Devils in Detail
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ASU Athletics: Top Storylines for 2017

By Sam Ficarro

Sep 24, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky looks on against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 51-41. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky looks on against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 51-41. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Football: Arizona State at Texas-San Antonio
NCAA Football: Arizona State at Texas-San Antonio /

ASU Football: Who’s Going to be the Starting Quarterback?

It was a rollercoaster season for Arizona State quarterbacks,

Manny Wilkins was the starter to begin the season, and was very effective.

Wilkins was making plays downfield and with his legs, of course known for his hurdling skills.

And then the injury woes came to light when he left the game at USC with an injury and was forced to sit out a couple of weeks before returning versus Colorado.

Wilkins was never able to recapture the success he had during the first month of the season, and it hurt the Sun Devils.

The quarterback carousel was spinning as freshmen Dillon Sterling-Cole and Brady White were thrown into the fire, but the injury to Wilkins wasn’t the end.

In the win versus UCLA, White sustained a season-ending leg injury and Sterling-Cole went on to finish the game start multiple games.

Graham and the coaching staff were forced to remove the redshirt from Sterling-Cole, a move they didn’t want to make.

ASU limped to the finish of the season finishing 5-7 and missing out on a bowl game.

Sun Devils, already with four quarterbacks, got the commit of Alabama transfer quarterback Blake Barnett.

Barnett comes to Tempe after being benched for quarterback Jalen Hurts in the season-opener versus USC, who led Alabama to an appearance in the National Championship Game.

Barnett joins a crowded quarterback room with Wilkins, White, Sterling-Cole and Bryce Perkins, who missed all of last season with an injury.

This will be a competition all summer heading into the fall. Wilkins showed flashes, but was it enough to establish himself as the starter.

It will be fascinating to see how they use Barnett because he’s not your typical Graham-led quarterback. Graham loves to run more of a spread option while Barnett displays more of a pro-style.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a ASU quarterback were to transfer as season approaches because there’s only one ball. Also, I wouldn’t be shocked if ASU has a quarterback rotation in the first couple of games as ASU opens next season at home with New Mexico State and San Diego State, before hitting the road at Texas Tech.

This isn’t the only thing to watch from ASU football this season.