ASU football returned to the Bill Kajikawa practice fields on Monday, and once again, all eyes were on the quarterbacks.
In what most believe is a two-way race to start for the Sun Devils under center, the competition has not cooled off.
Both redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins and redshirt sophomore and Alabama transfer Blake Barnett were the first two sprinting to the center of the field after calisthenics.
However, Wilkins remained at the helm of the first group during team drills, with Barnett continuing to command the second team.
Although the quarterbacks have demanded attention, first year ASU wide receivers coach and former University of Kansas offensive coordinator Rob Likens said his focus couldn’t be farther from behind center.
“I don’t even look to see who’s back there at quarterback right now,” Likens said. “I’m in the phase where I’m just trying to get my guys to know what to do and do it fast.”
On the other side of the ball, the defense continues to turn heads.
First year ASU defensive coordinator Phil Bennet continued working with the defensive backs for the second practice in a row, where a new face found his way working with the first team.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Chase Lucas worked opposite of junior cornerback Kareem Orr with the first defensive group.
In an era where smaller defensive backs are beginning to be criticized, it remains to be seen just how long those two cornerbacks can stay on the first team.
Overall, the defense is a difficult group to judge this early into spring practices with Bennett's adjustments.
If there is one group that will need to lead this year’s defensive unit, it’s the linebackers. Senior linebacker DJ Calhoun, who had 77 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss a season ago, took charge in the individual position drills working alongside redshirt junior Christian Sam.
The possible starting duo boasts intrigue as Calhoun (6’0” 229 lbs) and Sam (6’1” 240 lbs) both fit the ideal linebacker build needed to stuff running backs looking for a lane up the middle.
Calhoun said there are obvious physical goals he wants to accomplish in his final season as a Sun Devil, but he also wants to mature off the field.
“Getting my speed back up, going back in the film room, just getting to really know myself,” Calhoun said. “Me growing even as a man, I’m going to be 21 soon. I got to stop with all the little petty stuff outside football and everything like that and just focus.”
Calhoun led the linebackers in position workouts, where he moved fluidly through a drill that required him to move laterally over several bags and finish with a sprint and catch.
Although Calhoun moved well throughout the morning session, it’s very obvious the Sun Devils are early into spring practice as the linebackers dropped passes and lost their footing a few times during position drills.
The defensive backs had trouble staying in sync as well and the defensive linemen forgot to call pass or run in the individual session.
Practice Notes:
Sophomore tight end Jay Jay Wilson returned to working with the first team offense after spending Friday’s practice on the stationary bike.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Bryce Perkins continues to wear a green jersey, which limits player participation.
Reach the reporter at atotri@asu.edu or follow @Anthony_Totri on Twitter.
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