This season, the ASU football team has inducted a larger-than-usual class of "true" freshmen players, those who decided to forgo a redshirt practice year in favor of immediate playing time.
Of the 19 newcomers that signed with head coach Dirk Koetter, an astounding eight of them have seen action during the first two games of the season. Five true freshmen — defensive end Nick Johnson, linebacker Jamar Williams, free safety Matt Fawley, fullback Mike Talbot and wide receiver Derek Hagan — played in front of a national television audience Aug. 24 when ASU suffered a season-opening 48-10 loss at Nebraska.
Hagan, a native of Palmdale, Calif., turned heads by catching four passes for 36 yards. Johnson, a Chandler High School graduate, saw action in 30 snaps at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., and supplied one of his team's biggest plays of the game — a vicious hit in the back of Cornhusker junior quarterback Jammal Lord.
"That was a good feeling," Johnson said. "I'm pretty sure quite a few people saw it. I thought the ball was going to come out, but I was still pretty excited about it.
"[Playing as a freshman] is the greatest thing that could happen to me in football. I'm having a pretty good time out here just playing with the big boys that I looked up to last year and still do."
Koetter upped the ante of freshmen in Saturday's 38-2 win over Eastern Washington by releasing eight young Sun Devils, including lineman Chaz White, cornerback Mike Davis and defensive tackle Ali Likio. The most impressive in the bunch was Fawley, who battled through 42 plays, second only to sophomore strong safety Riccardo Stewart, who was in for 51 snaps. Fawley, a product of Richardson, Texas, recorded nine tackles in just the second game of his collegiate career.
"I had intentions when I first came here in the summer that I wanted to play as soon as possible, so it's good to be out on the field," Fawley said. "It was pretty difficult at first. There's a lot more time in college that you have to spend. In college at ASU, it's like a full-time job."
Koetter said he was fortunate to land a recruit of Fawley's caliber.
"We recruited Matt from his junior film and offered real early. He made it known early in recruiting that he wanted to head West," Koetter said. "It's one of those guys when you watch his tape, you say 'Oh, there's no question we'd like to have this guy,' and really in the back of your mind you're going, 'Are we going to have a chance to get this guy?'"
As one of only two fullbacks on ASU's roster, Talbot will be depended on this season. He showed he was up to the task Saturday after junior starter Mike Karney left the game with a concussion. The Avondale Agua Fria product filled in for 17 plays.
White, a graduate of St. John's High School, took in 21 snaps, showing versatility with the ability to play both guard and tackle. Koetter has been so impressed with White's athleticism that he compared him to Sun Devil great Levi Jones, a first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
"[Playing as a freshman] has been a great opportunity," White said. "I'm forced to learn more than a normal freshman would have to. Coach asked me if I had a problem with [not redshirting.] I told him, 'No.' I think it will get me ready faster."
While defensive backs are at a premium in ASU's 4-2-5 scheme, Davis should play a key role this year. The Sun Devils have had a shortage at cornerback with the loss of sophomore Emanuel Franklin to a fractured skull and sophomore Lamar Baker to a pulled groin. Davis saw 21 plays Saturday.
"He's a big corner. We've been talking about wanting to get a big corner, and he's it," Koetter said. "That kid, he comes to work every day."
Another area that has been surrounded by uncertainty is at the defensive tackle position. The Sun Devil coaching staff hopes Likio, who logged 14 plays against Eastern Washington, can provide some stability.
"Ali Likio, we think as a defensive tackle, is going to get better and better," Koetter said. "He's a run-stopper in the middle. He's a 320-pound guy, not a 265-pound tackle, and he had a couple nice plays in there."
For now, Koetter is hoping he will not have to play any additional freshmen. Although he said there are still a number of players he could use, such as tailback Randy Hill and offensive lineman Stephen Berg.
"There are a couple other guys that could help us," Koetter said. "Randy Hill could really help us on special teams right now. I'd hate to use Randy's year based on that. With Stephen Berg, it's a long season. He's getting better out there."
Reach the reporter at christopher.drexel@asu.edu.
