Arizona State's spring practice period has come to a close after Friday's Football Fan Fest, held in lieu of a traditional spring game. The Sun Devils are looking to defend their Big 12 crown, and if the spring was any indication, they're in a good spot to do just that. Here are 10 takeaways from what we saw in the spring.
Committee emerging at running back
The biggest question mark at the end of last season was how Arizona State would replace Cam Skattebo, who was just drafted by the Giants. Kanye Udoh transferred in from Army, but returners Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown weren't about to give up the starting role so easily.
With spring ball over, it appears as though there will be a three-man commttee at running back this year. Kyson Brown was the most common name at the start of each practice, with Udoh getting plenty of work in short yardage situations and Raleek Brown seeing usage similar to a scat back type.
Of note: true freshman Demarius Robinson really flashed throughout spring ball, and he even got in the mix of first team reps towards the end. Don't be surprised if coaches get him some reps in the non-conference slate of games this year while still preserving his redshirt.
Special teams look special again
There's no polite way to say it: Arizona State's special teams were awful last year. Kicking was the biggest issue, but not the only one. Still, all eyes were on Jesus Gomez - the transfer kicker from Eastern Michigan - this spring.
Gomez couldn't have solidified his spot any better. He routinely drilled kicks with consistency, and on Friday he hit every single kick he attempted, including one from 55+ yards out. Punter Kanyon Floyd has also shown improvements from his true freshman season, offering hope for this special teams unit.
Tight end is a position of strength
The tight end position was largely a non-factor last year until the final month of the year, when Chamon Metayer's chemistry with Sam Leavitt started to kick in; over the final four games of the regular season, he had 2+ catches each game with three touchdowns.
Metayer is back for another season, and he's now flanked by transfer Khamari Anderson, who has looked great in spring ball. Cameron Harpole has also shown some improvements, while true freshman AJ Ia has flashed in nearly every practice.
The strong performances from the position group led to offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo wondering aloud how much more 12 personnel he'll need to use this year to fully take advantage of all his talent at tight end.
Kenny Dillingham's culture is sticking
Kenny Dillingham has put a premium on culture since arriving in Tempe. He specifically recruits players who fit their culture, and has pulled scholarship offers from prospects who are deemed to violate team rules, no matter how many stars they have.
Early on in spring ball, Dillingham took steps to remind players of the culture despite coming off a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth. The players responded appropriately, with heated competition and gradual improvements each day. That's a good early sign for the staying power of Dillingham's message even after they've enjoyed some success.
Wide receiver room remains uncertain
Jordyn Tyson doesn't look to have missed a step since his season-ending injury. The star receiver made plays left and right throughout the spring, but Arizona State wanted more options alongside him. Transfer Jalen Moss seems to have locked up a starting role, but that third receiver spot is less set in stone.
Transfers Noble Johnson and Jaren Hamilton have both flashed, while returner Malik McClain has been more consistent than either of them but without any big moments. Still, the Sun Devils are looking for an additional answer at wide receiver, and could add another transfer in the spring window, now open.
Defense looks like a strength
Several games this past season were won on the strength of Brian Ward's defense, but the Sun Devils weren't quite a defensive team in every game. It certainly looks like that could change this season, as Arizona State looks great on defense.
The defensive line has flashed daily, and the secondary is loaded with talent (more on that later). Ward likes to have deep rotations at all three levels, and spring ball made one thing clear: he's got a very deep roster on defense, all of whom are capable of making plays.
The Valley has been officially activated
While there was not an official head count, estimates suggested that just over 3,500 fans showed up for Friday's spring practice finale. Arizona State held two other open practices for fans and pulled in roughly 3,000 fans each time as well.
That was despite Sun Devil baseball also having games during that time, on top of everything else going on in the Valley. Dillingham has often talked about getting fans engaged on a deeper level, and this kind of turnout for spring practices is a great sign.
Plenty of options in the secondary
Starting outside corners Javan Robinson and Keith Abney are back, as are starting safeties Xavion Alford and Myles Rowser. Shamari Simmons' graduation left a hole at the slot defender role, but Arizona State has a lot of continuity in the secondary.
They also beefed up their depth, with transfer cornerbacks Nyland Green and Kyndrich Breedlove, transfer safety Adrian Wilson, and developing underclassmen Rodney Bimage, Tony Louis Nkuba, and Chris Johnson, the latter of whom transitioned to safety this offseason.
Breedlove and Montana Warren have held a healthy competition to replace Simmons, while Wilson will figure into that battle too once he fully recovers from an offseason surgery. Bimage and Green have impressed as well, and may get snaps behind Robinson and Abney. Either way, the secondary looks to have much more depth than they did last year.
Physical transformations all around
Arizona State's strength and conditioning coordinator Joe Connolly won an award last year for the way he built up the bodies of these Sun Devils, a long overdue acknowledgement of his great work. This spring period brought another reminder of how good he is.
Many players showed up bigger, stronger, and faster for spring practice. Arizona State also saw much fewer injuries than they did in last year's spring ball period. Connolly is building athletes left and right in Tempe, and this year's squad may be the best looking off the bus that Sun Devil fans have seen in a long time.
Sam Leavitt is ready to contend for Heisman
Sam Leavitt has a lot of hype coming into this new year, with many outlets holding him up as the best quarterback in the Big 12. His performances in spring ball had been underwhelming, though changes at wide receiver and along the offensive line played a big part in that.
Heisman loading https://t.co/9rw1HCFrTU
— Devils In Detail (@Devils_Detail) April 26, 2025
The Sun Devils' final spring practice offered a strong reminder of why Leavitt has so much hype. He completed all but two passes and hit eight touchdowns, looking surgical with his ball placement and ripping apart a secondary that has drawn rave reviews all spring.
With Skattebo gone, Leavitt is now the face of this offense and team. With spring ball now complete, Arizona State has to be feeling great about that fact.