While ASU head coach Todd Graham appeared pleased with the play of his Sun Devils (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) against the Golden Bears (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12), his focus has turned toward the first road tilt of the season, when ASU heads to Los Angeles to face USC on Saturday, which kicks off at 5:45 p.m on FOX.
ASU redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins was named to the Davey O'Brien "Great 8" list following his performance in a 51-41 win over California to open conference play.
Senior kicker Zane Gonzalez was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Gonzalez made all three of his field goal attempts, was perfect on six extra point tries, and boomed seven kickoffs into the back of the end zone for touchbacks against Cal.
"I've never seen anybody develop at that level," Graham said. "He's improved his kickoffs by 15 or 20 yards. That's a huge luxury for us."
"It's really remarkable when you think about what he's close to accomplishing." Graham on @ZaneG_5
— Stefan Modrich (@StefanJModrich) September 26, 2016
Graham said he used to think of the 30-yard-line as the benchmark for Gonzalez's field goal range, and as the school record-holder and Pac-12 career points leader grew from his sophomore year to his senior season, the target crept closer and closer to midfield.
"I don't know what we're going to do in the future, Graham said. "I'm pretty spoiled on making points every time we get to the 40."
Defensively, redshirt senior linebacker Laiu Moeakiola was named a Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week finalist.
Graham said he was unsure whether junior linebacker Christian Sam would be able to play against USC, but added he would like to see Sam and Moeakiola with redshirt senior linebacker Salamo Fiso and junior linebacker DJ Calhoun all playing at the same time.
The Trojans (1-3, 0-2 Pac-12) have fallen behind in the South divisional race, despite playing a pair of tough road games at Stanford and Utah and being blown out by defending national champion Alabama.
Still, Graham expects USC to be among the toughest and most talented teams ASU will play, and also said the Trojans would be the best offensive line the Sun Devils have seen.
"We have not played, and will not play against better running backs and receivers," Graham said.
The 2015 drubbing the Sun Devils took from USC in a 42-14 loss to open Pac-12 play last season is still fresh on Graham's mind, and said their opponent hasn't changed much.
"They're dynamic in their special teams with (Adoree' Jackson)," Graham said. "They look very similar."
Graham was asked about the last time ASU visited the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and said that while he tends to have a short memory, seeing the hero of the dramatic 38-34 upset of USC and current Houston Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong at the Cal game triggered a fond recollection of the moment.
"I reflected on it when I saw @JaelenStrong outside the tunnel... It will always be special to me, and I'd love to go create another one."
— Stefan Modrich (@StefanJModrich) September 26, 2016
"I'd be a liar to you if I didn't tell you that was a great memory of mine," Graham said with a smile.
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
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