ASU Football: Rolling With 2014 Verbal Commitments

• Safety Coltin Gerhart
• Linebacker Christian Sam
• Linebacker/Safety Jamal Scott
• Cornerback Chad Adams
• Safety Dasmond Tautalatasi
• Cornerback/Safety Armand Perry
• Defensive Lineman Connor Humphreys

Now that we are into the second full recruiting cycle for Graham, certain football traits can be seen from his verbal commits. Graham and his coaching staff like players from regionally recognized winning programs. Gerhart played at Norco (Calif.), Sam and Adams attend Allen (Texas), Tautalatasi plays for Concord De La Salle (Calif.), and Perry goes to Bishop Gorman (Nev.). Also, Graham and his staff prefer bigger athletic players who are versatile. Sam can probably play three of the four Sun Devil linebacker position. Gerhart and Scott could be spur linebackers or safeties. Humphreys can play anywhere along the defensive line. Finally, Graham and his fellow coaches like players who are not afraid to hit as all of these players show sound tackling fundamentals, and they just don’t rely on speed and athleticism.

More importantly, the defensive line and the secondary need young players who are ready to play immediately. After this season, the Sun Devils lose five seniors on the defensive line and three seniors in the secondary. Defensive linemen Davon Coleman, Junior Onyeali, Gannon Conway, Jake Sheffield and Will Sutton are graduating, which opens a lot of spots on the two-deep. The secondary loses cornerbacks Osahon Irabor and Robert Nelson, as well as safety Alden Darby, so there is opportunity in the future.

With the latest rush of verbal commitments, it is clear that Graham, recruiting coordinator Chip Long, and the rest of the ASU coaching staff have a thorough understanding of the Sun Devil football program, its current roster composition, and its path to future improvements through recruiting.