The fourth key component of a winning season in Tempe will be the success of new defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson.
The interim defensive backs coach for the Sun Devils in 2020, Henderson brings plenty of professional experience to the defensive side of the ball. He has been on the staff of 7 NFL teams including the Super Bowl-winning 2000 Baltimore Ravens where he coached the likes of Ed Reed.
He was also on staff during the memorable 1996 Arizona State season where the Sun Devils went 11-0 and nearly won a national championship against Ohio State in the 1997 Rose Bowl.
Like Glenn Thomas on the other side of the ball, Henderson has an incredibly impressive resume and proven track record of producing excellent secondaries that shut down opposing offenses and take advantage of quarterbacks with a high interception rate.
Thomas will be crucial in taking advantage of transfers like CB Ro Torrence, and safeties Khoury Bethley and Chris Edmonds. Scheming quarterback pressure along the front seven will also be important and how he uses 5th-year senior Nesta Jade Silvera to do so will be something to watch out for.
If he can continue his long tradition of defensive excellence and complement Thomas’ offense he will be a crucial part of the Sun Devils competing for first-place in the Pac-12 South.