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Football Off to Coliseum in Tilt against #6/6 USC

by thesundevils.com
Sep 28, 2022

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football heads back on the road this Saturday, Sept. 24 as the squad squares off in its first conference road game of the year against #6/6 USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff on ESPN (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Tiffany Blackmon on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).

ON THE TROJANS/RANKED OPPONENTS -  USC leads the all-time series against ASU, 24-14, though the series has remained largely competitive over the last decade after the Trojans won 11 straight from 2001-10. Since 2011, USC is 6-5 in the series and the teams have split the last four contests. ASU will be looking to improve to 3-2 in games played at the Coliseum since 2014 after losing seven straight from 2001-12.

USC marks the second of what could be three-straight games against AP-ranked opponents (#15 Washington next week, #13 Utah last week). This marks the first time that has happened in three straight games since 2014 (#11 UCLA, #16 USC, #23 Stanford with a bye week between the latter two) and the first time it has happened in three straight WEEKENDS since  1994 (#20 BYU, #23 WSU, #9 Washington). The feat also happened in 1982, marking this just the fourth time in program history to happen. After facing off against then-No. 11 Oklahoma State earlier this year, it would mark four of the first six games in the season against Top-15 programs - something that hasn't happened since ASU played five Top-10 teams in 2002.

KICKING OFF

  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 47 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games in a span from 2013-17.
  • Last weekend's loss to #13/#14 Utah marked the end of two notable streaks for ASU: It had rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 21 straight regular season games, which was the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since a 23-game stretch over three seasons (1993-95). The 21-game streak had been tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
  • Additionally, the Sun Devils had their active FBS-leading streak of games not allowing a 50+ yard play in 18 straight games snapped. The tally 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.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 26 occasions over 47 games (55.3 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 an interception in six straight games dating back to last season and 11 of the last 12 games.

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. The 17 wins over ranked teams are  tied for 18th in the FBS since 2012.
  • 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).
  • Give ASU back-to-back wins over USC for just the fifth time in program history and first time since 2013-14.
  • Improve ASU to 3-2 in its last five games in the Coliseum - notable as it lost seven in a row from 2001-2012.
  • Improve the Sun Devils to 7-3 since 2013 following a loss to a ranked opponent in the team's next game against a ranked opponent (not necessarily in successive weekends).

SERIES HIGHS - USC
RUSHING YARDS
216-Ronald Jones, USC (2017)/ 18 carries, 12 yards per rush, 2 TDs
214-J.R. Redmond, ASU (1998)/33 carries, 6.5 yards per rush, 1 TD
202-Rachaad white, ASU (2021)/28 carries, 7.2 yards per rush, 3 TDs
PASSING YARDS               
510-Mike Bercovici, ASU (2014)/27-45, 5 TDs, long of 77
432-Kedon Slovis, USC (2019)/29-39, 4 TDs, long of 95
381-Kedon Slovis, USC (2020)/40-55, 2 TDs, long of 36
RECEIVING YARDS   
202-Jaelen Strong, ASU (2014)/10 catches, 3 TDs
173-Jeff Simmons, USC (1982)/11 catches, 1 TD
171-Keyshawn Johnson, USC (1995)/13 catches, 1 TD
TACKLES
23-Nathan LaDuke, ASU (1990)/11 solos, 12 assists
20-Jordan Simone, ASU (2014)/12 solos, 8 assists
20-Chris Claiborne, USC (1996)/8 solos, 12 assists

MILESTONE WATCH
328 rushing yards for X Valladay to reach 4,000 for his career (currently at 3,672)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. Khoury Bethley (2,856) and Merlin Robertson (2,756) 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 47 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17.
3. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 79.2 since the start of 2021 - the 10th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.6 yards attempt in that time are 25th in the FBS.
4. Nesta Jade Silvera has 28 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen.
5. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.7 percent of its rushes - the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS.
6. B.J. Green has generated a pressure on 16.9 percent of his passing rushing snaps this season - good for sixth among FBS interior linemen.
7.  Elijhah Badger's 34.9 percent target share this season when he is on the field  is tops among all Pac-12 receivers
8. ASU has an interception in six straight games and 11 of the last 12 games dating back to last season.
9. X Valladay has 88 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 - tied for fourth-most among active FBS backs.
10 . ASU is one of just 6 teams in the country ranking in the Top-35 in kickoff return yardage (15th, 27.36), net punting (33rd, 41..63) and a kicker's field goal percentage (Carter Brown, 87.5, 33rd).

#BYTHENUMBERS

35- Elijhah Badger's 34.9 percent target share this season when he is on the field is tops among all Pac-12 receivers and his 114.6 NFL QB rating when targeted is fifth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 25 targets. Badger is responsible for 14 of ASU's 40 first downs by passing this year - a total tied for fifth among Pac-12 receivers. Badger has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the Pac-12 through the early part of the year, currently third in the league with a receiving grade of 79.8 on the season. He is the first Sun Devil to have three straight games with 75 or more passing yards since N'Keal Harry in 2018.

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 131 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/47 games) since 2018 -the 22nd-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 31.2 score % that is 31sth-lowest in the FBS. However, ASU has allowed a scoring drive on just 24.8 percent of second-half drives (50-of-202) in that time, seventh-lowest in the FBS.

6- The Devils have an interception in five straight games dating back to last season and 11 of the last 12 games. ASU has 51 interceptions since 2018 - 21st in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 79.2 since the start of 2021 - the 10th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.6 yards attempt in that time are 25th in the FBS. ASU has allowed just 18 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for 10-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 4.2 percent interception rate is eighth in the FBS.

4- Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.7 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 31.5 percent of its rushes - 19th-most in the FBS.Since the start of last year, ASU has 104 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 28th-most in the FBS. Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 57 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 29th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 21 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 25 games.

1- Khoury Bethley was the highest-graded Pac-12 safety and the 11th-highest graded defender in the FBS in Week 4, regardless of position, following his career-high 14-tackle effort against Utah (90.2). His 2,856 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety. He is currently tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 321 career tackles. His 234 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS - 24 more than any other player. Bethley is currently the highest graded safety in the Pac-12 and 25th-highest graded in the FBS on run defense this year (80.3, min. 115 snaps)

0- No active player in the FBS this season has more career rushing yards than Sun Devil Football's X Valladay (3,672). His 6.52 yards per carry this season are 18th in the FBS while his 391 overall rushing yards are 25th.Valladay has 88 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 - tied for fourth-most among active FBS backs. His seven 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for second in the FBS. He has forced 121 missed tackles in his career, fifth among active FBS backs. Valladay was one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season.

RUSH HOUR

  • Last week against Utah, ASU had its streak of REGULAR season games rushing for at least 100 yards ended at 21 games. It was 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 was 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 29th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 21 games, where none of the 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 5.7 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 31.5 percent of its rushes - 19th-most in the FBS.
  • Since the start of last year, ASU has 104 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 28th-most in the FBS.
  • ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 11 of its last 23 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 8 of the last 20 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 64 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 18th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 864-467 in points off takeaways since 2012.
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.6 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (145 of 228) while finding the end zone 107 times in that span (46.9 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 49.1 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (80 of 163) with 59 touchdowns (36.2 percent).
  • ASU has five interceptions through three games - tied for 20th nationally a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.
  • ASU has an interception in six straight games and 11 of the last 12 dating back to last year.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

  • ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year but had its streak of 18 games without allowing a 50-yard play snapped last weekend against Utah. It was the longest active streak in the FBS and 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.
  • ASU has allowed just eight plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 47 games. The .17 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.13 per game on 6 plays over 47 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • Utah's Thomas Yassmin had a 72-yard catch and run last week, the first 50+ yard play against ASU since a 64-yard rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020. It was the first 50-yard passing play allowed since the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, ending a streak of 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.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 26 occasions over 47 games (55.3 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.

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 126 times on 404 drives, a 31.2 score percentage that is the 31st-lowest in the FBS.
  • Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 24.8 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (50 of 202) - the 7th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 131 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/47 games) since 2018 - the 22nd-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 55 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 9th-fewest in the FBS.
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 47 games 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 since 2018 over 47 games. ASU has 51 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 six straight games dating back to last season and 11 of the last 12 games.
  • ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and has five through four games this season - good for 20th in the FBS.
  • Since the start of last season, ASU has allowed just 1,442 yards after the catch - the 13th-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 79.2 since the start of 2021 - the 10th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.6 yards attempt in that time are 25th in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed just 18 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for 10-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 4.2 percent interception rate is eighth in the FBS.
  • The secondary has contested a target on 19.2 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 (118/616) - the 11th-highest percentage in the FBS.
  • 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 21 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 among the Top 50-highest graded guards in the FBS this season as a pass blocker (73.7, min. 130 pass blocking snaps)
  • Henderson has been credited with four QB pressures allowed in the first four games this season - also among the Top-50 fewest of 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 236 of ASU 239 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 236 of ASU's 239 offensive snaps this year.
  • Scott has a 74.5 grade as a pass blocker this season, good for 21st among FBS centers (min. 130 pass blocking snaps). He is credited with just four pressures allowed on the year, tied for 31st-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.
  • According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 30 missed tackles in his career on 2,756 snaps, which is the fourth-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons.
  • Robertson has 42 starts in his career and his 271 tackles are 19th among active FBS players (14th among linebackers) while his six interceptions lead all active FBS linebackers
  • He has played 2,756 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 2,833) 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 3,672 with 391 of those  coming this season.
  • His 361 rushing yards in the first three games were the most by an ASU running back in the first three games of the season since  D.J. Foster had 510 in 2014. He was the first Sun Devil to rush for 100+ yards in the first three games of the season since Foster that year.
  • Valladay was one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season.
  • His 6.52 yards per carry this season are 18th in the FBS while his 391 overall rushing yards are 25th.
  • 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 88 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 - tied for fourth-most among active FBS backs.
  • His seven 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for second in the FBS.
  • He has forced 121 missed tackles in his career, fifth 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 54 career stops on run defense - good for 12th among active FBS interior linemen.
  • He has 28 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen.
  • Silvera became the first Sun Devil interior linemen to record double-digit tackles in a single game since AT LEAST 1990. It was the second-most for any Sun Devil defensive lineman since at least 1990 behind defensive end Marcus Hardison had 13 in the 2014 Sun Bowl.
  • The 12 tackles were tied for the most by any FBS interior linemen this season. His 130 career tackles are seventh among all active FBS interior linemen. His 25 tackles this year are fourth among FBS interior linemen.
  • A consistent presence over his four years at Miami, Silvera has now played in 44 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 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 was the 11th-highest graded defender in the FBS in Week 4, regardless of position, following his career-high 14-tackle effort against Utah. His 90.2 defensive grade was third among all safeties nationally.
  • Bethley is currently the highest graded safety in the Pac-12 and 25th-highest graded in the FBS on run defense this year (80.3, min. 115 snaps)
  • 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 2,856 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 321 career tackles. His 234 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS - 24 more than any other player.
  • 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 1,430 rushing yards in his career, excluding sacks - good for 18th among active FBS quarterbacks.
  • Since 2019, Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 80.0 - the 11th-highest of all active FBS quarterbacks.
  • 32.8 percent of his career rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - 20th among active FBS quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts
  • He has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.2 percent of his career rushes - the fourth-lowest total among active QBs (min. 200 attempts).
  • 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

  • Case Hatch is currently the highest graded Pac-12 tight end with a run-blocking grade of 76.1 - good for 13th in the nation (min. 50 run block snaps).
  • He has sprung his runner for extra yards on 10 plays this season, three more than any other Pac-12 tight end. He has received a negative grade onn a run-blocking play just four times this season - tied for 10th fewest among tight ends nationally.
  • 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 eight QB pressures on the season, tied for 37th among FBS interior linemen this season.
  • However, he has done it on significantly less snaps than many of the players ahead of him. He has generated a pressure on 16.9 percent of his passing rushing snaps this season - good for sixth among FBS interior linemen.
  • He has been credited with a "win" on 30.0 percent of his snaps this season, the highest tally among FBS interior linemen with at least 50 pass rush snaps
  • Additionally, he has been credited with seven plays where he beat his defender but was denied a QB pressure by other factors - tied for fourth-most in the FBS. His 15 QB pressures+beaten defenders but no pressure are 11th-most among FBS interior linemen.
  • His 89.5 grade as a pass rusher is third-best among FBS interior linemen this season with at least 50 pass-rushing snaps.
  • 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 second-most by an FBS player in a single game this season while the 16 are good for a tie for eighth.
  • Soelle is second in the nation in averaging 12.8 tackles per game this season and his 51 total tackles on the year currently sit fifth in the FBS.
  • Soelle's 46 tackles over this most recent three-game span are the most for a Sun Devil player in a three-game span since at least 2000, when Adam Archuleta posted 43 over three games.
  • Soelle has played on 265 of ASU's 284 defensive snaps this season, the most of any linebacker in the Pac-12.
  • 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 14 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 third in the league with a receiving grade of 79.8 on the season.
  • He is the first Sun Devil to have three straight games with 75 or more passing yards since N'Keal Harry in 2018.
  • Badger is responsible for 14 of ASU's 40 first downs by passing this year - a total tied for fifth among Pac-12 receivers.
  • His five missed tackles forced are tied for seventh among league receivers.
  • His 34.9 percent target share this season when he is on the field is tops among all Pac-12 receivers and his 114.6 NFL QB rating when targeted is fifth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 25 targets.

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