Quarterback
EDGE: UCLA
Redshirt junior Taylor Kelly struggled for the second straight game, throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns passes in the win over OSU. It’s tough to think Kelly will struggle for three consecutive games considering the year he’s had. Regardless, Kelly didn’t look sharp against the Beavers, missing throws and failing to diagnose coverages. Kelly is still averaging 283.8 passing yards per game and a final total around there against UCLA will be necessary for a Sun Devil win.
Redshirt sophomore Brett Hundley threw for just 159 yards last week against UW but had two touchdowns. Hundley torched ASU for 274 yards and four touchdowns last year in Tempe but is averaging just 238.4 passing yards per game this season. Hundley’s ability to run the ball – he’s the Bruins’ leading rusher – is something the Sun Devils defense has yet to really see this season. Sun Devils coach Todd Graham called Hundley the best quarterback his team will have faced so far this season.
Running back
EDGE: Even
Senior Marion Grice has 901 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns after his 118-yard, two-touchdown performance against OSU. Grice has really turned it on over the past four games, rushing for 506 yards. Redshirt junior Deantre Lewis didn’t see any touches against the Beavers, but sophomore D.J. Foster carried four times for 20 yards and picked up his first rushing touchdown of the season.
Two weeks ago, the Bruins didn’t know who was going to step up for injured redshirt junior Jordon James. Freshman linebacker Myles Jack has been extraordinary in place of James, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown against UA then for 59 yards and four touchdowns against UW last week. It’s possible Jack, who is averaging 9.4 yards per rush, is a better running back than linebacker, which is saying a lot.
Wide receiver/tight end
EDGE: ASU
Redshirt sophomore Jaelen Strong is back to 100 percent, which is great news for ASU. Strong caught seven passes for 106 yards, including 66 on the opening drive of the game, against OSU. His return to pre-injury form plus the continued emergence of sophomore Richard Smith (seven catches vs. the Beavers) provides a good one-two punch for the Sun Devils. Seniors Chris Coyle and Kevin Ozier have continued to catch passes in key situations as well.
Redshirt senior Shaquelle Evans is the Bruins’ best receiving option, catching 36 passes for 524 yards and seven touchdowns this season. The Bruins have a solid number two in sophomore Devin Fuller, who has 453 yards and four touchdowns himself this season. Redshirt sophomore Devin Lucien emerged a little last week against UW, catching his first touchdown pass of the season.
Offensive line
EDGE: Even
Kelly was sacked twice against OSU and pressured for most of the night, but the line continued to go a good job of blocking for Grice, springing him for a 40-yard run at one point. It’s still hit and miss with the line, but senior Evan Finkenberg and redshirt junior Jamil Douglas continue to be consistent leading the attack for the offense.
The Bruins’ offensive line gave up two sacks against UW and has allowed 23 total for the season. There’s nothing special about the Bruins’ line, but it is still opening up holes for Hundley, Jack and others to average 37 points per game.
Defensive line
EDGE: ASU
Even without redshirt junior Carl Bradford for most of the second half, the ASU defensive line did a good job to pressure OSU junior quarterback Sean Mannion. The line had no sacks on the night, but seniors Will Sutton, Davon Coleman and Gannon Conway did a good job to limit the Beavers rushing attack, allowing just 2.7 yards per rush. Add an angry Bradford to the mix, and the line will continue its impressive run.
Senior Cassius Marsh is the leader of the Bruins’ defensive line with three sacks and 6.5 total tackles for loss. Redshirt senior Keenan Graham is the Bruins’ statistical leader for lineman in sacks with five. Freshman Eddie Vanderdoes and sophomore Ellis McCarthy have chipped in 8.5 total tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Linebacker
EDGE: UCLA
Senior Chris Young once again led ASU in tackles with nine against OSU. Young had two tackles for loss on the night, including a sack/forced fumble combination on the Beavers’ first drive. Redshirt freshman Salamo Fiso was right there with Young, totaling eight tackles and looking more comfortable with another start under his belt. The one-two combination of Young and Fiso will have their work cut out for them against Jack.
Redshirt junior Eric Kendricks leads the Bruins with 87 tackles, 19 more than any other Bruin, but he’s not even the best linebacker on the team. Senior Anthony Barr, who finished second to Sutton in Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, is having another monster year, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss, including seven sacks. Then there’s Jack, who has chipped in five tackles for loss, an interception and is tied for third on the team with 67 tackles. Senior Jordan Zumwalt is also second on the team with 68 tackles and has five tackles for loss.
Secondary
EDGE: ASU
Graham said senior cornerback Robert Nelson had the best game of his career against OSU and the numbers don’t lie. Nelson had a fumble recovery and two interceptions, including the game-sealing pick-six against the Beavers, earning him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. The secondary totaled four interceptions on the night against Mannion, who had thrown just six all season prior to facing ASU. Nelson’s six interceptions on the season are the most for a Sun Devil since 2007.
Sophomore cornerback Ishmael Adams leads the Bruins with four interceptions on the season. Fellow sophomore and safety Randall Goforth is second behind Adams with three interceptions, which includes one last game against UW. Redshirt junior cornerback Anthony Jefferson has two interceptions and has been the cog of the secondary with 67 tackles.
Special teams
EDGE: UCLA
Freshman Zane Gonzalez nailed his 14th consecutive field goal against OSU and senior punter Alex Garoutte averaged 40.2 yards on his four punts, which is a considerable improvement. Coleman blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter that would have cut the OSU defecit to one possession.
Sophomore placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is 12 of 16 on field goals and none of his misses have been from less than 45 yards. Freshman punter Sean Covington has had an outstanding season, averaging 41.4 yards per punt.
Overall EDGE: Even
Saturday’s matchup will mark the first time since 1986 that ASU and UCLA have both been ranked when they play. The Sun Devils defeated the Bruins 16-9 that year en route to their first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl Game. The current Sun Devils can clinch the Pac-12 South title and earn a chance to play for their third-ever Rose Bowl with a victory. Many point to the Sun Devils’ 45-43 last-second loss to UCLA in Tempe last year as the game that cost them the Pac-12 South title. Can the Sun Devils exact revenge on the two-time defending South champion Bruins on their home turf? All the pieces are in place and the Sun Devils have shown the ability to win on the road lately, even if it wasn’t against UCLA-level competition. Comparatively, the Bruins are undefeated at home but haven’t faced an ASU-level opponent this season at the Rose Bowl. This is the matchup of the year in the Pac-12 South, but there’s no clear favorite.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
