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Sun Devil Football Opens Pac-12 Play Against No.13 Utah at Home

by thesundevils.com
Sep 21, 2022

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football remains in the confines of Sun Devil Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 24 as the squad opens up Pac-12 action against the defending league champions, #13/14 Utah, in Tempe, Ariz. It will mark the first game of interim head coach Shaun Aguano's regime and is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff on ESPN (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).

ON THE UTES/PAC-12 OPENERS -  ASU leads the all-time series against the Utes, 22-10, though Utah has taken two straight and four of the last six.  This will mark the sixth time in the last eight contests that ASU will be taking on a ranked Utah program. ASU is 18-23-2 all-time in Pac-12 Openers overall, though it is 27-15-1 all-time in its first Pac-12 HOME game of the year.

KICKING OFF

  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 46 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
  • ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 21 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 in 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over three seasons. The 21-game streak tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation with Buffalo and Western Michigan dropping out this past weekend (Army 173, Air Force 48, UCLA 22). 
  • The Sun Devils have extended their active FBS-leading streak of games not allowing a 50+ yard play to 18 straight games. That is tied for the second-longest streak in the FBS over the last decade with Iowa State (2018-19) and three games behind UCLA's 21-game streak without a 50+ yard play allowed from 2013-15.
  • ASU is one of just three FBS teams to rank in the Top-35 nationally in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons. Coincidentally, the other two teams in the category are the Pac-12's Cal and Utah.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 26 occasions over 46 games (56.5 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. 
  • The Sun Devils have reached double-digit scoring in 77 consecutive HOME games, tied for the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS.
  • X Valladay's is the first Sun Devil with over 100 rushing yards in the first three games of a season since D.J. Foster in 2014. He is currently one of just five FBS players to have 100+ yards in each of the first three weeks of the season.  
  • The Sun Devils have an interception in five straight games dating back to last season and 10 of the last 11 games. 
  • ASU is one of just 16 FBS teams to not throw an interception on the season.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

  • Be ASU's 17th win over a ranked opponent since 2012 - notable as the Sun Devils won just 15 total from 1998-2011
  • Join Sun Devil interim head coach Shaun Aguano with Darryl Rogers as the only two coaches in program history to earn their first win at ASU against a ranked opponent (ASU defeated #9 Houston, 29-13, in the 1980 season opener in Rogers' first game at the helm).
  • Snap ASU's two-game losing streak, both on the season and against the Utes. 

SMART DEVILS

  • ASU  recorded a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 995 over a four-year period (2017-18 to 2020-21), an all-time ASU high and first in the Pac-12, the first time leading the conference.  ASU's single year overall APR score for 2020-21 is 994, which is the highest score in ASU history. Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, an all-time high for the program.
  • The Sun Devils saw nine players (four draftees and five undrafted free agents) sign NFL contracts after last season. All nine of those players earned their undergraduate degrees while at ASU.
  • The 2022 roster features 14 Sun Devils who are working toward graduate degrees. 
  • A sample of the many Sun Devil Football majors that emphasize ASU's innovation and general availability to the masses as a university: Tevin White (Actuarial Sciences), Kolbe Stuckwisch (Aerospace Engineering), Ben Scott (Bioscience), Thomas Le Boucher (Sports Science and Performance), Javen Jacobs (Architectural Studies), Des Holmes (Film and Media Studies), George Hart (Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science), B.J. Green (Mechanical Engineering), Elijhah Badger (Real Estate/Media Analytics), Finn Collins (Film and Media Studies); Anthonie Cooper (Nutrition and Healthy Living); Willie Harts (Parks and Protected Area Management/Public Administration). 

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 365 rushing yards for X Valladay to reach 4,000 for his career (currently at 3,635)
  • 96 passing yards for Emory Jones to reach 4,000 in his career (currently at 3,904)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
 
1. Khoury Bethley (2,799) and Merlin Robertson (2,685) have played the third and sixth-most career snaps among all active FBS players.
 
2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 46 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. 
 
3. The Sun Devils have rushed for over 100 yards in 21-straight regular season games - good for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS and longest at ASU since a 23-game streak from 1995-97.
 
4. ASU has gone 18 games without allowing a 50+-yard play - the longest active streak in the FBS and the second-longest FBS streak in the last decade
 
5. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.6 percent of its rushes - the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS.
 
6. B.J. Green has been credited by PFF with a "win" on 32.6 percent of his pass rush snaps this season - the best tally of any FBS interior linemen with at least 30 pass rush snaps.
 
7.  ASU has held opponents to 400 yards or less in 26 of 46  games since 2018. It accomplished that just 24 of the previous 65 games dating back to 2013.
 
8. ASU has an interception in five straight games and 10 of the last 11 games dating back to last season. 
 
9. X Valladay is one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ yards rushing in each game through the first three weeks of the year. 
 
10 . Eddie Czaplicki's 75-yard punt against EMU was the third-longest by an FBS kicker this season and he sits seventh nationally with an average of 47.0.
  
#BYTHENUMBERS

31- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 46 games under since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17. The Sun Devils have allowed just 127 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/46 games) since 2018 -the 20th-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016-17 (4.4 per game/25 games). Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 121 times on 392 drives, a 30.9 score % that is 31sth-lowest in the FBS. ASU has allowed just 54 second-half touchdowns to opponents since '18 - 9th fewest in the FBS.
 
29- According to Pro Football Focus, Merlin Robertson has been credited with just 27 missed tackles in his career on 2,685 snaps, which is the second-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons (USF's Dwayne Boyles on 25 on 2,280 snaps – over 400 fewer than Robertson). He has played 2,685 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 2,775) and seventh-most of any active defensive player in the FBS. Robertson has collected 262 tackles in his career, a total that currently ranks him 20thamong active FBS players while his six career interceptions lead all active FBS linebackers.
 
21- ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 21 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 of 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over two seasons. The 21-game streak is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS (Triple option Army and Air Force are 1 and 2 while UCLA has 22). Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.6 percent of its rushes - the 4th-lowest tally in the FBS. Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down/touchdown on 32.0 percent of its rushes - 13th in the FBS. ASU has 103 runs of 10+ yards since the start of last year, the 26th-best tally in the FBS.
 
18- ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and extended their streak to 18 straight games without allowing a 50-yard play against last weekend, the longest active streak in the FBS. It is tied for the second-longest streak in the FBS over the last decade (since 2012) behind only UCLA's 21-game streak from 2013-15. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 45 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game are 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time. ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17. ASU is one of  three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah).
 
5- The Devils have an interception in five straight games dating back to last season and 10 of the last 11 games. ASU has 50 interceptions since 2018 - 21st in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020. Since the start of last season, Arizona State has allowed just 1,294 yards after the catch - the 10th-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has a forced incompletion rate of 10.1 percent since 2021 - ninth in the Power Five - while its 4.6 percent interception rate is five in the P5. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 72.6 since the start of 2021 - fifth-best in the Power Five. The 10.6 yards per reception in that time are 10th in the P5.
 
0- No active player in the FBS this season has more career rushing yards than Sun Devil Football's X Valladay (3,642). The 361 rushing yards are the most by an ASU running back in the first three games of the season since  D.J. Foster had 510 in 2014. He is the first Sun Devil to rush for 100+ yards in the first three games of the season since Foster that year. Valladay is one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season. His 6.94 yards per carry this season are 13th in the FBS while his 361 overall yards are 12th.

RUSH HOUR

  • ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 21 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 of 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over two seasons. The 21-game streak is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS (Army 173, Air Force 48, UCLA 22).
  • Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 57 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 25th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 20 games, where none of the 24 teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 25 games over the last three years. 
  • Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.6 percent of its rushes - the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.4 yards after contact per rush in that time - 15th in the FBS.
  • Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 32.0 percent of its rushes - 13th-most in the FBS.
  • Since the start of last year, ASU has 103 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 26th-most in the FBS. 
  • ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 11 of its last 22 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 8 of the last 19 games. Since 2018,  ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 16 times and 250+ yards 13 times.
  • Last season, ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

  • ASU has forced 63 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 19th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 864-461 in points off takeaways since 2012. 
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.9 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (145 of 227) while finding the end zone 107 times in that span (47.1 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.8 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (78 of 160) with 59 touchdowns (36.9 percent).
  • ASU has four interceptions through three games - tied for 19th nationally a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

  • ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and extended its streak to 18 games without allowing a 50-yard play last weekend, the longest active streak in the FBS. It is tied for the second-longest streak in the FBS overall since 2012 (Iowa State, 2018-19), behind only UCLA's 21-game streak from 2013-15.
  • Last season, ASU was the final team in country to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards last year, a streak that came to a close against Washington State.  Still, ASU's four total 40-yard plays were the second-fewest in the nation.
  • ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 46 games. The .15 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 per game on 5 plays over 46 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • The last time ASU gave up a 50-yard play was a rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020. It last gave up a 50-yard passing play in the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, marking 20 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
  • Last season, the Sun Devils were 13th in the FBS and tops in the league in allowing just 326.0 yards of offense per game. ASU gave up just 120 to NAU in the opener - the fourth-lowest tally for any ASU opponent since 1996. 
  • Last season in non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gained 7 or more yards on a play just 18.5 percent of the time (11th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.9 percent of the time (16th in the FBS).
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 26 occasions over 46 games (56.5 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
  • ASU is one of just three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah)
  • Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 61 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/46 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. 
  • Last season, the team had the third-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 13. Through two games, ASU is tied for 37th in the FBS with just four such plays allowed

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD

  • Last season, ASU was 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game. 
  • With second-half shutouts over UNLV, UCLA and Wisconsin last season, it was the first time ASU had held three opponents without a second-half point in a season since 2007. ASU also pitched a second half shutout against NAU in the opener.
  • Last year, ASU was third in the FBS in allowing just 7.1 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU outscored teams 192-92 in the second half of games last year and 110-42 in the fourth quarter. 
  • Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 121 times on 392 drives, a 30.9 score percentage that is the 31st-lowest in the FBS.
  • Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 25.0 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (49 of 196) - the 7th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 127 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/46 games) since 2018 - the 20th-lowest tally among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
  • ASU has allowed just 54 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 9th-fewest in the FBS. 
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 46 games under since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
  • ASU finished 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game in 2021. In 2020, 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.

NO FLY ZONE

  • ASU has recorded multiple interceptions 13 times in the since 2018 over 46 games (28.2 percent of games). ASU has 50 interceptions since 2018 - 21st in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020.
  • The Devils have an interception in five straight games dating back to last season and 10 of the last 11 games. 
  • ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and has four through three games this season - good for 19th in the FBS.
  • Since the start of last season, ASU has allowed just 1,294 yards after the catch - the 10th-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have emphasized "cat" coverage - man coverage where its players are simply asked to guard their "cat". Since the start of 2021, ASU has allowed an open target just 48.4 percent of the time - the 18th-lowest tally among the Power Five in that time. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 72.6 since the start of 2021 - fifth-best in the Power Five. The 10.6 yards per reception in that time are 10th in the P5.
  • ASU has allowed just 16 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for ninth fewest in the Power Five. 
  • The team has a forced incompletion rate of 10.1 percent since 2021 - ninth in the Power Five - while its 4.6 percent interception rate is five in the P5. 
  • Three times last season, ASU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards - the most in a season since 1996. ASU also did so in the 2022 opener against NAU.
  • ASU's coverage forced incompletion rate of 10.9 percent since the start of last year - sixth in the Power Five.
  • Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 19 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranking second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.

IN THE TRENCHES

  • LaDarius Henderson is the 35th-highest graded guard in the FBS this season as a pass blocker (81.5)
  • Henderson has been credited with just a single QB pressure allowed in the first three games this season - tied for 12th fewest among all FBS guards. He allowed just 10 quarterback pressures last regular season- tied for fourth-fewest among Pac-12 offensive guards and among the Top-50 fewest among all guards in the FBS and while being tied for 38th among FBS guards with just one sack allowed on the year.
  • Henderson played all but 12 snaps on offense for the entire season (of ASU's 808 snaps). He has played on 180 of ASU 183 offensive snaps this year. 
  • A resilient athlete, Ben Scott started in all 13 games at right tackle for ASU and played on 794 of the Sun Devils' 808 offensive plays on the season. He has played on 180 of ASU's 183 offensive snaps this year. 
  • Scott has a 79.0 grade as a pass blocker this season, good for 26th among FBS centers. He is credited with just two pressures allowed on the year, tied for 29th-fewest among FBS centers.
  • Last season, his 83.0 run blocking score was 28th among all offensive tackles in the FBS last season with at least 500 snaps played
  • Scott had a negative grade on just 10.9 percent of his run-blocking plays on the season - sixth lowest in the Pac-12.

MAGICAL MERLIN

  • Merlin Robertson was named a captain in the preseason while also finding his name on the Butkus Award Watch List. and as an honorable mention linebacker by the Pac-12 Conference.
  • Robertson matched a career-high with 11 tackles in the team's opener against NAU.
  • Last season among Pac-12 linebackers with 400+ snaps, Robertson was the sixth-highest graded one (65.9).
  • According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 29 missed tackles in his career on 2,685 snaps, which is the second-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons (USF's Dwayne Boyles on 25 on 2,280 snaps – over 400 fewer than Robertson).
  • Robertson has 41 starts in his career and his 262 tackles are 20th among active FBS players (15th among linebackers) while his six interceptions lead all active FBS linebackers
  • He has played 2,685 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 2,775) and sixth-most of any active defensive player in the FBS

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA

  • X Valladay is the FBS active leader in career rushing yards at 3,642 with 361 of those  coming in the first three games this season.
  • The 361 rushing yards are the most by an ASU running back in the first three games of the season since  D.J. Foster had 510 in 2014. He is the first Sun Devil to rush for 100+ yards in the first three games of the season since Foster that year.
  • Valladay is one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season. 
  • His 6.94 yards per carry this season are 13th in the FBS while his 361 overall yards are 12th.
  • In four seasons with Wyoming, Valladay compiled 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns on 626 carries and finished career as the second-leading rusher in program history
  • He also finished his Cowboys' career with 51 catches for 584 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Valladay has 76 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2019 - tied for second-most among active FBS backs behind CMU's Lew Nichols. 
  • His seven 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for first in the FBS with UAB's DeWayne McBride.
  • He has forced 110 missed tackles in his career, sixth among active FBS backs. 
  • He eclipsed 1,000 yards in two seasons, including a 1,265-yard effort in 2019 which was the third-most in single-season program history
  • He earned Second Team All-MWC after rushing for 1,070 yards in 2021
  • Valladay is up to 17 100+-yard performances in his career with 14 at Wyoming and three at Arizona State. 

SILVERA IS GOLD 

  • Nesta Jade Silvera has 49 career stops on run defense - good for 13th among active FBS interior linemen. 
  • He has 27 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen. 
  • A consistent presence over his four years at Miami, Silvera has now played in 43 games during his career and became a starter at defensive tackle his junior year and has started 18 games over the past two seasons in the ACC.
  • Silvera appeared in 11 games during the 2021 season, starting eight of them
  • In 2021, he was the fourth-highest graded interior lineman in the ACC last season among linemen with at least 200 snaps (74.1), playing 405 snaps on the year. He was the third-highest graded interior lineman in the league in run defense (77.0)
  • SIlvera was credited with 24 stops on last season, third among defensive interior players in the ACC last year - two shy of the league lead despite playing 80-150 fewer snaps than the two players ahead of him... 21 of those stops came on run defense - the highest tally in the league and 25th among all interior linemen in the FBS
  • He was extremely productive from his interior position, collecting 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss while also recovering a fumble. He also enjoyed a breakout junior season when he started 10 games and saw action in all 11 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 as he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition after leading all interior defensive linemen in total tackles (35) and tackles for loss (8.0).

NEVERENDING KHOURY

  • Khoury Bethley played more snaps than any safety in the nation in 2021 (1,037) and the most by any FBS safety since 2016. It was the ninth-most safety snaps in a single season over the last decade.
  • His 2,799 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety and the seventh-most of all FBS safeties over the previous four seasons. It is the third-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.
  • He is currently tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 307 career tackles. His 227 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS.
  • We was credited with 38 defensive stops in 2021, third-most among all FBS safeties. His 85.3 grade from PFF as a pass rusher was ninth among FBS safeties.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES'

  • Emory Jones has 1,356 rushing yards in his career, excluding sacks - good for 15th among active FBS quarterbacks.
  • Since 2019, Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 85.9 - the second-highest of all active FBS quarterbacks in that time.
  • 35.0 percent of his career rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - 21st among active FBS quarterbacks.
  • He has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.8 percent of his career rushes - the ninth-lowest total among active QBs.
  • In 2021, Jones made his first-career start at quarterback for Florida against FAU (Sept. 4) and appeared in all 13 games, starting 12.
  • He was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week following his performance vs. Tennessee and was named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8 Watch List following his performance against Vanderbilt.
  • His accumulation of 550 total yards against Samford was the best single game performance by a Gator in program history.
  • He threw for 2,734 yards with 19 touchdowns as a starting quarterback in the SEC and rushed for 758 yards with 4 touchdowns as well.
  • Averaged 5.4 yards per rush and 1,272 total rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Gators.

CASE IN POINT

  • Named a team captain and playing in 10 games in 2021 and enters 2022 season with 27 games of experience, Case Hatch makes the plays that don't always show up in the stat sheet.
  • Hatch is currently the highest graded Pac-12 tight end with a run-blocking grade of 78.3 - good for 15th in the nation.
  • He has sprung his runner for extra yards on 10 plays this season, three more than any other Pac-12 tight end
  • He played 155 of his 190 snaps last season as a run blocker, recording a run-blocking score of 77.1 on the year - the highest grade of any tight end in the Pac-12 and the 19th-highest grade among all FBS tight ends with at least 150 run blocking snaps
  • He received a positive run blocking grade on 16.8 percent of his snaps - the ninth-best tally among all FBS tight ends
  • He played 136 snaps on special teams, serving on all return and coverage units.

GREEN LIGHT GO

  • B.J. Green has been credited with seven QB pressures on the season, tied for 28th among FBS interior linemen this season and second in the Pac-12. 
  • He has been credited with a "win" on 32.6 percent of his snaps this season, the highest tally among FBS interior linemen with at least 30 pass rush snaps
  • He has forced a pressure on 16.4 of his pass rush snaps - 14th-best among FBS interior linemen. Additionally, he has been credited with seven plays where he beat his defender but was denied a QB pressure by other factors - tied for fifth-most in the FBS. His 14 QB pressures+beaten defenders but no pressure are seventh-most among FBS interior linemen.
  • His 90.5 grade as a pass rusher is tops among FBS interior linemen this season.
  • Green was the team's highest graded pass rusher last season, earning a score of 75.7 on pass rush snaps. He played 117 snaps on the year, of which 104 were as a pass rusher.
  • Green created a QB pressure (19 total) on 18.3 percent of his pass rush snap on the year, which was tops among any defensive lineman in the Pac-12 last year with at least 100 pass rushing snaps, ranking ahead of NFL first round draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (17.6).
  • It was the 31st-highest percentage of any player in the FBS and second among all interior defensive linemen behind only Ohio State's Tyleik Williams (18.4 percent)
  • His pass rush productivity rating (a formula accounting for sacks/hits/pressures divided by play count) was 11.5 - the highest of any player in the Pac-12 with 100+ pass-rush snaps
  • This mark was good for 22nd in the nation and second of all interior linemen (again behind only Williams - 11.8)
  • Green "won" 22.1 percent of his pass rushing snaps on the year (a formula using pressures and defeated defenders, subtracting unblocked pressures and divided by pass rushing snaps), a total good for 32nd in the FBS among all players with at least 100 pass rushing stats and second among all interior lineman (Florida State's Dennis Briggs. Jr. - 24.8)  

HEART AND SOELLE

  • Team captain Kyle Soelle had a career-high 16 tackles against Oklahoma State in Week two, and immediately followed it up with 18 against Eastern Michigan last weekend.
  • The 18 are tied for the most by an FBS player in a single game this season while the 16 are good for a tie for sixth.
  • Soelle is second in the nation in averaging 13.0 tackles per game this season and his 39 total tackles on the year currently sit fourth in the FBS.
  • He also picked up his fourth interception of his career and second of the season against Oklahoma State. His four career interceptions are tied for seventh among active FBS linebackers since 2018.
  • Soelle is tied for fourth among Pac-12 linebackers in being credited with 11 defensive stops this season.

BADGER DON'T CARE

  • Elijhah Badger has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the Pac-12 through the early part of the year, currently second in the league with a receiving grade of 80.2 on the season.
  • Badger is responsible for 11 of ASU's 27 first downs by passing this year - a total tied for fourth among Pac-12 receivers.
  • He has twp contested targets on the year, also tied for the most among Pac-12 receivers and his three missed tackles forced are tied for eighth among league receivers.
  • His 35 percent target share this season is tops among all Pac-12 receivers and his 125.6 NFL QB rating when targeted is sixth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 10 receptions.

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