ASU Football: JUCO Transfers Set to Make Early Impact

ASU football rounds out its roster with a number of junior college transfers with three in particular looking to make an instant impact this season.

As a prominent Division I program, Arizona State completes most of its roster with first-year players each season. But the 2018 squad has several junior college transfers that are ready to make a splash right away.

The traditional recruitment process usually consists of the glorified commitment to a program, and the player begins his development right away. However, the business of pursuing players from junior colleges nationwide has become just equally as important.

“You see junior college players come in, and whether they play or not, they’re talented,” offensive coordinator Rob Likens said. “You wouldn’t have recruited ‘em. It’s not like a high school player where you’re guessing a little bit.”

There’s no question that Likens and the rest of the coaching staff have brought in talent. Transfers like wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, running back Isaiah Floyd cornerback and Terin Adams are in great situations to be impact players throughout the 2018 season.

All three players came from Northern California junior colleges. Adams and Floyd both attended the City College of San Francisco, and Aiyuk and Floyd are now roommates at ASU.

Aiyuk, a transfer from Sierra College, is putting many on notice already. After playing two seasons of college football, Aiyuk is ready for NCAA D-I football.

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“Coming where I’m from, its underrecruited,” Aiyuk said. “You don’t see a lot of guys getting out from over there. But I think it was good for me because I got to play against college players, I got to play at a high speed, and I got to develop. I don’t think I would’ve been ready to play coming out of high school. So, I think I was able to mature and get a lot of things done.”

ASU adds another explosive weapon to the wideout core with Aiyuk. He totaled 2,499 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns the last two seasons and was ranked the No. 11 junior college wide receiver by ESPN.

“I’ve just been focused and working ever since I got here because I know I don’t have the time,” Aiyuk said. “I have to be able to do my job and make an impact immediately.”

Aiyuk is poised to be the Sun Devils’ starting punt returner, and also appear alongside Floyd for kickoff returns.

ASU has a lot of depth at the running back position. But despite all the young talent in the backfield, Floyd has a high comfort level coming out of junior college.

“31 (Isaiah Floyd) keeps showing up, kind of interesting,” head coach Herm Edwards said. “Just remember I said that.”

With tremendous speed and agility, Floyd can be described as lightning in a bottle. His ability to change direction and catch passes out of the backfield earned him increased reps in fall preseason practice.

“The difference is already knowing a lot more,” Floyd said. “Coming in way more prepared and ready. I’m 20 years old. A lot of freshman come in at 18. The difference is to body a little bit of the maturity and just me knowing what I have to do in less time to do it.”

Last season, Floyd posted 1,797 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 235 carries at CCSF. He was spotted by ESPN as the No. 3 junior college running back.

On the defensive side of the ball, Terin Adams came in to help out in the secondary right away. His attitude and instincts boosted him into a position to be on the field often when its gameday.

“They told me what it was going to be like when I have to come here and earn for a starting spot,” Adams said. “In my eyes, that’s all good because that’s what I do is compete. I love competing.”

Adams came out of CCSF ranked nationally as the No. 10 junior college cornerback. With ASU allowing nearly 275 yards through the air in 2017, he is a valuable addition to the 2018 group.

“It’s a perfect opportunity,” Adams said. “I’ve gotten way better since I’ve been here.”

Junior college players have very little time to waste once they come to a D-1 football school after spending the extra time to develop.

“It’s a business decision,” Likens said. “If he’s got aspirations of playing at the next level, he’s got two years, done. It’s over, never to play football again for the rest of your life and he needs to see the importance of that.”

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Aiyuk, Floyd and Adams have been all business since their arrival to ASU and look to seize the opportunity to get to the next level.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.

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