense.

But it’s one of the names that fans aren’t hearing a whole lot about that is quietly making a huge impact.

Amid a group of terrorizing pass rushers that includes the likes of senior defensive end Dexter Davis and vaunted freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict, junior Saia Falahola leads the Sun Devils in the sack department so far this season with four.

Falahola’s sack total in his first two seasons: zero.

“Saia has probably made the largest change of any player on our football team since I’ve been here,” defensive coordinator Craig Bray said. “He’s probably been our most consistent guy over the last couple of weeks, and he’s just playing great. His whole attitude, his energy level, his motor and his knowledge of the game [have improved].”

Falahola was part of an offensive line at Trinity High School in Euless, Texas that blocked for Dimitri Nance when the ASU senior became only the second running back in Texas high-school football history to rush for 3,000 yards in a season.

As a full-time defensive player at ASU, Falahola said it took him some time to learn the ropes and get comfortable with the nuances of his position.

“The first two years, I kind of just got in and settled in,” Falahola said. “This spring, I matured as a player.”

That maturity has been evident midway through the season, as Falahola is tied for sixth on the team with 19 tackles, just one short of his total during his first two seasons.

His increased intensity level has been aided by being part of defense that doesn’t take any plays off, the 310-pound junior said.

“Every time I see one of my teammates flying around, it gives me the motivation to fly around with them,” Falahola said. “If it’s not all 11 guys giving effort, then the defense won’t be as great as it is right now … we feed off each other and motivate each other.”

Part of the motivation the defense had been trying to create earlier this season focused on creating a better pass rush.

Through the first four games of the season, ASU notched just three sacks.

The change came against Washington State in game five, when the Sun Devils took advantage of a banged up Cougar offensive line to the tune of 12 sacks, a school record.

Falahola had two sacks in that game and two more last week against Washington, and he said the defensive unit knows that continuing to create pressure on the quarterback will be a major key to its success going forward.

“It’s about playing great ‘D,’ which is creating pressure,” Falahola said. “The coaches with their scheme put us in a great position, and we just have to go out and execute it.”

A little Luck

ASU coach Dennis Erickson said he has been very impressed with what he has seen of Stanford redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck this season.

“He’s a very good player, very accurate,” Erickson said. “He moves around and gives himself a chance [to make plays]. You can see he was raised in that position just by the mechanics and the things he does.”

Luck won the starting job during spring practice over senior and returning starter Tavita Pritchard.

The Houston native has taken advantage of the opportunity. Luck is currently second in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency (151.3) and third in total offense (254.1).

Injury note

Junior cornerback Omar Bolden will not play against Stanford on Saturday. Erickson said he hopes to have Bolden back in time for the Cal contest on Oct. 31.

Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.