TEMPE – Junior running back Eno Benjamin received All-American honors while nine Sun Devils earned a spot on one of Phil Steele's four Preseason Pac-12 All-Conference teams, as the publication released their college football preview this week.
Returning All-American Eno Benjamin finds himself on the Preseason All-American Second Team, returning after a historic sophomore campaign in Tempe. He led the Pac-12 with a school-record 1,642 rushing yards, going over the century mark on nine different occasions. Benjamin was Arizona State's lone representative on the All-Conference First Team, a distinction he earned from the conference after last season.
Joining Benjamin in earning a spot on a Preseason Pac-12 All-Conference team are eight additional Sun Devils. Four landed on the Second Team, with a trio of sophomore defenders being recognized. Linebacker Merlin Robertson, defensive lineman Jermayne Lole, and safety Aashari Crosswell make up a third of the Second Team All-Conference defensive unit. Joining the three in receiving Second Team honors is junior kicker Brandon Ruiz.
Merlin Robertson became the fifth Sun Devil to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors after making an instant impact 2018 season. Led the team in tackles (77), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.0) and added an interception, two breakups, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered.
Jermayne Lole figures to play a major factor at the line of scrimmage coming off a season in which he registered 27 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Lole also deflected four passes and forced a fumble, causing disruption in opposing backfields.
Aashari Crosswell enjoyed a sensational debut season in Tempe, showing off his play-making ability in the secondary. He played in all 13 games for the Sun Devils, finishing with 43 total tackles, four interceptions, and 13 pass deflections.
Kicker Brandon Ruiz came through for the Maroon and Gold a season ago with several clutch kicks, as his accuracy was on display all season. He went 18-for-22 (82%) on field goals and a perfect 45-for-45 on extra points. Early in the season, his clutch 28-yard kick as time expired help the Sun Devils upset No. 15 Michigan State.
Three additional Sun Devils were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Third Team. Senior center Cohl Cabral, senior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and sophomore linebacker Darien Butler were all Third Team selections. Rounding out the honorees is redshirt junior cornerback Chase Lucas, who is the lone Sun Devil on the Fourth Team.
Offensive lineman Cohl Cabral was a Second Team selection by the conference after a breakout junior campaign a season ago. A warrior in the trenches, Cabral started all 13 games as the anchor of the offensive line unit.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will step into a bigger role to supplement the loss of N'Keal Harry to the NFL. As the season progressed, he continued to receive more playing time, making 24 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns over his last seven games.
Linebacker Darien Butler busted onto the scene, starting all 13 games at linebacker for the Sun Devil defense. He finished his first season with 70 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Defensive back Chase Lucas returns with two years of starting experience under his belt. Lucas contributed in many ways, collecting 62 total tackles, five tackles for loss, while also picking off three passes.
Arizona State boasts the best running back group, the second-best linebacker corps, and the third best offensive line and special teams units in the conference according to Phil Steele's Pac-12 Unit Rankings. ASU landed in the top half of the conference in seven of the nine categories.
The Sun Devils open their 2019 season against Kent State on August 29that 7:00 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium. Here is a full look at Phil Steele's Pac-12 All-Conference Teams:
Returning All-American Eno Benjamin finds himself on the Preseason All-American Second Team, returning after a historic sophomore campaign in Tempe. He led the Pac-12 with a school-record 1,642 rushing yards, going over the century mark on nine different occasions. Benjamin was Arizona State's lone representative on the All-Conference First Team, a distinction he earned from the conference after last season.
Joining Benjamin in earning a spot on a Preseason Pac-12 All-Conference team are eight additional Sun Devils. Four landed on the Second Team, with a trio of sophomore defenders being recognized. Linebacker Merlin Robertson, defensive lineman Jermayne Lole, and safety Aashari Crosswell make up a third of the Second Team All-Conference defensive unit. Joining the three in receiving Second Team honors is junior kicker Brandon Ruiz.
Merlin Robertson became the fifth Sun Devil to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors after making an instant impact 2018 season. Led the team in tackles (77), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.0) and added an interception, two breakups, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered.
Jermayne Lole figures to play a major factor at the line of scrimmage coming off a season in which he registered 27 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Lole also deflected four passes and forced a fumble, causing disruption in opposing backfields.
Aashari Crosswell enjoyed a sensational debut season in Tempe, showing off his play-making ability in the secondary. He played in all 13 games for the Sun Devils, finishing with 43 total tackles, four interceptions, and 13 pass deflections.
Kicker Brandon Ruiz came through for the Maroon and Gold a season ago with several clutch kicks, as his accuracy was on display all season. He went 18-for-22 (82%) on field goals and a perfect 45-for-45 on extra points. Early in the season, his clutch 28-yard kick as time expired help the Sun Devils upset No. 15 Michigan State.
Three additional Sun Devils were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Third Team. Senior center Cohl Cabral, senior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and sophomore linebacker Darien Butler were all Third Team selections. Rounding out the honorees is redshirt junior cornerback Chase Lucas, who is the lone Sun Devil on the Fourth Team.
Offensive lineman Cohl Cabral was a Second Team selection by the conference after a breakout junior campaign a season ago. A warrior in the trenches, Cabral started all 13 games as the anchor of the offensive line unit.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will step into a bigger role to supplement the loss of N'Keal Harry to the NFL. As the season progressed, he continued to receive more playing time, making 24 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns over his last seven games.
Linebacker Darien Butler busted onto the scene, starting all 13 games at linebacker for the Sun Devil defense. He finished his first season with 70 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Defensive back Chase Lucas returns with two years of starting experience under his belt. Lucas contributed in many ways, collecting 62 total tackles, five tackles for loss, while also picking off three passes.
Arizona State boasts the best running back group, the second-best linebacker corps, and the third best offensive line and special teams units in the conference according to Phil Steele's Pac-12 Unit Rankings. ASU landed in the top half of the conference in seven of the nine categories.
The Sun Devils open their 2019 season against Kent State on August 29that 7:00 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium. Here is a full look at Phil Steele's Pac-12 All-Conference Teams:
| POS | FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | FOURTH |
| QB | Justin Herbert, Oregon | KJ Costello, Stanford | Khalil Tate, Arizona | Jacob Eason, Washington |
| RB | Eno Benjamin, Arizona St | Jermar Jefferson, Oregon St | Joshua Kelley, UCLA | CJ Verdell, Oregon |
| RB | JJ Taylor, Arizona | Zack Moss, Utah | Max Borghi, Washington St | Salvon Ahmed, Washington |
| WR | Laviska Shenault, Colorado | Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC | Theo Howard, UCLA | KD Nixon, Colorado |
| WR | Aaron Fuller, Washington | Britain Covey, Utah | Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona St | Kassidy Woods, Wash St |
| WR | Michael Pittman, USC | Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon St | Dezmon Patmon, Wash St | (TE) Bryce Wolma, Arizona |
| TE | Colby Parkinson, Stanford | Hunter Bryant, Washington | Cole Fotheringham, Utah | Devin Asiasi, UCLA |
| C | Nick Harris, Washington | Jake Hanson, Oregon | Cohl Cabral, Arizona St | Frederick Mauigoa, Washington St |
| OG | Shane Lemieux, Oregon | Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC | Luke Wattenberg, Washington | (OT) Jake Curhan, California |
| OG | Gus Lavaka, Oregon St | Chris Murray, UCLA | Colby Pursell, Colorado | (OT) Blake Brandel, Oregon St |
| OT | Walker Little, Stanford | Penei Sewell, Oregon | Darrin Paulo, Utah | Abe Lucas, Washington St |
| OT | Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon | Trey Adams, Washington | Austin Jackson, USC | William Sherman, Colorado |
| DL | Mustafa Johnson, Colorado | Jermayne Lole, Arizona State | Luc Bequette, California | Jalen Sami, Colorado |
| DL | Jay Tufele, USC | John Penisini, Utah | Lamonte McDougle, Wash St | Jordan Whittley, Oregon St |
| DL | Leki Fotu, Utah | Jordon Scott, Oregon | Levi Onwuzurike, Washington | Drake Jackson, USC |
| DL | Bradlee Anae, Utah | Thomas Booker, Stanford | Jalen Harris, Arizona | Austin Faoliu, Oregon |
| LB | Troy Dye, Oregon | Jahad Woods, Washington St | Manny Bowen, Utah | Kuony Deng, California |
| LB | Evan Weaver, California | Merlin Robertson, Arizona St | Tony Fields, Arizona | Krys Barnes, UCLA |
| LB | Colin Schooler, Arizona | Francis Bernard, Utah | John Houston, USC | Avery Roberts, Oregon St |
| LB | Nate Landman, Colorado | Palaie Gaoteote, USC | Darien Butler, Arizona St | Jordan Fox, Stanford |
| DB | Paulson Adebo, Stanford | Aashari Crosswell, Arizona St | Thomas Graham, Oregon | Darnay Holmes, UCLA |
| DB | Jaylon Johnson, Utah | Talanoa Hufanga, USC | Elijah Hicks, California | Christian Young, Arizona |
| DB | Myles Bryant, Washington | Julian Blackmon, Utah | Quentin Lake, UCLA | Chase Lucas, Arizona St |
| DB | Jalen Thompson, Wash St | Camryn Bynum, California | Javelin Guidry, Utah | Jevon Holland, Oregon |
| K | Jet Toner, Stanford | Brandon Ruiz, Arizona St | JJ Molson, UCLA | Lucas Havrisik, Arizona |
| P | Oscar Draguicevich, Wash St | Alex Kinney, Colorado | Steven Coutts, California | Ben Griffiths, USC |
| KR | Travell Harris, Wash St | Ashtyn Davis, California | JJ Taylor, Arizona | Darnay Holmes, UCLA |
| PR | Tyler Vaughns, USC | Ronnie Blackmon, Colorado | Britain Covey, Utah | Trevon Bradford, Oregon St |
| LS | Damon Johnson, USC | Johnny Den Bleyker, UCLA | Karsten Battles, Oregon | Richard McNitzky, Stanford |