The ASU Sundevil offense and defense have taken a hit during the off season.
On offense, after losing the best wide receiver in ASU history with Jaelen Strong leaving for the NFL, ASU suffered the loss of the next man up at his wide position, the most capable WR left on the team, Cameron Smith, to a season ending ACL injury in spring practice.
However, the biggest loss is on the defensive side of the ball where ASU has lost the highest rated player ever recruited by Todd Graham in his tenure so far at ASU and another incoming player as well.
Four star LB Davon Durant of Butler CC, the highest ranking JUCO linebacker of 2015, was expelled from the University in June and must petition to reapply after successfully completing a Domestic Violence Counseling Course. He plead guilty to a charge of Disorderly Conduct involving an altercation with his girlfriend after several more serious charges were dropped and received two years of probation for the offense. The timing is such that he will not be able to participate in the 2015 ASU football season. There is speculation that he may now go elsewhere to complete his football career.
This is a major blow to the ASU defense especially to their pass rush in that the 6' 2" 240 lbs Durant was to have played the so-called Devil-back position at LB which is primarily a pass rushing position. With the loss of their number one pass rusher last year, Marcus Hardison, and now the loss of the highly rated Durant, Graham has indicated they will rely more on blitz's and other strategies to rush the passer. Durant was the number one rated JUCO linebacker by all recruiting services and the #4 JUCO player in the nation by the composite ranking and #14 by Rivals (his lowest ranking).
Another defensive player lost, incoming freshman, 6' 3" 260, three star DT George Lea of New Orleans, did go through spring practice with the Sundevils and performed so well he was expected to start or be in the rotation this year as well. However, he was involved in a serious incident pointing a BB gun at another player. He was charged with First Degree Burglary involving a weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Unlawful Imprisonment. (The BB gun was an Airsoft version capable of high velocity.) He has been indefinitely suspended from the team and may be expelled by the University pending outcome of the case. What is problematic for Lea is that the other player has maintained that he did feel that his life was threatened in the incident. (Lea had wrapped the BB gun in a coat so it was unclear that it was only a BB gun during the incident.) This incident is so serious that it is not expected to be resolved in time for Lea to return to the team in time for this season and it also involves not only a legal issue but an issue between players on the team. He also allegedly violated the ASU "no guns or BB guns on campus" rule and could be expelled for that offense alone if found guilty as they are very serious about the policy.
(Compiled from multiple sources including AZCentral, Athlon and others).
II Tim 1:7 KJV
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
On offense, after losing the best wide receiver in ASU history with Jaelen Strong leaving for the NFL, ASU suffered the loss of the next man up at his wide position, the most capable WR left on the team, Cameron Smith, to a season ending ACL injury in spring practice.
However, the biggest loss is on the defensive side of the ball where ASU has lost the highest rated player ever recruited by Todd Graham in his tenure so far at ASU and another incoming player as well.
Four star LB Davon Durant of Butler CC, the highest ranking JUCO linebacker of 2015, was expelled from the University in June and must petition to reapply after successfully completing a Domestic Violence Counseling Course. He plead guilty to a charge of Disorderly Conduct involving an altercation with his girlfriend after several more serious charges were dropped and received two years of probation for the offense. The timing is such that he will not be able to participate in the 2015 ASU football season. There is speculation that he may now go elsewhere to complete his football career.
This is a major blow to the ASU defense especially to their pass rush in that the 6' 2" 240 lbs Durant was to have played the so-called Devil-back position at LB which is primarily a pass rushing position. With the loss of their number one pass rusher last year, Marcus Hardison, and now the loss of the highly rated Durant, Graham has indicated they will rely more on blitz's and other strategies to rush the passer. Durant was the number one rated JUCO linebacker by all recruiting services and the #4 JUCO player in the nation by the composite ranking and #14 by Rivals (his lowest ranking).
Another defensive player lost, incoming freshman, 6' 3" 260, three star DT George Lea of New Orleans, did go through spring practice with the Sundevils and performed so well he was expected to start or be in the rotation this year as well. However, he was involved in a serious incident pointing a BB gun at another player. He was charged with First Degree Burglary involving a weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Unlawful Imprisonment. (The BB gun was an Airsoft version capable of high velocity.) He has been indefinitely suspended from the team and may be expelled by the University pending outcome of the case. What is problematic for Lea is that the other player has maintained that he did feel that his life was threatened in the incident. (Lea had wrapped the BB gun in a coat so it was unclear that it was only a BB gun during the incident.) This incident is so serious that it is not expected to be resolved in time for Lea to return to the team in time for this season and it also involves not only a legal issue but an issue between players on the team. He also allegedly violated the ASU "no guns or BB guns on campus" rule and could be expelled for that offense alone if found guilty as they are very serious about the policy.
(Compiled from multiple sources including AZCentral, Athlon and others).
II Tim 1:7 KJV
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
