Arizona State sending 6 players to Big 12 Media Days this year

Just in case there was any doubt where Arizona State stands in the Big 12 hierarchy, Monday's announcement served as a good reminder.

A week from now, the Big 12 will host its annual Football Media Days, with Commissioner Brett Yormark kicking things off with his opening remarks and then transitioning to interviews with coaches and players. On Monday, the Big 12 announced each team's slate of players that will be present in Frisco, Texas for the event.

Arizona State will send six players to the Media Days this year, tied for most of any Big 12 program. Unsurprisingly, quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson are on the list. The two biggest names on the team, Leavitt and Tyson are widely considered the best of the conference at their respective positions.

Also making the trip are center Ben Coleman, defensive tackle CJ Fite, defensive end Clayton Smith, and safety Xavion Alford. Coleman will take over for Leif Fautanu at center, his first time playing the position, after a stellar 2024 season at left guard in which he did not allow a single sack. We just profiled Coleman for our daily countdown to kickoff series.

Another player that made our countdown series is Fite, a junior who rose to stardom last year and is on the verge of becoming a household name. Playing alongside Smith, Fite aims to make the Sun Devils the most fearsome defense in the Big 12 and one of the best in the nation.

Alford is certainly a part of that, too, as he's been one of the best ambassadors for the program since transferring into Arizona State in Kenny Dillingham's first year on the job. His rapid rise as an enforcer and playmaker in the secondary last year was just the icing on the cake.

The heavy contingent of Sun Devils heading to Media Days this week offers a clear reminder of where Arizona State sits in the Big 12 food chain just a year after winning the conference. On a similar note, the Big 12's decision to do away with a preseason media poll was largely seen as a response to having picked Arizona State to finish last in said poll this time last year.

In just a week, these six players and Dillingham will descend on Frisco to make their case to the media why they can repeat as conference champions. Be sure to check back with Devils in Detail for all coverage of the action at the Football Media Days.