ASU Football: Class of 2014 Local Prospects Update
By Don Hansen
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY SportsBye weeks in the middle of the season are great for several reasons. On the field, the Sun Devils can rest up and heal after a very physical start of the season. Off the field, Arizona State fans can look forward to the rest of the season and then future seasons. The future begins with recruiting.
This summer, our series of blogs focused on local Arizona football prospects. These local Arizona high school prospects in the class of 2014 are who Head Coach Todd Graham and recruiting coordinator Chip Long would love to see in maroon and gold in the future.
The first eight blogs in the summer series focused on specific Arizona high school stars who can compete with the top talent across the entire nation. These players have “super star” potential in college.
That full list of Class of 2014 Local Prospects is as follows:
#1 Kyle Allen, QB, Scottsdale Desert Mountain – Committed to Texas A&M on 6/3/13
#2 Casey Tucker, OT, Chandler Hamilton
#3 Jalen Brown, WR, Mountain Pointe – Committed to Oregon on 10/14/13
#4 Natrell Curtis, OG/DT, Mountain Pointe – Committed to Washington on 10/8/13
#5 Mark Andrews, WR, Scottsdale Desert Mountain – Committed to Oklahoma on 8/2/13
#6 Qualen Cunningham, DE, Chandler Hamilton
#7 Tyler Whiley, WR, Scottsdale Chaparral– Committed to Arizona State on 7/23/13
#8 Andrew Mike, OT, Tucson Sabino
During the college football season, Brown and Curtis announced their verbal commitments to Pac-12 schools outside of Arizona. The top tier talent continues to leave the state.
Then, there is a second tier of Arizona high school players who will play BCS football. This second tier of high school players would be household names like the players listed above in any other year of Arizona football.
Trevor Wood, TE, Scottsdale Chaparral – Committed to Arizona
Luke Rubenzener, QB, Scottsdale Chaparral – Committed to California
Ismael Murphy-Richardson, D/TEE, Goodyear Desert Edge
Austin Hall, OG, Phoenix Brophy – Committed to Stanford
Cameron Denson, WR, Tucson Salpointe – Committed to Arizona
Layth Friekh, OT, Peoria Centennial – Committed to Arizona
Jalen Jelks, DE, Phoenix Desert Vista – Committed to Oregon
Quinn Bailey, OT, Gilbert Higley
Kaelin Deboskie, WR, Tucson Salpointe – Committed to Arizona
Dionte Sykes, WR, Chandler – Committed to UCLA
JR Hunt, S, Chander – Committed to Arizona
In the past week, Friekh and Deboskie have verbally committed to Rich Rodriguez and the University of Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats are making a nice dent into the second tier of local talent with Wood, Denson, Friekh, Deboskie, and Hunt all committed. ASU still only has a verbal commitment from Whiley.
Before ASU fans get too worried, the Sun Devils are final players for top offensive linemen Casey Tucker and Quinn Bailey as well as top linebacker Qualen Cunningham. Tucker could join former Hamilton Husky teammate Christian Westerman to lock down one side of the future Sun Devil offensive line. Cunningham is made for the ASU Devilbacker role and could slide right in behind Carl Bradford. In years past, ASU probably isn’t a finalist for Tucker and Cunningham, so Sun Devil fans can find comfort in that ASU’s reputation is increasing among local talent. However, results are needed. After only landing DJ Foster in 2012, and Chans Cox in 2013, it is critical for Graham and Long to secure the commitments of Cunningham and Tucker.