2 more Arizona State football standouts headed to 2026 NFL Draft

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Add two more players to the growing list of Arizona State football players who have declared for the NFL draft.

This time, it’s running back Raleek Brown and cornerback Keith Abney II, both of whom had eligibility remaining.

Abney’s declaration isn’t necessarily a surprise. He had a breakout season, even earning first-team All-American honors from one outlet. The first-team All-Big 12 selection is projected to go anywhere between the first and third rounds.

Abney’s season was highlighted by 44 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions, one of which was a game-saving interception in the win over West Virginia. In that same game, he saved a touchdown by knocking away a West Virginia pass in the end zone on a fourth-down play.

Abney is one of five players remaining on the team who came in during Dillingham’s first year. He played only sparingly as a true freshman but moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2024 and has started every game the last two years.

Brown, an explosive 5-foot-9, 195-pounder, had a breakout season with 186 carries for 1,141 yards. He had a career-high against Colorado with 22 carries for 255 yards. That broke the ASU single-season record for rushing yards in a road game, and it is the third-highest total in any game behind Eno Benjamin’s 312 against Oregon State in 2018 and Cam Skattebo’s 262 against Mississippi State in 2024.

Brown was also integral in the passing game with 34 receptions for 239 yards. He also excelled on special teams early in the season with two punt returns for 31 yards and two kickoff returns for 35 yards.

This was Brown’s second season at ASU after starting his college career at USC. Brown, a four-star prospect out of high school, started for the Trojans as a running back in 2022 but then redshirted the next season, as that school tried to convert him to a slot receiver.

He sat out much of 2024 with a nagging hamstring injury. He is projected as a third-day NFL draft pick.

Abney and Brown join wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, tight end Chamon Metayer, defensive end Justin Wodtly, safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser and safety Xavion Alford as players who have declared.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Brown, Abney the latest ASU players to declare for NFL draft

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