Arizona State going deep into the depth chart for Sun Bowl game against Duke

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EL PASO, Texas — Next man up?

In the case of the Arizona State Sun Devils, it’s the man after the man, after the man.

Coach Kenny Dillingham’s team will be that far into the depth chart at some positions when the Sun Devils (8-4) square off against ACC champion Duke (8-5) in the 92nd annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at noon on Dec. 31. The game will air on CBS.

Depending on the formations, ASU sends out first both offensively and defensively, as many as nine athletes could be making their first career start. The running back and cornerback units have been particularly hard hit by a combination of injuries, players who have declared for the draft, and a few transfer portal departures, further depleting the squad.

The Sun Devils are going to have to fight to keep an impressive streak intact. In the last two seasons, Dillingham’s squad has not lost back-to-back games, and they’re coming off a 23-7 loss to rival Arizona in the regular season finale on Nov. 28.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Dillingham said. “I think we have 32 or 35 guys that we’re down, something like that, which is part of it, the nature of it. Like I told our guys, we still plan to go win the football games, so we have to go compete, do whatever we can do to scratch and claw and try and win the football game.”

Both offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward are looking at the positive side of the equation. They’re going to have a chance to evaluate some younger talent in game situations.

The Sun Devils ranked third in the Big 12 and 29th overall at 189 yards per game on the ground. But 1,000-yard rusher Raleek Brown has declared for the NFL draft, while Kyson Brown has been on the shelf with a sprained ankle. That would have brought Kanye Udoh into the mix. The 1,000-yard rusher at Army in 2024 has been underutilized this season. This looked like a prime opportunity for him to shine, but he is banged up, too. He did not practice when the team worked out at Eastwood High School upon its arrival.

Who’s left?

That leaves true freshmen Demarius Robinson and Grayson Rigdon, and sophomore Jason Brown. Robinson has nine carries for 28 yards, while Brown has three for 17, all of those in the same game. Brown has also played on special teams, but Rigdon has not carried the ball in a game.

While it might be hard for fans not to see their favorite players out there, Arroyo said it is a chance to get a good look at players who will be needed come 2026. Teams get between 13 and 15 extra practices, depending on when their bowl game falls, which is almost equivalent to a spring practice.

“That’s probably one of the best things of the postseason,” Arroyo said. “We get an extra three to four weeks sometimes to be able to be around our guys and be around some young players. On offense, we’re going to be playing a lot of young guys because we’re down there because of some injuries. We’re going to be rolling out some guys most people haven’t seen.

“We’re coaching guys out there that now have opportunities. We have a chance to see their talents. Some have been on the scout team, so we never get a chance to see them live. That’s the beauty of the postseason.”

The back end of the defense will be challenged, especially with Duke being a team that has proven proficient at passing the ball, led by sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah.

Both corners are out, Keith Abney due to the draft, and Javan Robinson, who went to the transfer portal. Rodney Bimage was Robinson’s backup, but he has been sidelined for the last two games with a stinger and hasn’t practiced since.

The two players likely to get the call are true freshman Joseph Smith and redshirt freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba. Ward said Smith played much of the season on the scout team but was moved over to get live reps in later weeks because he was needed there and the staff wanted to get him some experience.

The Sun Devils are down to the No. 3 free safety with veteran Xavion Alford out, and his replacement, Adrian “Boogie” Wilson, sidelined after shoulder surgery. Sophomore Kyan McDonald has been listed as Wilson’s backup.

There will also be some adjustments on special teams, as the team’s primary return specialist, Zechariah Sample, will be entering the transfer portal. Junior Cory Butler, who has played in just one game, looks to be a leading candidate there, along with sophomore wide receiver Jaren Hamilton.

On defense, Ward said he expects the replacements to uphold the standard set.

“You have guys choosing either not to play or they’re having season-ending surgery or already looking to 2026,” Ward said. “That’s just something that in our program, the standard has been set. We tell our guys the one thing you can control is being ready for your opportunity. You can’t always plan for it, and if you continue to prepare, when your opportunity comes, you’re going to take advantage of it.

“They’re going to have the opportunity to show what they can do and all that training. We’re excited about the challenge, excited about some of these guys you’re going to see playing for the first time.”

Arroyo added that it’s all part of the program’s growth.

“That investment, that time, the ability to see those guys, analyze them, and see how they react is huge as far as the development of the program,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU going deep down the depth chart for Sun Bowl against Duke

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