Defensive portal addition grades: How did Arizona State stack up in the NCAA transfer portal?
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After looking at its offensive additions, it is now time to focus on Arizona State’s defensive transfer portal additions.
Kenny Dillingham is building a complete team for next season in the desert.
The Sun Devils tasted the College Football Playoff in 2024 for the first time since the venue originated in 2014, but it wants more. Offense scores points in college football, but complementary action still wins national championships. Dillingham requires toughness on defense and he found some names in the portal. How does each position stack up to help ASU accomplish its goal? A breakdown of the Sun Devils’ defensive portal additions is below, including some day one starters.
Defensive Linemen (4): B
Arizona State picked up four defensive linemen in the portal, including two junior college transfers.
Jalen Thompson, an edge rusher from Michigan State, brings the most production from the group. He led the Spartans’ defensive front in tackles for loss (6.5) in 2025, while being among its leaders for sacks (2.5) and quarterback hurries (eight).
Emar’rion Winston is a twitchy pass rusher from Baylor. The 6-foot-4, 247-pounder collected 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and five quarterback hurries last season for the Bears. He converts speed to power well and finishes on quarterbacks.
The interior of the Sun Devils’ defensive line are JUCO transfers. Hyrum Vaeono (formerly of Butler Community College) and Jeffery Manns II (formerly of Hutchinson Community College) provide quality experience as depth pieces, but how quickly can they be impactful for a major program? Spring football will answer several questions for both up front.
Manns, who stands at 6’3″ and 300 pounds, totaled 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks in his sophomore campaign last year as a defensive tackle. Vaeono, a defensive end at 6’3″ and 285 pounds, posted 18 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 2025 for Butler CC. If both come in and take a starting job, it will bode well for ASU up front in creating success.
Linebackers (1): A+
Coach Dillingham hit a grand slam with the addition at inside linebacker.
Owen Long is one of the most decorative tacklers in college football. He led Colorado State and the nation with 151 total tackles, earning first-team All-Mountain West honors and third-team All-American honors for the Associated Press in 2025.
Long finished with five tackles, two sacks, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He can run sideline to sideline, cover running backs and tight ends, stuff running backs, and provide a pass rush. Long should serve as the Sun Devils’ green dot communicator up front with his experience. He is the piece that should set Arizona State up for much success next fall.
Secondary (5): A
Dillingham did work in the defensive secondary, landing five names out the portal.
All five players come from power four programs, including two from the Southeastern Conference.
ASU acquired Ashton Stamps (formerly of LSU), Caleb Chester (formerly of Texas), Jessiah McGrew (formerly of Florida International), Lyrik Rawls (formerly of Kansas), and Antoine “AJ” Belgrave-Shorter (formerly of Penn State).
Rawls and McGrew have the biggest production of the unit.
Rawls, a safety, had 73 tackles in 2025 for the Jayhawks — including a team-high 57 solo stops. He racked up seven pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, and an interception. McGrew was a stud in 2025 for FIU, posting 68 tackles, five breakups, two forced fumbles, a blocked punt/kick, and a team-high four interceptions. Stamps is a good cornerback, despite playing in only three games for the Tigers last season. He posted a career-best and team-high 14 pass breakups in 2024.
Chester and Belgrave-Shorter are young players looking for an opportunity to grow with a new team.
Both have potential to be good for the Sun Devils.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
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