Devils in Detail
Fansided

ASU Football: Chase Lucas Primed for Sophomore Breakout

By Zach Pekale

Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham coaches against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the 2016 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. The Mountaineers won 43-42. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham coaches against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the 2016 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. The Mountaineers won 43-42. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After a tumultuous season, primarily on the defensive side of the ball, ASU football is going to need more production from its younger players in 2017.

Throughout spring football practice for the Arizona State Sun Devils, one name that has received substantial attention from coaches and media alike is sophomore defensive back Chase Lucas. The one-time four star and ESPN300 prospect has been turning heads in his first full offseason at ASU.

Lucas opted to sign with Arizona State and remain close to home following a successful three-year varsity football career at Chandler High School with accolades including a Class 6A State Championship in 2014 and being named to the U.S. Army All-American game.

When he arrived in Tempe, Lucas was still accustomed to playing both sides of the ball as his versatility enabled him to be a running back in addition to a defensive back. Head coach Todd Graham converted Lucas to a full-time defender, as he possessed great ball skills, instinct and quick reaction time.

Despite having the second worst defense in the FBS, Lucas never warranted a chance to be a difference maker in his first year with the Sun Devils as he was undersized and still a raw talent. This offseason, Lucas has gained 27 pounds, upping his weight from 156 to 183 pounds while maintaining his speed and lateral quickness.

In other words, it’s possible that Lucas is the most explosive defensive playmaker the Sun Devils have had since Damarious Randall wore the maroon and gold.

More from Devils in Detail

The two players share similar builds and both use their quickness and athleticism to make plays on the ball. Randall was known as a versatile athlete with a nose for the ball during his time at ASU. Like Lucas, they both play the short side of the field though Randall was a safety.

After taking reps with the first-team defense at boundary corner during the spring, the benefits of Lucas’s offseason progression are being reaped by first-year defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. Working on the short side of the field, Lucas has an advantage should he see a majority of snaps as he possesses the ability to keep his man in front of him and has the speed to match most wide receivers.

Next: ASU Football: Todd Graham Needs Results

The sophomore appears to have begun to tap into his enormous potential. For Sun Devil football fans, the most exciting thing about Lucas is that he is just beginning to scratch the surface.

Home/ASU Football