Newest ASU quarterback joins Sun Bowl practice

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EL PASO, Texas — Not many incoming players get to prepare for a bowl game with their new team even before they're enrolled. But that was the case for quarterback Jack Fette, out of Del Valle High School in El Paso, home of the Sun Bowl, in which the Sun Devils (8-4) will be competing against Duke (8-5) on Dec. 31.

Fette was so excited, he popped out of the team's locker room at Eastwood High School in full pads, ready to go when the Sun Devils took to the field the morning of Dec. 28. He apparently didn't know the rule about having to go through two practices before being able to don the shoulder pads.

After a trip to the locker room, he returned in just shorts and a shirt — one without a number since the only other gray quarterback jersey was the No. 10 of injured starter Sam Leavitt.

"It was good to get him out here and throwing the ball around, start getting him acclimated to the system and the verbiage," head coach Kenny Dillingham said.

The third-year coach noted the rarity of the situation. He said it is not unusual for an incoming player to join in bowl prep. The Sun Devils have another doing so in running back Cardae Mack, but it doesn't usually happen in the players' hometown.

"Not common to come to his home city," Dillingham said. "There's literally one game we could have played in and one quarterback that we could have tried to sign to make this specific thing happen, right? So definitely a rarity from that perspective."

Fette (6-1, 195 pounds) was indeed the star attraction for the local media who covered his storied high school career, highlighted by a senior season in which he threw for 2,737 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 1,105 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading the Conquistadors to a 9-2 record and appearance in the UIL Texas Football State Championships.

Fette chose ASU from 16 offers, six of those Big 12 schools. LSU, Auburn and SMU were among the others. He committed to ASU in September of 2024, the fall of his junior season, and remained loyal to ASU, even after others came after him hard.

"It's real cool," Fette said. "It worked out perfectly that they ended up playing in the Sun Bowl, and I'm real excited to be out here getting in some work before I'm moving out there. I'm trying to get as much knowledge as I can from these players and coaches."

Fette's parents were on hand to watch. Father Rick was a defensive standout at UTEP from 1999 to 2002.

ASU's newest quarterback did little throwing, but took part in agility drills. He took advantage of every opportunity he had to pick the brain of veteran starter Jeff Sims as well as offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. Fette is also staying with the team at the nearby Radisson to start getting to know his teammates.

He will enroll in January and be eligible to participate in spring drills come April.

Fette, a four-star prospect who also competed in basketball and track, acknowledged the difference in the level of competition.

"Really being in a football practice environment is really different," he said. "It's real advanced out there. You've got to learn a new system, where it isn't as simple, and just the players. They're faster, just a bunch of animals out here."

ASU will be deep in the depth chart, between players who are injured and those who have opted out of the bowl game. Most of the veteran players, who are not going to participate, were still in attendance to support their teammates. That includes Keith Abney and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, the team's two most highly touted draft prospects.

Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, who has declared for the draft and will not suit up in the game, served as the scout team quarterback.

Arroyo is excited to get to know the newest quarterback in his room.

"It's been two or so years now," Arroyo said. "Saw him down there working out. He was one of the first guys I saw. I've had an opportunity to grow a strong, steady relationship with him and his family. He's a player, in our eyes, that does everything well. He runs the show and plays that position, has all the critical traits, has the mental makeup it takes to play the position. So it was good to have him out there where we can start working with him. He's special."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jake Fette sees the field with ASU in Sun Bowl practice

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