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(12/08/13 7:42pm)
Stanford linebacker Shayne Skov joked postgame that the Cardinal probably had more fifth-year seniors than any team in the nation.
He might be right.
What is for certain is that Skov, the fifth-year seniors and the rest of the seniors dominated the ASU seniors, propelling the Cardinal (11-2, 8-2 Pac-12) to their second-straight Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl appearance with a 38-14 victory.
The domination started on the first drive of the game.
Cardinal fifth-year senior running back Tyler Gaffney ran 69 yards almost untouched into the end zone on the second play from scrimmage to grab an early 7-0 lead.
Allowing explosive plays was a theme all night for the Sun Devils’ defense, which started seven seniors and had an eighth, linebacker Steffon Martin, see significant playing time.
Senior safety Alden Darby was one of the players who missed his assignment on Gaffney’s first touchdown of the night and agreed that big plays killed the Sun Devils (10-3).
“You know, we came out, and I felt like we came out pretty decent,” Darby said. “We let one, we gave up three long passes and set up scores, and we had some miscommunication, and they broke a couple of big runs. “
Gaffney had a career night, rushing for three touchdowns in the first half, including a one-yard scamper on fourth and goal.
Gaffney gave all the credit to the play of his offensive line, which included three second-team All-Pac-12 selections and two-time All-Pac-12 first team selection and All-American senior David Yankey.
“It was the O-line,” Gaffney said. “They opened up the holes, and all they asked from me was speed and to run the ball. Then we opened up the passing game from there on out and that set the tone.”
Sun Devils’ coach Todd Graham admitted the Cardinal offense, which finished with 517 yards of total offense, ruled the line, especially the three senior defensive linemen.
“Will Sutton's never been physically dominated,” Graham said. “Davon (Coleman) has played unbelievably, and again, (Gannon) Conway's played unbelievably. But you've got to have 11, and their 11 were more physical and better than our 11.”
The Sun Devil seniors on offense didn’t perform any better.
Senior receiver Kevin Ozier caught two passes for 21 yards and senior tight end Chris Coyle was held without a catch.
Coyle admitted he was having a hard time finding space against the Cardinal defense.
“Whether I was running up against a backer, as soon as I'd get past the backer there would be a safety on me,” Coyle said. “When things like that happen, it's up to the other guys to make some plays. We've got to find the openings as well. It's still our job to get open no matter who is covering us.”
In the end, the Sun Devil seniors didn’t have enough to turn their magical season into a rose-filled one.
“Everybody's dream is to make it to the Rose Bowl, but you know, we've just got to pick up where we left off and get ready for whatever bowl game we get selected for,” Coyle said. “We just didn't get it tonight. I mean, we couldn't put it together, and we'll figure it out and make sure we finish strong with the bowl game.”
Graham said his thoughts were with his seniors but gave credit to the only team to beat the Sun Devils on their home turf all season.
“Just really hurting for (the seniors) right now, but, again, congratulations to Stanford,” Graham said. “A first-class program, tremendous coaching staff. They obviously deserved to win tonight. They were the better team.”
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu and follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(12/08/13 1:59am)
Stanford finished off a dominating performance by shutting out ASU in the second half to win 38-14, clinching its second straight Rose Bowl appearance.
(12/08/13 12:17am)
(12/04/13 11:25pm)
Quarterback
EDGE: ASU
Redshirt junior Taylor Kelly struggled the first time around against Stanford, completing just 30 of his 55 pass attempts while throwing a season-high two interceptions. Kelly has matured as a quarterback since then, especially with his ability to run the football. Kelly has completed just 56.5 percent of his passes the past two homes games and has thrown just two touchdowns, compared to three interceptions, so he will need to be sharper to beat a good Cardinal defense.
Minus the Cal game on Nov. 23, junior Kevin Hogan hasn’t thrown for 200 yards since Oct. 19 against UCLA. Hogan has struggled on the road, too, especially in the two games the Cardinal have lost, completing just 55.8 percent of his passes. Hogan did a good job of managing the game against the Sun Devils earlier this season, completing 64.7 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and just one interception.
Running back
EDGE: Stanford
Senior Marion Grice won’t be available again, a big blow considering the Sun Devils ran for just 50 yards against Stanford back in September. The duo of sophomore D.J. Foster and redshirt junior De’Marieya Nelson provides hope, though. Foster had the best rushing game of his career against UA (124 yards, two touchdowns) and Nelson was very effective in short-yard and goal-line situations.
Senior Tyler Gaffney has assumed the role of feature back, something the Sun Devils didn’t face the first time around. Gaffney and fellow senior Anthony Wilkerson each had 18 carries but Gaffney has eclipsed that mark six times since. Gaffney had his best statistical game against Notre Dame, rushing for 189 yards and a touchdown, and has run for 1,485 yards total this season.
Wide receiver/tight end
EDGE: ASU
Redshirt sophomore Jaelen Strong said he played horrible against Stanford earlier in the season despite catching 12 passes for 168 yards, both season highs, and a touchdown. It’s scary to think what Strong could do Saturday if he plays up to his standards. The Sun Devils still can’t find a reliable second option behind Strong, though, as no other receiver caught more than two passes against UA. A possible option is senior tight end Chris Coyle, who caught a 45-yard touchdown pass against the Cardinal in their first meeting.
Two Stanford receivers burned the Sun Devils earlier in the season, juniors Ty Montgomery and Devon Cajuste. Montgomery had 62 yards and two touchdowns while Cajuste had 67 yards and made a spectacular catch over the middle to set up a touchdown. The Sun Devils have struggled all season with big, athletic receivers like Cajuste, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds.
Offensive line
EDGE: Stanford
The Sun Devils line, led by senior first team All-Pac-12 selection Evan Finkenberg and junior second team All-Pac-12 selection Jamil Douglas, has really come on as of late and did a very nice job of blocking for Foster against UA. It’s crucial they get the running game going early or it might be a long night for Finkenberg, Douglas and crew like it was against Stanford in September.
Stanford can rely on the run behind its players up front, who are extremely good. Leading the way is All-American and two-time All-Pac-12 first team selection senior David Yankey. Three other Cardinal offensive lineman, including sophomore Andrus Peat, made second team All-Pac-12. The Cardinal have the best line in the Pac-12 and allowed just one sack to ASU in their first meeting.
Defensive line
EDGE: ASU
One would be hard pressed to find a front four that’s playing better than the Sun Devils' line right now. Redshirt junior Carl Bradford had four tackles for loss against UA, springing him into the team lead with 16 on the season. Senior Davon Coleman is right behind Bradford with 14 tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead in sacks with Bradford at 7.5 on the season. Meanwhile, redshirt senior Will Sutton (10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks) just won his second consecutive Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Redshirt senior Ben Gardner was selected first team All-Pac-12 after posting 7.5 tackles for loss, but wasn’t even the best statistical leader of the line. Fellow redshirt senior Josh Mauro finished with 10.5 tackles for loss and picked up his only interception of the season against Kelly and the Sun Devils. Another quality game from the two could see Kelly getting forced into mistakes once again.
Linebacker
EDGE: Stanford
Senior Chris Young has continued his amazing play and now ranks third on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Young also leads the Sun Devils in tackles with 95 and finished with a team-high 10 tackles against Stanford in September. The early-season matchup against the Cardinal was the first major playing time redshirt freshman Salamo Fiso got all season and Fiso performed, leading the defense with 1.5 tackles for loss even though he didn’t play for most of the first three quarters.
For as good as Stanford is on the offensive line, it might be better at linebacker. Redshirt seniors Trent Murphy and Shayne Skov were both selected first-team All-Pac-12. Murphy led the Cardinal with 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks while Skov led the team in tackles with 91. The two combined for two tackles for loss and a sack against the Sun Devils earlier this season.
Secondary
EDGE: ASU
Three of the four starting defensive backs grabbed interceptions against UA, including redshirt junior Damarious Randall’s 64-yard pick-six that put the Wildcats away. The secondary has done an outstanding job of creating turnovers all season, amassing 16 interceptions combined. The only member of the Sun Devils secondary that didn’t record an interception against the Wildcats, senior Robert Nelson, was coincidentally the only one to grab an interception against Stanford earlier this season.
Senior Ed Reynolds earned first team All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive season but his game against the Sun Devils wasn’t his finest. Reynolds, third on the team in tackles, was ejected for targeting, which helped spur the Sun Devils comeback. Junior Jordan Richards leads the Cardinal with three interceptions.
Special teams
EDGE: Stanford
The Sun Devils have struggled all season punting and the Stanford game was at the forefront of those struggles. Freshman Matt Haack had a punt blocked that turned into a safety and freshman placekicker Zane Gonzalez missed a field goal. Gonzalez hasn’t missed a field goal since and senior Alex Garoutte has stabilized punt duties, but it’s far from perfect.
ASU coach Todd Graham called Stanford the best special teams unit in the conference at his Monday press conference. Graham has a good argument as senior placekicker Jordan Williamson is 15 for 19 on field goals and senior Ben Rhyne is averaging 42.2 yards per punt. Montgomery also beat the Sun Devils with long returns, including a 50-yarder on the opening kickoff.
Overall EDGE: ASU
It’s been a season of destiny for ASU. All the pieces have fallen into place for the Sun Devils to make their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1996-97 season. The Sun Devils were blessed with a championship game at Sun Devil Stadium, where they are undefeated this season. Both of Stanford’s losses have come on the road. The Sun Devils and the Cardinal are both different teams than they were in their first matchup, but with home field advantage and hungry team and fan base looking for a championship, the pendulum swings in the Sun Devils’ favor. The Sun Devils should smell roses before the clock strikes midnight Saturday.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu and follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(12/04/13 12:04am)
After ASU lost to Stanford on Sept. 21, redshirt sophomore receiver Jaelen Strong made a prediction.
(12/03/13 12:30am)
In April of 2011, I walked on to the ASU campus looking for the Matthews Center, home of The State Press. I was still a senior in high school, and finding the building on the big campus was not an easy task.By the time I stepped into the sports office I was a sweaty mess, not the best look for a kid trying to get a job.But life goes on, and I had my interview. A month later, The State Press hired me on as a sports reporter, and it still remains the best moment of my college experience.I've covered six sports in five semesters.I witnessed the ASU women's cross-country team and women's soccer team squeak into the NCAA championships at the last moment.I witnessed a national champion in ASU track and field athlete Jordan Clarke.I witnessed ASU baseball make it back to the postseason just a season removed from sanctions.And now I'm witnessing ASU football's best season in recent memory.Next semester I won't be returning, but I'll never forget what the newspaper has allowed me to accomplish during the past two and a half years.Thank you, State Press. That lost high school kid is now just a distant memory.Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu and follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(12/01/13 9:18pm)
Four of the five home teams, including ASU, won their rivalry games Saturday. Here are the final regular season Pac-12 power rankings:
(12/01/13 4:01pm)
ASU coach Todd Graham said sophomore running back D.J. Foster chose the Sun Devils two years ago because “he blindly trusted us.”
(12/01/13 3:52am)
ASU carried over its 23-point halftime advantage to defeat UA 58-21 and win the 87th Territorial Cup game.
(12/01/13 2:06am)
ASU jumped out to a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter to take a 30-7 advantage into halftime in Tempe.
(11/30/13 6:41am)
Senior defensive tackle Will Sutton has experienced Territorial Cup joy in Tucson twice in the past three seasons.He’s never lost to UA on the road, never had that sinking feeling of defeat while in Tucson.But things have been different for Sutton in Tempe.ASU hasn’t beaten the Wildcats in Tempe since the senior defensive lineman has been a Sun Devil, and he’s anxiously waiting to take the field against his rivals one last time Saturday night.“It’s going to be cool you know,” Sutton said. “We are going to have a sold out crowd because we’re winning so we are going to have a bunch of fans in here so it’s going to get loud. It’s going be a good one.”This home Territorial Cup matchup is a little different for Sutton compared to the one two years ago.Sutton has a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year title under his belt and has taken over major leadership duties for the defense.Sutton said his leadership will be in full force come Saturday.“Guys on the team look up to me,” Sutton said. “It’s not that I have to do it, but we are close to accomplishing our goals and since they look up to me I have to step up.”Sutton admitted he didn’t know much about the cross-state rivalry prior to coming to Tempe, but that he is now fully immersed in what it means to the schools.“It’s just tradition,” Sutton said. “Growing up in California I didn’t really know about it. Once you get here, you become a part of it and you have to play with that passion.”Passion won’t be a concern for Sutton, especially with the added element of Saturday being senior day.A Sun Devils victory also clinches homefield for the Sun Devils in the Pac-12 title game, so a chance to beat the Wildcats and have one more chance to play at home is on Sutton’s mind.“Senior Day is always a big one, but we are going to have one more at home,” Sutton said. “No matter the rivalry or passion, we should beat UA. If we beat them, we will have one more home game. Two senior nights.”The Sun Devils are a perfect 6-0 at home this season, which Sutton says is just another motivator heading into the game.“Oh yeah,” Sutton said. “Everybody knows how we play at home. Everyone knows our record at home, we love playing at home.”The main focus for Sutton remains beating the Wildcats, though.“We don’t really worry about where we win or how we win,” Sutton said. “We have them at home and we are undefeated at home this year so it’s a big advantage for us.”Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(11/26/13 11:45pm)
Quarterback
EDGE: ASU
Redshirt junior Taylor Kelly has continued to show his worth in the running game, rushing 22 times for 94 yards and a touchdown in ASU’s Pac-12 South-clinching win over UCLA. Kelly was able to run the read-option successfully against a Bruins’ defense that is better than UA’s. The Wildcats did a good job to contain Oregon’s offense and redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcus Mariota, but Mariota was still nursing an injured knee. Kelly’s 74.1 percent completion rate against the Bruins (20-27) was the highest since the 74.2 percent clip (23-31) against Sacramento State in the first game of the season.
UA redshirt senior B.J. Denker has been improving all season and his last game against Oregon was a testament to that. Denker completed 19 of his 22 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 102 yards. Denker has thrown just four interceptions all season and has rushed for 811 yards and 11 touchdowns. The ASU defense and its ability to put pressure and contain will provide a challenge for Denker.
Running back
EDGE: UA
The biggest concern for ASU this week will be the status of senior Marion Grice, who left the UCLA game late in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. If Grice and his 20 total touchdowns aren’t able to go, the onus will be on redshirt junior Deantre Lewis (269 yards, 5.5 yards per carry) and sophomore D.J. Foster (183 yards, 4.4 yards per carry). It will be hard to replace the versatile Grice, a Paul Hornung Award finalist, but Foster seems most capable at this point and rushed for a touchdown against the Bruins.
ASU coach Todd Graham called UA junior Ka’Deem Carey the best running back in the nation and it’s hard to argue with him. Carey has rushed for 100-plus yards in 14 straight games and ran for 206 yards and four touchdowns against Oregon, earning him Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Even with missing the season opener, Carey has run for 1,559 yards and 16 touchdowns so far this season and is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.
Wide receiver
EDGE: ASU
Redshirt sophomore Jaelen Strong is just 75 yards away from the 1,000-yard plateau after catching six passes for 91 yards and a touchdown against UCLA. No other receiver had more than two catches or 20 yards against the Bruins, though. Grice has been picking up a lot of slack for the receivers, too, so his possible absence would stretch much further than the running back position. The Sun Devils have playmakers like seniors Chris Coyle and Kevin Ozier, but it’s a matter of getting them the ball at this point.
UA has been decimated by injuries all season at the wide receiver position, but freshman Nate Phillips has stepped in and taken the top spot, catching 39 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Terrence Miller grabbed his first touchdown of the season against the Ducks and reeled in nine receptions for 88 yards. Freshman Samajie Grant is the possession guy and has brought in a team-leading 44 receptions.
Offensive line
EDGE: UA
The ASU offensive line dominated UCLA for most of the first half, giving Kelly protection and allowing him and Grice to run the ball effectively. Kelly was still sacked three times and the second half wasn’t as pretty for the line, which only helped the offense muster three points. Redshirt senior Evan Finkenberg and redshirt junior Jamil Douglas remain the steady cogs.
With a guy like Carey in the backfield, it’s hard not to be productive up front. The UA offensive line has been good this year, giving up just 14 sacks through 11 games. The line also didn’t allow Oregon to get a single sack all game.
Defensive line
EDGE: ASU
The ASU defensive line wreaked havoc on UCLA redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley all night. Redshirt junior Carl Bradford intercepted Hundley on an attempted swing pass and returned it to the house, while senior Davon Coleman accounted for 3.5 tackles for loss and senior Will Sutton added a sack. The combination of Bradford, Coleman, Sutton and senior Gannon Conway has been playing phenomenal for the past two months, and the four have combined for 42 tackles for loss on the season.
UA senior Reggie Gilbert leads the defense with four sacks and is fourth on the team with seven tackles for loss. Senior Sione Tuihalamaka is second on the team with eight tackles for loss and has added two sacks. Fellow senior Tevin Hood, brother of ASU sophomore defensive lineman Jaxon Hood, has chipped in 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack. UA is allowing just 4.2 yards per rush this season.
Linebacker
EDGE: UA
Senior Chris Young willed ASU in the late stages of the UCLA game and his efforts were recognized as he was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Young led the Sun Devils with 13 tackles and three sacks, including a key one late in the fourth quarter. Young is playing arguably the best football of his Sun Devil career and now ranks third on the team with 12 tackles for loss. Senior Anthony Jones and redshirt freshman Salamo Fiso continue to start, but Young is making most of his plays in the middle of the defense.
The top three leading tacklers for UA are all linebackers, led by senior Marquis Flowers's 78 tackles. Flowers is also third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and has added one sack, one interception and a team-leading two fumble recoveries. Freshman Scooby Wright is second on the team with 76 tackles and is the Wildcats’ leader with nine tackles for loss. Senior Jake Fischer has just one less tackle than Wright (75) and has two tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Secondary
EDGE: ASU
The UCLA game wasn’t the strongest effort from the ASU secondary, which didn’t intercept Hundley and allowed multiple big plays over the middle. Senior Alden Darby did do a good job to stop a two-point conversion for the Bruins, though. Redshirt junior Damarious Randall was second behind Young in tackles with eight and senior Osahon Irabor added five tackles of his own. Senior Robert Nelson continues to lead the Sun Devils with six interceptions and had the interception that sealed the Sun Devils’ Territorial Cup victory last season.
Senior Tra’Mayne Bondurant leads UA with four interceptions, although most of those came early in the season. Bondurant has also shown the ability to get in the backfield, racking up 5.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks. Senior Shaquille Richardson has been the steady force on the outside, picking up three interceptions, including one against Mariota, and three tackles for loss. Junior Jared Tevis is the Wildcats’ fourth leading tackler with 70 and had eight tackles and a forced fumble against Oregon.
Special teams
EDGE: Even
Punting is right back where it started at the beginning of the season. A muffed attempt led directly to three points for UCLA and Sun Devil punters averaged just 34.8 yards per punt on the night. Kickoff and punt return coverage was lacking too, and the Sun Devils allowed Bruins return man Ishmael Adams to a kickoff return of 69 yards and a punt return of 49 yards. The one special teams bright spot remains freshman placekicker Zane Gonzalez, who has now nailed 15 consecutive field goals after hitting one against the Bruins.
Senior placekicker Jake Smith has struggled, hitting just 12 of his 18 field goals and is just two of five between 30 and 39 yards out. Sophomore punter Drew Riggleman is averaging 40.3 yards per punt on his 50 punts this season but averaged 44.3 yards per punt on his three punts against Oregon. UA doesn’t offer much in the return game as their longest kick return of the season is 34 yards and longest punt return is 25 yards.
Overall EDGE: ASU
Forget that ASU is having its best season in years and forget that UA is coming off their biggest win in years. This is the Territorial Cup, where the road team has won the past four matchups. The Sun Devils have been strong at home all season, though, and are undefeated (6-0). A Sun Devil win means the Pac-12 championship game will be held in Tempe and so will the Territorial Cup trophy. A Wildcats' victory means forcing their rival on the road in the Pac-12 title game and continuing the trend of road success in the rivalry (the road team has won 13 of the past 21 matchups). Don’t be surprised if either team walks out of Sun Devil Stadium Saturday night victorious, but the Sun Devils are just a little better on paper and should put themselves in better position to smell roses for the third time in school history.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(11/26/13 11:25pm)
Robert Nelson and Davon Coleman were at hot yoga a couple weeks ago when it hit them.
There are no more second chances, no more looking ahead to their collegiate futures and no more promises of next year.
This is it for the two redshirt seniors, who realized their three seasons at ASU were coming to a close at their favorite place off the field — the yoga studio.
“When we are (at the studio) we feel so good and after we just chill and talk about everything,” Nelson said. “We were just like, ‘Man, these three years just went by so fast. It feels like we were just together for like a year. It feels like we just played three seasons in one year. It’s really coming to an end, man. I’ve really got to go all the way in. This is the real life.’”
Nelson and Coleman are no strangers to real life.
Both grew up in a rough area of their respective cities: Nelson in Lakeland, Fla., and Coleman in Cleveland, Ohio.
Neither started their careers at ASU, either.
Nelson played two seasons at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Coleman a season at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College before transferring west to play for then-ASU coach Dennis Erickson.
The two, with their similar backgrounds, instantly clicked upon arriving in Tempe and moved in with each other.
The summer before their first season with the Sun Devils wasn’t easy, though.
Financial aid had yet to kick in, and Nelson and Coleman struggled to eat at times, resorting to the typical college kid lifestyle.
“That was definitely a struggle,” Coleman said. “Eating Ramen noodles and all types of stuff like that is always a struggle.”
Coleman and Nelson pushed through.
Nelson had to redshirt in 2011 but Coleman played, recording his first career sack against Missouri and finished the season with 5.5 tackles for loss.
Erickson was fired after the 2011 season, and Todd Graham’s staff took over, a major change for both players.
The two continued to work nonetheless and co-defensive coordinator Paul Randolph recognized Coleman’s effort.
“Davon has done a tremendous job of doing what we’ve asked him to do,” Randolph said. “The growth and maturity in the way he’s prepared has truly benefitted him.”
Both players had a breakout season in 2012, especially Coleman.
The big defensive lineman didn’t even start to begin the season but finished fifth on the team with 11 tackles for loss.
Meanwhile, Nelson made his first career start in 2012 against rival UA and made the most memorable play of his Sun Devil career to date.
Nelson intercepted a tipped pass from then-Wildcats quarterback Matt Scott with less than four minutes remaining in the game and returned it to the 1-yard line.
Who was the lead blocker on the return? None other than Nelson’s good buddy Coleman.
“Me lead blocking for him was perfect,” Coleman said with a smile.
Smiling is something Coleman does a lot, which caught the attention of redshirt senior cornerback Marlon Pollard, who transferred to the team this season.
Pollard said Coleman spent a lot of time with him last year during his official visit and the two have remained close ever since.
“Davon’s a really fun guy and really friendly and he embraced me when I was on my visit,” Pollard said.
Pollard didn’t know Nelson at first, but because he spent time with Coleman and is a cornerback, he grew close to Nelson, too.
“I didn’t meet Rob until I actually got here, but we are both corners and playing on the outside so we gravitated to each other,” Pollard said.
ASU is Pollard’s third school of his college career but admitted he’s never met guys like Coleman or Nelson.
“Those guys are unique,” Pollard said. “They definitely have their own personalities that you won’t find anywhere else, which is why I think they are so successful.”
Coleman's and Nelson's careers were most fruitful in 2013, but they didn't get off to the best start. Both players struggled to earn first-team reps in camp and Nelson barely earned the second starting corner spot.
“(Coleman) wasn’t starting in camp, I wasn’t starting in camp,” Nelson said. “We had one goal and he always kept me on my toes, and I always saw him reading scriptures, and our faith is so strong, so God has a plan for us, and that’s where we’re at right now.”
Coleman now leads the defensive front, stacked with players like redshirt senior lineman Will Sutton and redshirt junior Devilbacker Carl Bradford, with 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Coleman’s 3.5 tackles for loss against UCLA also led the Sun Devils, who clinched the Pac-12 South title for the first time in school history.
Nelson has been a key man, too. His six interceptions lead the team and his two-interception performance against OSU, which included the game sealing pick-six, earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Nelson and Coleman are now just one victory away from playing in the Rose Bowl, a far cry from where they were before ASU.
“It’s a big difference, it’s like a dream come true,” Nelson said. “(Coleman) coming from junior college, me coming from Louisiana-Monroe were some rough times for both of us, so just being at Arizona State is a blessing. We have this opportunity to play in a bowl game and to be in a big bowl game. We don’t have these kinds of opportunities in Monroe. I’m just happy I can share my story and Davon’s story and help my team.”
Before they can smell roses, there’s still work to be done.
Senior Day is Saturday against the Wildcats and the hot yoga conversation the two had, along with many others shared over the years, still pushes them to succeed.
“I think if I didn’t have those struggles, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” Nelson said. “We talk a lot about everything. We have the mindset that this isn’t enough, and we want to go all the way. I’m glad we went through these things.”
Coleman agreed, saying he isn’t satisfied with just a Pac-12 South crown.
“We have a lot of those conversations,” Coleman said. “We have to take advantage of the opportunities we still have. We’ve both definitely invested a lot into this year and we’ve both worked very hard for ourselves.”
Randolph recognizes the effort both Coleman and Nelson have devoted to their final season and knows how special Saturday will be to them.
“It will be emotional,” Randolph said. “They’ve spent a lot of time here so I don’t think there’s any doubt it will be an emotional day for them.”
Pollard has had a front row seat to their 2013 success and couldn’t be any prouder.
“I’m just so proud of them knowing how much work they’ve put in,” Pollard said. “We are all seniors so it’s gratifying to see them succeed.”
Regardless of what happens over the next few weeks, both Coleman and Nelson know they’ve made not only good teammates in each other, but good friends.
Nelson calls Coleman “one of my best friends on the team” and Coleman says Nelson is “my homie.”
Their bond is unbreakable, even if it does seem like the two met just yesterday.
“Three years went by so fast and for it to be almost over so fast is a crazy experience,” Coleman said. “I’m just grateful. Him by my side makes things a lot easier.”
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
(11/24/13 10:29pm)
It was a wild week in the Pac-12, with Oregon getting blown out by UA and ASU clinching the Pac-12 South with its victory over UCLA. Here are the Week 13 power rankings:
(11/24/13 7:01pm)
PASADENA, Calif.– The feeling was all too familiar for ASU senior linebacker Chris Young.
(11/24/13 1:21am)
PASADENA, Calif.– ASU survived an onslaught by UCLA in the second half to beat the Bruins (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) 38-33 and clinch the Pac-12 South.
(11/23/13 11:34pm)
PASADENA, Calif.- ASU used three rushing touchdowns and a pick-six to take a 35-13 lead over UCLA at halftime in the Rose Bowl.
(11/21/13 8:00pm)
Less than a month ago, USC couldn't get fans into the Coliseum.
(11/20/13 12:53am)
Rick Smith thought he would be on the same college sideline as high school teammate Randall Goforth.
(11/19/13 11:28pm)
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