ASU football officially increased its total number of early enrollees to eight student athlete Wednesday. Six are junior college players and two are coming straight from high school.
Head coach Todd Graham spoke about the JUCO players after practice. He said the team focused on two main areas of focus: the offensive line and the secondary.
“I’m really pleased with not only the talent and the skill of our guys but the character of the young men we’ve recruited,” he said.
On defense, the team added defensive ends Koran Crump and Christian Hill and cornerbacks Maurice Chandler and J’Marcus Rhodes from different junior colleges around the country. Below is what Graham had to say about the new enrollees and what they will bring to the team.
DE Koran Crump, Fort Scott Community College (Kansas)
ESPN: 3-star
Graham: “A very, very explosive player. Very, very athletic. He’ll play the Spur position for us, be a Spur/Devil. He’s a pass rusher. ... (I’m) excited about him and just how dynamic he is up around the football as a blitzer, and a guy who can rush the quarterback.”
DE Christian Hill, Glendale Community College (Arizona)
ESPN: 4-star
Graham: “Tremendous pass-rushing ability and a guy that’s served our armed forces in the air force. “When I shook his hand he about ripped my arm off, so we’re pretty impressed with him.”
CB Maurice Chandler, NE Oklahoma A&M Community College (Oklahoma)
ESPN: 4-star
CB J’Marcus Rhodes, Kilgore College (Texas)
ESPN: 4-star
Graham: “Losing the corners that we lost, (we) wanted to bring two guys in and J’Marcus is a guy that can play a lot of different positions, safeties as well as corners. Both those guys are great additions to our class and guys that are I think two of the best in the country.”
ASU also added four offensive players. Both center AJ McCollum and offensive tackle Tyson Rising signed on Monday to transfer from their respective California junior colleges. Two high school players, tight end Jared Bubak and offensive guard Marshall Nathe, also signed. Graham spoke about the latter two after practice on Tuesday.
C AJ McCollum, City College of San Francisco (California)
ESPN: Three-star
Graham: “AJ is a guy that reminds me so much of Nick Kelly, it’s unbelievable. A really smart player, a great center, especially for the things that we do and how we’re able to run a play-action, pass-offense so we’re excited about him and him coming in here and being a guy that’s going to compete.”
OT Tyson Rising, Ventura Community College (California)
ESPN: Three-star
Graham: “Tyson Rising, (is a) 6’5, 295-pound guy that’s very, very versatile on the offensive line. ... Obviously graduating four, to have two have two mid-year guys coming in here is big to be able to develop with an already talented young group.”
TE Jared Bubak, Lincoln Christian High School (Nebraska)
ESPN: Three-star
Graham: “Bubak is, wow. Very impressive. He came in and I just couldn’t. I mean, he has put on 40 pounds. ... I think someone was calling him Gronk the other day … but his size and his stature, and just the character, too.”
OG Marshall Nathe, Centennial High School (Arizona)
ESPN: Three star
Graham: “A local talent, that’s what i’m excited about. ... We want to win here and dominate our backyard, and that’s something that has been a hard, long road so far and it’s starting to pay dividends.”
All eight players will join ASU during spring practice.
“To have them in the spring is invaluable,” Graham said. “I think (this group) is going to be as good as we’ve had.”
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