# #

Pivotal Pac-12 South Tilt Awaits Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl

by thesundevils.com
Sep 28, 2021

THE GAME -  The Sun Devil Football program is back on the road this weekend for a key Pac-12 South tilt against the #20 UCLA Bruins on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. ASU's Pac-12 road opener is scheduled for a 7:30 AZT kickoff and will be broadcast nationally on FS1 (Chris Myers and Mark Helfrich on the call) and available over the airwaves locally on 620 AM/98.7 FM HD-2 (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Jordan Simone, Jeff Munn).

UCLA/PAC-12 ROAD OPENERS -  UCLA enters the weekend ranked #20 in this week's AP Poll after picking up a 35-24 victory over Stanford last weekend at The Farm. UCLA is winners of the past two games against Arizona State and three of the last four.  No team has won three straight games in the series since UCLA in 2000, 2001 and 2002. ASU is 17-24-1 all-time in Pac-12 road openers. 

KICKING OFF

  • ASU's secondary has combined for 139 career starts, a total that is second in the nation behind only Indiana. The group is led by Chase Lucas' 42 career starts, who needs six more starts this season to break the Sun Devil school record currently held by Dexter Davis (47).
  • ASU has 29 rushing touchdowns in its last 7 games - the most of any FBS team over their most recent seven-game stretch ahead of Air Force (25) and Texas (25).
  • ASU has forced 40 turnovers in its last 15 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 15-game span and five more than any other team over that 15-game span (Iowa, 35).
  • ASU has held four straight opponents under 400 total yards of offense, the first time it did so since it held five straight opponents under 400 total yards of offense in 2013 (COLO, UW, @WSU, @UTAH, OSU).
  • In games against FBS competition with only non-garbage time possessions included, ASU is holding opponents to a starting field position of the opponent's own 22.7 yard line - the worst starting field position for opponents in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devil secondary has forced 16 "coverage sacks" (plays where the opposing QB had to hold the ball for 3.0 plus seconds or throw it away), good for 4th-most in the nation.
  • ASU has rushed for 150 or more yards in nine straight games dating back to 2019. It is the longest such streak since a 12-game span between 1975-76.
  • ASU has a +2.33 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 12th-highest in the nation.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

  • Move the Sun Devils to 18-24-1 all-time in the team's first Pac-12 ROAD game of a season
  • Be ASU's first victory at the Rose Bowl since 2015
  • Be the first time ASU started Pac-12 play 2-0 since 2012
  • Keep UCLA from winnings its first two Pac-12 games of a season for the first time since 2013.
  • Even ASU at 6-6 in games against ranked opponents under Herm Edwards

NOTABLE SERIES NUMBERS - UCLA

RUSHING YARDS

207-Karim Abdul-Jabbar, UCLA (Oct. 12, 1995)

186-Kevin Nelson, UCLA (Nov. 18, 1980) 

185-J.R. Redmond, ASU (Oct. 2, 1999)

PASSING YARDS

510-Drew Olson, UCLA (Nov. 12, 2005) 

488-Mike Bercovici, ASU (Sept. 25, 2014) 

395-Cade McNown, UCLA (Oct. 12, 1996)

RECEIVING YARDS

175-J.J. Stokes, UCLA (Nov. 12, 1994)

167-Keith Poole, ASU (Oct. 12, 1995)

164-Kevin Jordan, UCLA (Nov. 10, 2018)

TACKLES

17-Eric Kendricks, UCLA (Oct. 25, 2012)

17-Morris Wooten, ASU (Nov. 28, 2008)

17-Mike Richardson, ASU (Nov. 18, 1980) 

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 548 passing by Jayden Daniels to reach 5,000 in his career (Currently at 4,452)
  • 2.0 tackles for loss by Tyler Johnson to reach 25 in his career (Currently at 23.0)
  • 6.5 sacks by Tyler Johnson to move into the Top-10 in ASU career history (needs 19.0, currently at 12.5)
  • 6 starts by Chase Lucas to become ASU's all-time leader in career starts (needs 48, currently at 42)
  • 4 tackles by Chase Lucas to reach 200 in his career (currently at 196)
  • 10 tackles by Evan Fields  to reach 200 in his career (currently at 190)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. In non-garbage time possessions against FBS teams this year, ASU opponents have an average starting yard line at their own 22.7 - the worst starting field position in the country.

2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 24 of 35 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. 

3. ASU's 29 rushing touchdowns in its last seven games are four more than any other team in the FBS ahead of Air Force and Texas (25).

4. Since the start of last year, ASU's defensive line is second in the FBS with a quarterback pressure 48.5 percent of the time despite ASU having the 10th-lowest blitz percentage at 17.7 percent.

5. ASU has forced 40 turnovers in its last 15 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 15-game span. Even without a takeaway in two games this year, ASU has five more than second-place Iowa. 

6. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 34 games. The .21 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS.

7.  ASU's offensive line has allowed a quarterback pressure on just 15.1 percent of dropbacks this year, the third-lowest tally in the FBS.

8. ASU has a +2.33 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 12th-highest in the nation. 

9. The Sun Devils are one of just six FBS teams this year to not allow a 40+ yard play. 

10. ASU has held seven straight opponents under 250 passing yards dating back to last season. That is the longest streak since ASU started the 2012 season holding its first seven opponents under 200 passing yards.

BY THE NUMBERS
139 - ASU's secondary has combined for 139 career starts, a total that is second in the nation behind only Indiana (154). The group is led by Chase Lucas' 42 career starts, who needs six to break the Sun Devil school record currently held by Dexter Davis (47). Since 2018, that secondary has allowed just 5 passing plays over 50 yards (none last year or this year so far). The Sun Devil secondary has forced 16 "coverage sacks" (plays where the opposing QB has to hold the ball for 3.0 plus seconds and/or throw it away), good for 4th-most in the nation.

48 - Since the start of last season, the Sun Devil defensive line has forced a quarterback pressure on 48.5 percent of opponent passing plays - the highest in the FBS in that span. This feat is made more impressive considering ASU has blitzed just 17.7 percent of snaps in that time - 10th-fewest nationally. Since last season, ASU's defensive line has recorded 37 tackles for loss or tackles for no gain - second in the Pac-12 (Oregon, 39), despite playing the fewest games in the league in that time. The defensive line has forced 64 pressures so far this season, good for second in the Pac-12. 

40 - ASU has forced 40 turnovers in its last 15 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 15-game span. In fact, even with two games without a takeaway, ASU still has five more over 15 games than second-place Iowa. ASU has multiple takeaways in 11 of those (and three or more in six of them). ASU has 45 takeaways overall since 2019, 14th among Power Five teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020. ASU has outscored opponents 792-403 since 2012 on points of turnovers, scoring 63.9 percent of the time after a takeaway.

24 - ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 24 of 34 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. The Sun Devils have allowed just 97 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/34 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 - 19th-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games). The Sun Devils have held their opponents under 400 yards of total offense in four straight games, the most since the team had five straight games with the feat in in the middle of the 2013 season. 

17 - All told, ASU has allowed just 17 quarterback pressures this year - 16 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 10th-fewest in the FBS (though triple option offenses Army and Air Force rank first and ninth). The line has allowed a pressure on just 15.1 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year, the 3rd-lowest total in the FBS (Northern Illinois and Georgia).The team has a 86.2 score as a pass-blocking unit, over 10-points higher than any other Pac-12 school and fourth in the FBSLadarius Henderson and Kellen Diesch are tied for 13th among offensive linemen in the nation with only one QB pressure allowed on the year (min. 100 snaps).

7 - ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 34 games. The .21 50+ yard plays per game allowed are 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 per game on 4 plays over 35 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17. Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 47 30-yard plays (1.4 per game/34 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU is one of just 6 remaining FBS teams to not allow a play over 40 yards thus year.

DANNNGGGGG DANIELS

  • Jayden Daniels is currently the second-highest graded offensive player overall in the Pac-12 this season (86.1). The tally marks him as the 31st-highest graded player in the nation, regardless of position, and 17th among QBs.
  • As a rusher, Daniels has a grade of 82.1, good for second overall in the Pac-12 and 20th overall in the nation, regardless of position. He is the top graded rushing QB in the league and fourth in the FBS. 
  • Daniels is 21st in the FBS since 2019 in fourth quarter passing yards (1,063) while his 10 touchdown passes in the final frame are tied for 10th.
  • Daniels has an NFL passer rating of 109.9 in the fourth quarter of games, third-highest among FBS quarterbacks since 2019 (min. 150 dropbacks). 
  • Since 2019, Daniels is second in the FBS in yards per pass attempt with 11+ yards to go at 11.6 ypa while he is second in yards per completion in the category (18.1 on 939 yards and 52 catches). 
  • His NFL passer rating with over 11+ yards to go since 2019 is 123.4, also second in the nation.
  • Among players with at least 400 passing attempts since 2019, Jayden Daniels ranks tied for second in fewest interceptions with just six on 519 attempts (1.2 percent of his throws).
  • Daniels has thrown just one interception on third down in his career, tied for fewest in the FBS since 2019 (min. 100 attempts). That third down interception didn't come until the 19th game of his career (BYU this season).
  • Since 2019, Daniels is third among FBS quarterbacks in yards per attempt on third down at 9.3 (1,186 yards on 128 attempts).
  • Among Power Five quarterbacks with at least 100 third-down attempts since 2019, Daniels is 15th with an NFL quarterback rating of 98.6.

JAY WALKING

  • As a rusher, Jayden Daniels has a grade of 82.1, good for second overall in the Pac-12 and 20th overall in the nation, regardless of position. He is the top graded rushing QB in the league and fourth in the FBS.
  • Since 2019, Daniels' 1,052 rushing yards overall (sacks excluded) are 17th among active quarterbacks and among those with at least 100 carries, his 6.2 yards per rush are 16th. 
  • Daniels rushed for 125 yards against UNLV, his second career 100+ yard game and the fourth-most by a quarterback in program history (he also holds the fifth-best tally with 111 at USC last year).
  • When rushing on third down, Daniels has picked up a first down or touchdown with his feet 57.5 percent of the time (47 attempts) - 6th among FBS running backs since 2019.
  • His 8.5 yards per carry when rushing on third down are seventh among FBS quarterbacks since 2019. He has 18 explosive third down runs (runs of 10+ yards) good for fifth among FBS quarterbacks since 2019.

RUSH HOUR

  • ASU's 29 rushing touchdowns over its last seven games are the most in the FBS over a seven-game span ahead Air Force's triple option offense (25) and Texas (25). Buffalo is next with 23 and another triple option offense in Army is fifth with 22. 
  • ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in six of its last 10 games dating back to 2019. 
  • ASU has nine-straight games dating back to 2019 with over 150 rushing yards. It is the longest such streak since a 12-game run over 150 yards over the final nine games of 1975 and first three of 1976.
  • ASU is 25th nationally and second in the Pac-12 with 211.5 rushing yards per game this season.
  • ASU's success this season has come in large part by its receivers grinding on the outside with the trio of Johnny Wilson, Andre Johnson and Ricky Pearsall ranking as the 1st, 2nd, and 4th highest-graded receivers in the Pac-12 as run blockers and 1st, 2nd and 16th among FBS receivers overall. 
  • Wilson (89.9) and Johnson (89.5) are the fourth and fifth-highest graded run blockers in the FBS, regardless of position.
  • Additionally, Case Hatch (graded as a fullback) has the highest run-blocking score amongst halfbacks in the nation (78.1) on 67 run-blocking snaps. His 14 positively graded run-snap plays from PFF are six more than any other half back in the nation. 
  • As a team, ASU has the 15th-highest graded run blocking group in the FBS (74.2).
  • Starting with 1996 season, ASU's 22 rushing touchdowns in the last two games of 2020 and first two of 2021 were the most by any Pac-12 team over a four-game stretch (Oregon, 21, 2013). In fact, it was the fourth-most by any FBS team in that span (Nebraska 25, 27, 24, 23 at points in the 1997 season; Georgia Tech, 25 from 2014-15 and Georgia Tech again, 24 in 2018). ASU's 19 rushing touchdowns between the final two games last season and first of this year were the second in the FBS overall since 1996 over a three-game stretch next to that Nebraska team.

THE PRICE IS WHITE

  • Rachaad White has a rushing touchdown in six straight games dating back to last season and has multiple in four of those. His six rushing touchdowns this season are 11th in the country.
  • White has multiple touchdowns in five of his eight games at ASU and has at least one touchdown in seven of his eight games with the Devils.
  • White leads the team in both rushing yards (262) AND receiving yards (187). He has been a workhorse for ASU, leading all Pac-12 running backs with 76 touches this season (56 rushing, 20 receiving). His 166 total snaps are also tops among Pac-12 running backs. 
  • White is the third-highest graded running back in the Pac-12 this season (73.8) and the 32nd-highest graded one in the FBS.
  • He is also the second-highest graded running back in the league as a receiver (71.6) and 16th-highest graded in the category nationally among backs. 
  • His 22 targets in the passing game are 8 more than any other Pac-12 player and fifth among running backs nationally. His 20 receptions are 10 more than any other Pac-12 back and 4th among FBS running backs.
  • White has 212 yards after the catch (think catches behind the line of scrimmage) - the highest tally of any FBS running back this season.
  • He has picked up a first down nine times as a receiver - second among FBS running backs. He has also forced seven misses tackles as a receiver - fourth among FBS backs.
  • White has rushed for 17 first downs this season, fifth among Pac-12 backs.
  • White led the nation in averaging 10.0 yards per rush (420 yards on 42 attempts) while he was 14th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (151.0). He was second among Pac-12 running backs with 151 receiving yards and caught all eight of his targets.

GOING OFF THE RAILS ON A CRAZY TRAYANUM

  • DeaMonte Trayanum was the highest-graded running back in the Pac-12 in Week One, posting an overall offensive score of 86.1.
  • Trayanum was the highest-graded running back in the Pac-12 last season by PFF with a score of 87.6 - 4.4 points higher than any other back in the league. White was fourth in the Pac-12 with a score of 82.5.
  • Against UCLA, Chip Trayanum became the first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Demario Richard in 2014 (14 for 116 vs. Utah - the 8th game of the year). In doing so in just his second game as a Sun Devil, he became the fastest freshman to have a 100-yard game since Keegan Herring rushed for 134 yards on 12 carries in his debut in the season opener for ASU
  • Trayanum averaged a first down or touchdown on 36.7 percent of his carries last season, tops in the league just ahead of his teammate, White (35.7).

IN-NGATA DA VIDA

  • Not to be lost in the shuffle of ASU's dynamic 1-2 punch, redshirt freshman Daniyel Ngata has quietly put up the Pac-12's eighth-highest grade among running backs with at least 50 snaps (74.6).
  • Ngata has played on just 59 snaps this year, of which 25 have been recognized as "key snaps" by PFF, notable as the 14 players with more in the category in the Pac-12 have over 100 snaps to their credit. 
  • Ngata has registered 14 first downs/touchdowns rushing on 32 attempts this season, a 43.8 first down/TD percentage rate that is over five points higher than any player in the league.
  • Among all FBS backs with at least 25 carries, that 43.0 1D/TD percentage is fourth in the nation.
  • Ngata's success has come from his incredible ability to hit the holes with a great dash of speed, as 54.6 percent of his total yards have before he is even touched - the 11-highest tally in the FBS.
  • Ngata has averaged 3.7 yards per rush before contact this year, the ninth-most in the FBS.

HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS

  • Arizona State has played in 11 total games decided by four points or less in the Herm Edwards era (since 2018), which is tied for eighth in the FBS in that time and tops in the Pac-12. 
  • The Sun Devils have played in 19 games decided by a touchdown or less since 2018, going 9-10 in that time. The 19 games are tied for fourth behind Texas (21), Oklahoma State (21) and North Carolina (20) for the most in the country in that span.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

  • ASU has forced 40 turnovers in its last 15 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 15-game span. In fact, even despite not having a takeaway in two games this year, the next closest team (Iowa) has just 35. ASU has multiple takeaways in 11 of those (and three or more in six of them).
  • ASU has forced 45 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 14th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • The Devils were tops in the country in turnover margin last season at 2.00. ASU was 6th nationally in turnover margin in 2019 (1.08). 
  • ASU (11th in 2018) is one of just two teams nationally to rank in the Top-25 in turnover margin in each of the past three seasons (Georgia Southern) and only ASU was in the top-15 in each of those seasons.
  • The Sun Devil defense has forced a fumble 38 times on 1,532 plays run against it since 2019. The 2.5 fumble percentage is the most of any Power Five school in that time.
  • ASU forced a turnover on four of Southern Utah's 11 drives in the opener (36.4 percent). ASU forced an opponent turnover on 25.0 percent of drives last season, tops in the country. ASU forced a turnover on 17.5 percent of opponent possessions in 2019, good for 4th nationally. 
  • ASU has outscored opponents 792-403 in points off takeaways since 2012. 
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.9 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (133 of 208) while finding the end zone 98 times in that span (47.1 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 47.8 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (68 of 142) with 52 touchdowns (36.6 percent).
  • ASU turned the ball over five times last year, seventh nationally. The Devils turned the ball over just 14 times in 2019 - the 20th-lowest total in the FBS. 
  • ASU is one of just three teams to rank in the Top-25 in fewest interceptions thrown in each of the last three seasons, alongside triple-option offenses from Air Force and Navy.

LOCKING IT DOWN

  • ASU is one of 6 remaining FBS teams to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards this year. The team has the 13th-fewest 10+ yard plays allowed (37), 13th-fewest 20+ yard plays (10), and 12th-fewest 30+ yard plays (4).
  • ASU is allowing just 4.19 yards per play this season, good for 11th in the country and tops in the Pac-12. 
  • The Sun Devils have held their opponents under 400 yards of total offense in four straight games for the first time since they had five straight games with the feat in 2013. 
  • ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 34 games. The .21 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 percent on 4 plays over 35 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • ASU is one of just seven teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last three seasons (Cal, Washington, Utah, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern). 
  • Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 47 30-yard plays (1.4 per game/34 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD

  • Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 72 times on 255 drives, a 28.2 score percentage that is the 19th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 97 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/34 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 - among the Top-25-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 24 of 34 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17. 
  • Last season, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior to the marked improvement the past three seasons. 
  • Currently, ASU is 21st in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 16.0 points per game. 
  • Since 2019, ASU has allowed a a second half touchdown on just 19.9 percent of drives (26 of 131) - the 19th-fewest in the FBS.
  • ASU shut out UNLV in the second half, the first time it held an opponent scoreless in the second half since doing so against Washington on Nov. 14, 2015.

NO FLY ZONE

  • The Sun Devil secondary has forced 16 "coverage sacks" (plays where the opposing QB has to hold the ball for 3.0 plus seconds and/or throw it away), good for 4th-most in the nation. ASU is forcing one of these coverage sacks on 14.0 percent of opponent pass attempts - the highest percentage in the FBS.
  • Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 59.7 this season - 7th-lowest in the nation.
  • ASU is 5th in the nation in allowing just 124.2 passing yards per game.
  • ASU's coverage has a forced incompletion percentage of 13.6 percent - 8th in the nation
  • Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 10.7 percent of the time (32 on 299 attempts) - the 11th-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • In the last three-plus seasons combined, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 16 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranked second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
  • With Colorado throwing for just 67 total passing yards, it is the second time this season ASU has held two opponents under 100 yards in the category (UNLV, 67). The last time ASU accomplished that twice in a season was 2012, though that includes a triple option offense in Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. It is the first time it has done so without a triple option offense in the schedule since 2006 (@Colorado, 86/Stanford, 66).
  • ASU has held all four opponents this season under 250 passing yards, extending its streak in that category to seven straight games dating back to last season. That is the longest streak since ASU started the 2012 season holding its first seven opponents under 200 passing yards. ASU had an 11-game stretch across the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

THRILL OF THE CHASE

  • Chase Lucas has 42 career starts, needing just six to break Dexter Davis' school record of 47.
  • Lucas was the highest graded corner in the Pac-12 in coverage last season with a grade of 84.7 and the 16th-highest graded corner in the nation. He is the 5th highest graded corner in the Pac-12 thus far this season.
  • He allowed just 109 yards in coverage, seventh fewest in the Pac-12 while his 7.8 yards allowed per catch were third in the league and only allowed five first downs, fourth fewest in the league and forced five incompletions - good for third in the league.
  • Lucas allowed a first down or touchdown just 31.8 percent of the time, seventh-lowest in the Pac-12, and allowed just one player over 15 yards, second-lowest in the league.
  • Among players with at least 250 defensive snaps, Lucas was the fifth-highest graded defensive player in the Pac-12, regardless of position, with a score of 81.4 from Pro Football Focus. He was the highest-rated cornerback in the league.
  • Lucas recorded a score of 84.8 in pass coverage for the season, the highest for a cornerback in the league and the second-highest of any defensive player.
  • He was the sixth-highest graded cornerback in the nation in pass coverage and the 12th-highest graded cornerback in the country overall.
  • Lucas forced an incompletion on 27.3 percent of the passes thrown his way, the ninth-best tally among corners nationally.
  • He was targeted just 22 times on the season despite playing over 90 percent of the team's defensive snaps, allowing just 14 catches.

IN THE TRENCHES

  • LaDarius Henderson and Kellen Diesch are tied for 13th among offensive linemen in the nation with only one QB pressure allowed on the year - tied for the third-fewest in the Pac-12 (min. 100 pass snaps). Dohnovan West is first among Pac-12 centers with just two QB pressures allowed while Henry Hattis is 10th among all Pac-12 linemen with three and Ben Scott is 17th with four.
  • All told, the ASU has allowed just 17 quarterback pressures this year - 16 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 10th-fewest in the FBS (though triple option offenses Army and Air Force rank first and ninth). 
  • The line has allowed a pressure on just 15.1 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year, the third-lowest total in the FBS (Northern Illinois and Georgia).
  • The team has a 86.2 percent score as a pass-blocking unit, over 10-points higher than any other Pac-12 school and fourth in the FBS
  • Kellen Diesch is currently the fourth-highest graded offensive player in the Pac-12 (87.5) and the 20th-highest graded tackle in the FBS.
  • Diesch and Ben Scott are the first and second-highest graded tackles in the Pac-12 this season as pass blockers (7th and 12 among FBS tackles).
  • Dohnovan West is the second-highest graded pass blocking center in the Pac-12 (14th among FBS centers) and LaDarius Henderson is the third-highest graded pass-blocking guard in the league (16th among FBS guards)

HOLD THE LINE

  • Since the start of last season, the Sun Devil defensive line (only down linemen and ends) has forced a quarterback pressure on 48.5 percent of opponent passing plays - the highest in the FBS in that span. This feat is made more impressive considering ASU has blitzed just 17.7 percent of snaps in that time - 10th-fewest nationally.
  • This season alone, the Sun Devil linemen have causes a pressure 56.1 percent of the time - third in the FBS on just a 17.5 percent blitz percentage. As an entire team, ASU has forced a QB pressure 68.4 percent of the time - also third in the FBS.
  • Since last season, ASU's defensive line has recorded 37 tackles for loss or tackles for no gain - second in the Pac-12 (Oregon, 39), despite playing the fewest games in the league in that time.
  • The group tallied 70 total quarterback pressures last year, sixth in the league but a 17.5 pressure per game average along the line that was easily tops in the league.
  • D.J. Davidson is the Pac-12's highest graded interior lineman in run defense this year (80.3) and 15th among interior linemen in the nation.
  • Davidson is credited with 11 defensive "stops" on run defense, tied for first in the nation among interior linemen
  • Tyler Johnson is ASU's active leader in tackles for loss (23.0) and sacks (12.5). Last year, he led the team with 5.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, good for fourth in the Pac-12, respectively
  • Michael Matus is the sixth-highest graded edge defender in the Pac-12 this season and tied for 21st among FBS edge defenders with eight defensive stops on run defense this year.

GO DJ, THAT'S MY DJ

  • Redshirt freshman defensive back D.J. Taylor picked up right where he left off last season. Taylor is third in the nation with 168 punt return yards - and that comes despite missing a game this year and several plays called back on penalties.
  • His efforts garnered him Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week in Week One. He went over 100 all-purpose yards for the third time in five games as a Sun Devil in that game. Not only did he collect 55 kick return yards, he added 87 punt return yards, the highest total by anyone player in the nation during week one. He only needed three attempts to collect those 87 yards, averaging 29 yards per return. Taylor's 47-yard punt return is the longest of any player in the conference this season. 
  • Taylor was the highest-graded player in the entire country on punt plays in Week One (83.6) according to PFF. The 83.6 rating was actually 10 points higher than any other player nationally. His elusiveness was on full display, as he forced three missed tackles despite only touching the ball five times. 
  • D.J. Taylor was the highest-graded kick returner in the Pac-12 with a grade of 81.1 from Pro Football Focus last season – good for 12th nationally. Despite his knack for success on returns, he was actually the fourth-highest graded player on kickoff coverage in the Pac-12 as well – with a score of 77.7..
  • Taylor averaged 36.9 total yards per kick return attempt (including yardage on kicks taken out of the end zone), which was seven yards per return more than any other player in the Pac-12 and fourth among any player in the FBS with at least five kickoff returns.
  • His 107 total yards on his touchdown against Arizona was the longest of any player in the FBS last season, according to PFF. Taylor took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown in the Territorial Cup, the first Sun Devil to accomplish the feat against Arizona.
  • He was credited with at least one tackle in three of the four games last season on the return coverage unit.

MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP

  • Darien Butler is the sixth-highest graded defender in the Pac-12 (82.1), regardless of position, and the second-highest graded linebacker in the league (7th among FBS linebackers).
  • Butler has been elite in coverage with 90.4 score that is tops among any defensive player in the Pac-12 and third among all FBS players, regardless of position.
  • Kyle Soelle is the league's third highest-graded linebacker as a pass rusher and 22nd among FBS linebackers.
  • Soelle and Butler are the second and third highest graded linebackers in the league as pass rushers as well.
  • Butler (85.7) remains the league's highest graded linebacker in coverage and sixth among all FBS linebackers. 
  • The duo lead the team in tackles this season (Butler at 27 and Soelle at 25), accounting for 23.5 of ASU's total tackles on the year. 
  • Butler has 16 defensive stops on the year, good for third among the league's backers.
  • Merlin Robertson is credited with just two missed tackles this season, tied for third among Pac-12 linebackers while Kyle Soelle is tied for ninth with just three.

Related News & Videos