29 days until kickoff, and Nathan LaDuke was a defensive menace for Arizona State

We are officially under a month to Big 12 title defense season.

With 29 days until kickoff, we roll the clocks back to the late-80's and honor another safety who still dots the Sun Devil record books, Nathan LaDuke.

A product of Alhambra High School in Phoenix, LaDuke saw firsthand the dominance of the Sun Devil defense in the 1986 season, later committing to Arizona State for the 1987 season. Seeing limited action as a freshman, Nathan was used mostly on special teams with 4 punt returns and 2 kickoff returns in 6 games, but also recorded the first of his 14 career interceptions.

His sophomore season in 1988 saw an expanded role, appearing in 10 of the 11 games played by the Sun Devils. He finished in the top-10 in the Pac-10 in punt returns (20), punt return yards (127), and yards per punt return (6.4). , while tying for the team lead with 3 interceptions. He ended the season by earning Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors for his play.

His junior season in 1989 saw the focus turn more to the defensive side of the ball, leading the Sun Devils in interceptions for a second straight season with 6 picks. He was named First Team All-Pac-10, and earned All-American honors from the Associated Press (Honorable Mention), Sporting News (Second Team), and Football News (Third Team). He would also go on to become a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back.

As a senior in 1990, Nathan was named a co-captain alongside Paul Justin. In the best season of his career, and arguably one of the better seasons for a defensive back in Pac-10/12 history, LaDuke led the Devils for a third straight season with 4 interceptions, becoming the only Sun Devil to lead the team in interceptions in three seasons.

Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, the first being a 92 yard INT return against Colorado State that tied for the second longest in program history, followed up by a record-setting (since broken) 95 yard INT return against Oregon State.

His two INT returns for touchdowns and 255 INT return yards led both the Pac-10 and all of NCAA, setting a career total of 324 INT return yards that remains a program record and ranks 6th in Pac-10/12 history. His 14 career interceptions rank 17th all-time in Pac-10/12 history. In addition, his 238 career solo tackles remain tied for a program record with Brett Wallerstedt.

LaDuke ended the season as a finalist for the Thorpe Award for a second straight season, while also garnering First Team All-Pac-10 honors. He would also be named Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News and Football News, even earning Playboy All-American honors for his outstanding 1990 season.

The Phoenix Cardinals drafted Nathan in the 11th round (282nd overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft, but he would be released before seeing time on the field in the 1991 season. That didn't end his football career, as he would sign with the newly formed Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League, playing 18 games between 1992 and 1996 before his retirement.

Nathan was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 2006, and was later inducted into the Phoenix Union High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, not only for his achievements in football but his stellar wrestling career (95-6 in four years), as well as his senior season of baseball that saw him get drafted in the 25th round by the San Diego Padres in 1987.

Nathan stayed involved in football, contributing as a member of the coaching staff at American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek during his son's playing days. His numerous accolades and presence in the Sun Devil record books make him an easy choice to honor with 29 days until football season.