As we enter the high teens of our countdown to kickoff, several former Arizona State wide receivers have made the cut, with Ricky Pearsall being the most recent one. But today, with 18 days until the new season kicks off, we're looking at one who has yet to take a snap as a Sun Devil: Jalen Moss.
Growing up in California, Moss generated a lot of early buzz in his recruiting journey. His very first offer came from Oregon, and both Oregon State and Nebraska followed suit from there. Things cooled off, though, and Moss ultimately committed to Fresno State as a mid 3-star recruit.
That turned out to be the right call. Playing for renowned head coach Jeff Tedford, Moss got a masterclass in offensive ingenuity, and it paid off in his redshirt freshman season. Moss caught 55 balls for 706 yards and six touchdowns.
The next season saw Tedford step down due to health reasons just before the season started, which meant both an interim head coach and a new offensive play-caller. That hurt the entire Bulldogs offense, Moss included, but he still tallied 563 yards and four scores on 48 catches. Moss also became the Bulldogs' punt returner, averaging 12.8 yards per return with a touchdown.
Once the season wrapped up, Moss opted to enter the transfer portal. Not long afterwards, he landed in Tempe with the Sun Devils.
At Arizona State, Moss comes into a great setup. Jordyn Tyson came on strong last year; he led the Big 12 in touchdown receptions and finished fourth in receiving yards despite missing the conference title game and Peach Bowl. But the Sun Devil receiver with the second-most yards was the now-graduated Xavier Guillory with just 339.
One of Kenny Dillingham's primary objectives this offseason was upgrading the wide receiver corps, and Moss was a home run in that regard. Dillingham plans to field a more pass-happy unit this year, between the loss of Cam Skattebo and the rise of both Tyson and Sam Leavitt. But Arizona State needs answers when Tyson is doubled.
Enter Moss, who finished second on his team in receiving each of the last two years. His shifty feet and deceptive speed have made him equally effective out of the slot or running deep routes, and he offers a great second option to Tyson's elite playmaking.
Early practice reports indicate that Moss will see plenty of work in the slot, though offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo made a habit last year of moving Tyson into the slot on occasion as well. Dillingham has praised Moss multiple times this offseason for his high football IQ, which makes it easier for coaches to feel comfortable moving him around as needed.
All in all, Moss provides a crucial counter balance to Tyson's stardom this year. Leavitt is generating Heisman buzz already, and Dillingham sounds inclined to let him prove it's deserved. That means Tyson and Moss need to step up when their quarterback looks his way, and another reliable year from Moss would go a long way towards helping the Sun Devils repeat as Big 12 champions.
And in just 18 days, he'll get his first chance to show just how good he can be with Sparky on his helmet.