Arizona State enjoyed a phenomenal season, winning the Big 12 and reaching the College Football Playoff. Head coach Kenny Dillingham has his alma mater on the rise, and will see most of his starters return, highlighted by quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Of course, none of that guarantees the Sun Devils a thing in 2025, a Dillingham knows it. He tried to send that exact message with the first day of spring practice as he tries to get his team back to the playoff.
On Tuesday, things officially got started with the first practice of spring ball, and it's not official until the first roster gets handed out.
ASU’s spring football is about to begin. Here is the roster handout. Heights and weights aren’t updated yet but will be in a subsequent update pic.twitter.com/ifAlTfwOq9
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025
Even as the Sun Devils get set to turn the page on last year, some of their departed players had to show up and support their teammates, including star running back Cam Skattebo.
Cam Skattebo is back at Kajikawa watching some ASU spring ball👀@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/wGNGhzuvrA
— Gabriella Chernoff (@gabbyjchernoff) March 25, 2025
Recently graduated ASU WR Xavier Guillory and RB Melquan Stovall are back at Kajikawa for the first spring practice of 2025. @SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/BzefmTfMpk
— Gabriella Chernoff (@gabbyjchernoff) March 25, 2025
As if it wasn't obvious already, Dillingham came prepared with a message for his players, made clear through the strategic choice of music playlist:
Queen’s “We are the Champions” is loudly playing over the speakers as ASU’s players and coaches arrive for their first spring practice.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025
No time for losers.
Dillingham expanded on this after practice was over:
At ASU's first spring practice, Kenny Dillingham kept saying, “We are the champions!” so it would become monotonous.
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 25, 2025
"We're trying to make last year irrelevant because nobody cares anymore." pic.twitter.com/wSTYC3hIii
"I want it to become monotonous. Like, who gives a crap? Like, you're going to be told so many good things forever, you better get [so that] it becomes monotonous to you, that it's irrelevant. Nobody cares, right? So we're just trying to make last year irrelevant, because nobody cares anymore.
So we're going to do things, play things that make last year irrelevant. We talked to our guys, we're going to handle success just fine. How are we going to handle this year when we get punched in the face?"
When asked about the music choice, and the message it sent, Leavitt shared some lighthearted annoyance that speaks to the culture reset Dillingham is trying to establish:
"Well I can't speak to everyone else, but it was annoying to me. I don't care about last year's championship - obviously it was fun for the moment - but I don't want to hear that no more. I'm going to go tell him to turn it off, because we're not no champions anymore. It's a new season, we got more to prove. "
The quote stands out in particular because of Dillingham's earlier comment about Leavitt would be challenged by becoming a leader as a sophomore.
Kenny Dillingham said the biggest change for Sam Leavitt thus far is his ability to lead on his own.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) March 25, 2025
Leavitt may have taken exception to that music choice, but he surely was glad to see star receiver Jordyn Tyson back on the field.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is back and participating on the first day of spring practice as expected.
— Anthony Totri (@Anthony_Totri) March 25, 2025
Tyson missed the Big 12 Championship and the Peach Bowl due to injury. pic.twitter.com/ZzixsU35ZK
And it didn't take long for Tyson to remind everyone of his greatness.
Sam Leavitt ➡️ Jordyn Tyson. Sun Devil fans have missed this connection 😮💨@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/vPeyYBW314
— Jakob Brooks (@Jakobrooks) March 25, 2025
Back-to-back goal line reps where Montana Warren and Xavion Alford were in smothering coverage against Jordyn Tyson.
— Anthony Totri (@Anthony_Totri) March 25, 2025
Tyson caught both passes for touchdowns.
Even though Tyson made some highlight plays, the defense made plenty of plays on the first day of practice, which is typical at this stage.
Rodney Bimage Jr. just has an impressive interception in the end zone on the first competitive 1-on-1. @BimageJr
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025
Myles Rowser snagged one off Sam Leavitt in 7 on 7 that could have been returned for a TD.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025
Keith Abney just picked off Leavitt in 11s. Defense getting a lot of takeaways.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025
The first day of practice also offered a good look at freshman tight end AJ Ia, a 4-star recruit out of California who was rated as the 15th best tight end in the nation.
Arizona State freshman tight end AJ Ia is MASSIVE.
— Anthony Totri (@Anthony_Totri) March 25, 2025
Ia is listed at 6’6, 240 lbs. pic.twitter.com/w8vqxl4P8f
Practice also brought the opportunity to get a good look at several coaches back in action for Arizona State, who critically retained their entire on-field coaching staff after such an impressive year.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo working with quarterback Sam Leavitt and the QB room pic.twitter.com/KtXbtoNF1n
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) March 25, 2025
Defensive coordinator Brian Ward leading the safety groups in back and forward peddling drills pic.twitter.com/6SnmPMJzgz
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) March 25, 2025
Defensive line coach Diron Reynolds pushing his players in the opening practice drill pic.twitter.com/pU3J57EdPx
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) March 25, 2025
Jason Mohns coaching up the Arizona State tight ends.
— PHNX Sun Devils (@PHNX_SunDevils) March 25, 2025
A position group that added some new faces over the offseason. pic.twitter.com/ElHnecU5Pd
Perhaps the biggest area of growth for the Sun Devils comes on special teams. On Tuesday, they let transfer kicker Jesus Gomez get a few practice kicks up as Arizona State seeks more reliability in that department.
Transfer redshirt senior kicker Jesus Gomez from Eastern Michigan is out taking reps at ASU’s first spring practice of 2025.@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/S6X8Nqfk87
— Gabriella Chernoff (@gabbyjchernoff) March 25, 2025
The Sun Devils also began working to find a new go-to punt returner after the loss of Melquan Stovall.
Jordyn Tyson, Raleek Brown and Demarius “Man Man” Robinson are working at punt return as ASU looks to replace Stovall.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) March 25, 2025