The Arizona State Sun Devils got a tremendous boost before the 2026 season when defensive star Clayton Smith announced that he was returning to the school. It was initially reported on March 7, 2026, which made it clear what is in store for Smith, who had earlier announced his entry into the NFL Draft at the end of the 2025 season.
Time frame of the Announcement
During the morning of March 7, at about 12.40 PM, Chris Karpman of the Sun Devil Source was the first to report the return of Smith. Sources in the program confirmed the development to The Arizona Republic later.
The return of Clayton Smith is HUGE for Arizona State on and off the field 🔱 pic.twitter.com/uiNcxsQ1WQ
— PHNX Sun Devils (@PHNX_SunDevils) March 10, 2026
It was possible to bring Smith back when the NCAA accepted his petition to have another six years of eligibility. The ruling included a medical hardship waiver for an injury he sustained earlier in his career while playing with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Arizona State has Smith on the roster of spring athletes in 2026. He is expected to be evaluated by coaches during spring practice in an offensive role, potentially as a big pass-catching option or tight end. Despite that experiment, Smith should still play a key role at defensive end.
Veteran Leadership Returns
The defensive side of Arizona State would particularly require the presence of Smith. He is the sole member of the team who was on the four-player defensive end rotation in the 2025 season, making him an influential veteran leader in the locker room.