It was supposed to be three transfer defensive linemen that were going to revive the ASU football team's woeful defense and have the Sun Devils smelling roses come January.
But after nearly a month and a half of practices and two games, only one of those linemen has been a solid contributor in ASU's 2-0 start.
That is junior defensive tackle Michael Marquardt.
Marquardt, who may be new to Sun Devil fans this season, has in fact been wearing maroon and gold for more than a year now as he transferred to Tempe before the start of the 2005 season.
He was required to sit out all of 2005 and use his redshirt because of an NCAA rule that requires transferring athletes to forfeit one year of eligibility.
Marquardt is from Vista, Calif., and was a top-notch defensive tackle coming out of Rancho Buena Vista High School, where he was named an All-American by Prep Star magazine.
He originally attended Brigham Young University out of high school and said he picked BYU over the University of Southern California because it gave him the opportunity to serve a two-year mission for his church in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
"[The mission] was a learning experience," Marquardt said. "I learned to grow up."
After Marquardt returned from Argentina to begin his college-football career, he played as a true freshman at BYU and saw action in 11 games the following year as a sophomore.
But things then began to get complicated, he said.
"The bottom line is it just got to where I was unhappy at BYU with where the program was heading," he said. "I knew it was my time to seek out another school."
Marquardt found ASU and instantly made the most of his time while ineligible.
He earned the Glen Hawkins Scout Team Award as the defensive scout-team player of the year in 2005.
"That was a long season," Marquardt said. "It was good in a sense that I got to practice against our No. 1 offense and really learn and grow.
"But on the same token I didn't get to go out there on Saturdays and play. Win or lose it was hard for me to sit out there and watch my team and not be able to participate."
Marquardt said in the end the wait was "worth the price" and he even had advice for recently departed senior quarterback Sam Keller, who transferred from ASU to the University of Nebraska.
"My advice to him or anybody that has to sit out is to make the best of it and use the opportunity to get better," Marquardt said.
In preparation to finally see game action as a Sun Devil, Marquardt added 30 pounds during the offseason.
But he said it wasn't on purpose.
"What happens is you gain 30 pounds when you get married," said Marquardt, who tied the knot a year and a half ago. "It's not that I wanted to; it just happened."
Marquardt has put that weight to good use by earning a starting spot alongside senior defensive lineman Jordan Hill.
The defensive tackles already knew each other before Marquardt transferred to ASU.
They went on the same recruiting trip to BYU and committed to become Cougars in
the same weekend, but Hill obviously had a change of heart as well.
"We have a history together and that kind of connection runs deep," Marquardt said. "It's important that we have that relationship, that we know each other and trust each other on the defensive line so that we understand how each other works and so
that we'll be more successful as a defensive line."
Marquardt's impact play earned him captain status for ASU's game against the University of Nevada, Reno last Saturday.
"It was an interesting experience," he said. "I'm surprised and flattered that I have emerged as a leader for the team. I didn't expect that at all."
Coach Dirk Koetter said Marquardt earned it.
"He paid his dues on the scout team," Koetter said. "Mike is a blue-collared player. He works hard on his craft. He works hard on his moves, his technique and using his hands.
"Mike's out there battling every day, and his consistency from last year on the scout team carried over into spring ball to fall camp and now into the season."
Koetter added Marquardt has been the most consistent of the three transfer defensive linemen received after the 2004 season, as junior Tranell Morant and senior Loren Howard have been slowed by injuries.
But Marquardt was unwilling to rank himself among the three.
"Those guys are tremendous athletes, so it's difficult for me to compare myself to them," he said. "They are blessed with big arms and big bodies. They are really fortunate in that way, so it's hard to compare us."
Marquardt said his secret to success has been to avoid injuries.
"I've been fortunate enough to maintain my health and that's the No. 1 thing," Marquardt said. "I think those guys could have easily done what I am doing if they were healthy."
Reach the reporter at Christopher.D.Ramirez@asu.edu.
