THE GAME - Sun Devil Football returns to action following the bye week with a pair of road contests over the next two weekends, starting at Stanford this Saturday, Oct. 22 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. AZT kickoff on the Pac-12 Network (JB Long and Yogi Roth on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).
ON THE CARDINAL - Arizona State leads the all-time series over the Cardinal, 18-15, but has struggled in the recent history in winning just two of the last eight contests (including in Tempe last season). ASU has not defeated Stanford in Palo Alto since 2007, having lost three straight. This will be the first time the teams have played at Stanford since 2017.
KICKING OFF
- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 49 games since 2018 (63.3 percent), notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013-17.
- ASU is 8th in the nation in only allowed seven plays over 30 yards this season.
- Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 26 occasions over 49 games (53.1 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
- The Sun Devils have an interception in eight straight games dating back to last season and 13 of the last 14 games.
- ASU is the only team in the country ranked in the Top-25 nationally in kickoff returns (10th, 26.00 ypr) net punting (25th, 40.83 ypp), and field goal percentage (21st, 90.0).
- Over the last two games, ASU has 16 third down conversions total. In the first four games of the season, they only converted 12 total. To take it a step further, ASU is 16-25 (64%) in the past two games on third down, compared to 12-44 (27.3 %) in the first four games.
- Elijhah Badger's 29.1 percent target share this season when he is on the field is second among all Pac-12 receivers (27th in the FBS) and his 127.0 NFL QB rating when targeted is fourth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 35 targets (19th in the FBS).
- ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season, good for 8th in the FBS. The team has allowed just one 50+ yard play, tied for seventh-fewest in the nation.
- Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 38 of 49 games (77.6 percent).
- Khoury Bethley is currently the second-highest graded safety in the Pac-12 and 11th-highest graded in the FBS on run defense this year (79.6, min. 200 snaps).
- The Sun Devils have 21 pick-sixes since 2012 after nabbing one against UW - good for seventh-best in the FBS in that time.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
- End the team's streak of losses in road/neutral site games at four games - currently tied with its longest since the 2017 bowl game and first three road games of 2018. The team lost 7 straight road/neutral games in the last five of 2016 and first two of 2017.
- Be ASU's first victory at Stanford Stadium since 2007, having lost three straight in Palo Alto and missing the Cardinal several times on the adjusted schedule due to the expansion to 12 teams in the Pac-12.
SMART DEVILS
- ASU recorded a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 995 over a four-year period (2017-18 to 2020-21), an all-time ASU high and first in the Pac-12, the first time leading the conference. ASU's single year overall APR score for 2020-21 is 994, which is the highest score in ASU history. Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, an all-time high for the program.
- The Sun Devils saw nine players (four draftees and five undrafted free agents) sign NFL contracts after last season. All nine of those players earned their undergraduate degrees while at ASU.
- The 2022 roster features 14 Sun Devils who are working toward graduate degrees.
- A sample of the many Sun Devil Football majors that emphasize ASU's innovation and general availability to the masses as a university: Tevin White (Actuarial Sciences), Kolbe Stuckwisch (Aerospace Engineering), Ben Scott (Bioscience), Thomas Le Boucher (Sports Science and Performance), Javen Jacobs (Architectural Studies), Des Holmes (Film and Media Studies), George Hart (Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science), B.J. Green (Mechanical Engineering), Elijhah Badger (Real Estate/Media Analytics), Finn Collins (Film and Media Studies); Anthonie Cooper (Nutrition and Healthy Living); Willie Harts (Parks and Protected Area Management/Public Administration).
MILESTONE WATCH
- 153 rushing yards for X Valladay to reach 4,000 for his career (currently at 3,847)
- 19 tackles for Merlin Robertson to reach 300 in his career (currently at 281)
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. Khoury Bethley (2,922) and Merlin Robertson (2,802) have played the third and sixth-most career snaps among all active FBS players.
2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 49 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17.
3. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 81.8 since the start of 2020 - the 12th-lowest mark in the FBS.
4. Over the last two games, ASU has 16 third down conversions total. In the first four games of the season, they only converted 12 total.
5. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.1 percent of its rushes - the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS.
6. No ASU player since at least 2000 has more tackles in a four-game span than Kyle Soelle's current clip of 68. His 73 total tackles this year are sixth in the FBS.
7. The Sun Devil defense has 21 pick-sixes since 2012 after nabbing one against UW - good for seventh-best in the FBS in that time.
8. ASU has an interception in eight straight games and 13 of the last 14 games dating back to last season.
9. Center Ben Scott has played on 359 of ASU's 362 offensive plays this season - taking only the final three plays of the Sun Devil rout over NAU off.
10. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season, a tally good for 8th in the FBS.
29- Elijhah Badger's 29.1 percent target share this season when he is on the field is second among all Pac-12 receivers (27th in the FBS) and his 127.0 NFL QB rating when targeted is fourth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 35 targets (19th in the FBS). He is currently fourth in the league with a receiving grade of 77.1 on the season (min. 35 targets).is responsible for 19 of ASU's 64 first downs by passing this year. His nine missed tackles forced are tied for third among league receivers. His 2.6 receiving yards per route run this year are fourth in the league.
8- The Devils have an interception in eight straight games dating back to last season and 13 of the last 14 games. ASU has 53 interceptions since 2018 - 26th in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 81.8 since the start of 2021 - the 12th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.7 yards attempt in that time are 24th in the FBS in that time. ASU has allowed just 21 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 9th fewest in the FBS. The secondary has contested a target on 18.3 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 (128/701) - the 16th-highest percentage in the FBS.
7- The Devils have allowed just seven opponent plays over 30 yards this season, a tally good for 8th in the FBS. ASU is one of just three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah). Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 65 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/49 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU has allowed just eight plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 49 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 on 6 over 50 games).
1- ASU is the only team in the country ranked in the Top-25 nationally in kickoff returns (10th, 26.00 ypr) net punting (25th, 40.83 ypp), and field goal percentage (21st, 90.0). Carter Brown is 22nd in the FBS with a 90.0 field goal percentage this year, good for third among FBS freshmen. His 53-yard field goal against UW was the longest by a true freshman in Arizona State history. and eighth longest in the FBS this season Eddie Czaplicki's 45.2 yards per punt are 14th in the FBS this season and his 4.05 hangtime average on the year is 25th.. Daniyel Ngata is 26th in the FBS with 266 yards on kickoff returns this season, despite only being the team's primary kick returner for about three games.
1- Khoury Bethley's 3007 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety and third-most of any FBS player. Bethley is currently the second-highest graded safety in the Pac-12 and 11th-highest graded in the FBS on run defense this year (79.6, min. 200 snaps). His 12 defensive stops this season are tied for sixth among Pac-12 safeties, despite playing the second-fewest snaps among the Top-12. He is currently tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 335 career tackles. His 244 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS - 19 more than any other player.
0- No active player in the FBS this season has more career rushing yards than Sun Devil Football's X Valladay (3,847). He became the first running back in the FBS to rush and catch a touchdown in back-to-back games this season, doing so against USC and UW. Valladay has 95 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 - fourth-most among active FBS backs. His eight 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for fifth in the FBS. His eight total touchdowns this season are 22nd in the FBS and second nationally. He has rushed for over 100 yards in four of the Sun Devils' six games this season.
LAST TIME OUT
- ASU's victory over UW was its 17th win over a ranked opponent since 2012 - notable as the Sun Devils won just 15 total from 1998-2011. The 17 wins over ranked teams are 19th in the FBS since 2012.
- Sun Devil interim head coach Shaun Aguano became one of only two coaches in program history to earn their first win at ASU against a ranked opponent, joining Darryl Rogers (ASU defeated #9 Houston, 29-13, in the 1980 season opener in Rogers' first game at the helm).
- Carter Brown's 53-yard field goal against Washington was the longest by a true freshman in ASU history and tied for the sixth-longest in ASU history overall. It is tied for the eighth-longest in the FBS this season (and third-longest by a freshman) and also tied for the second-longest against a ranked opponent this season (Missouri's Harrison Mevis against Georgia, 56 yards).
- The 45 points scored by the Sun Devils are the most scored on Washington since a 59-52 victory over Eastern Washington on Sep. 6, 2014.
- Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had thrown at least two touchdowns in every game this season. Arizona State kept him from throwing a touchdown, with a Jordan Clark pick-six representing the only touchdown from a Penix Jr. pass.
- Trenton Bourguet became the first Sun Devil quarterback to come off the bench in a game to lead ASU to a come-from-behind victory since Brock Osweiler against UCLA in 2010 (ASU was down 10-3 when Bourguet entered today and 10-0 against UCLA in 2010.
- Bourguet threw three touchdown passes, the most for a quarterback coming off the bench since Osweiler threw for four in that UCLA contest.
- Arizona State finished 9/13 (69.2%) on third downs, one of their best efforts in recent memory on the most important down of the game.
- The nine first downs are the most in a game since the Sun Devils went 11/15 (73%) in the 42-30 victory over Arizona on 11/25/17. That was also the last time ASU converted at a clip of 69% or higher.
- Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 59 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 36th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 23 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 28 games over the last three years.
- Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.1 percent of its rushes - good for the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per rush in that time - 19th in the FBS.
- Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 31.7 percent of its rushes - 18th-most in the FBS.
- Since the start of last year, ASU has 114 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 31st-most in the FBS.
- Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 38 of 49 games (77.6 percent).
- Last season, ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.
- Against Utah, ASU had its streak of REGULAR season games rushing for at least 100 yards ended at 21 games. It was the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 of 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over two seasons. The 21-game streak was tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.
- In rushing for less than 100 yards against #6 USC, it marks the first time ASU had been held under 100 yards on the ground in consecutive games since Nov. 9 and Nov. 17, 2019 (USC and Oregon State).
- ASU has forced 66 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 25th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
- The Sun Devils have a takeaway in 15 consecutive games dating back to last season, the third-longest active streak in the FBS behind Cal (19) and Georgia State (18).
- ASU has outscored opponents 864-467 in points off takeaways since 2012.
- Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.5 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (146 of 230) while finding the end zone 108 times in that span (47.8 percent).
- Conversely, opponents have scored just 49.1 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (81 of 165) with 60 touchdowns (36.4 percent).
- ASU has seven interceptions (and at least one in each game) - tied for 30th nationally a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.
- ASU has an interception in eight straight games and 13 of the last 14 dating back to last year.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
- ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year but had its streak of 18 games without allowing a 50-yard play snapped against Utah this year. It was the longest active streak in the FBS and tied for the second-longest streak in the FBS overall since 2012 (Iowa State, 2018-19), behind only UCLA's 21-game streak from 2013-15.
- Utah's Thomas Yassmin had a 72-yard catch this year, the first 50+ yard play against ASU since a 64-yard rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020. It was the first 50-yard passing play allowed since the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, ending a streak of 20 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
- It is the only 50+ yard play allowed by the defense this season, tied for seventh-fewest in the FBS.
- ASU has allowed just eight plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 49 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 per game on 6 plays over 50 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
- Last season, the Sun Devils were 13th in the FBS and tops in the league in allowing just 326.0 yards of offense per game. ASU gave up just 120 to NAU in the opener - the fourth-lowest tally for any ASU opponent since 1996.
- Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 26 occasions over 49 games (53.1 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
- ASU is one of just three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah). The 2022 team is currently tied for 8th with just seven allowed.
- Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 65 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/49 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.
- Last season, the team had the third-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 13.
KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD
- Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 138 times on 424 drives, a 32.6 score percentage that ranks in the Top-35 of the FBS.
- Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 26.3 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (56 of 213) - the 14th-lowest in the FBS.
- The Sun Devils have allowed just 142 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/49 games) since 2018 - the 28th-lowest tally among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
- ASU has allowed just 61 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 9th-fewest in the FBS.
- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 49 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
- ASU finished 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game in 2021. In 2020, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior.
- Last season, ASU was 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game.
- With second-half shutouts over UNLV, UCLA and Wisconsin last season, it was the first time ASU had held three opponents without a second-half point in a season since 2007. ASU also pitched a second half shutout against NAU in the opener.
- Last year, ASU was third in the FBS in allowing just 7.1 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU outscored teams 192-92 in the second half of games last year and 110-42 in the fourth quarter.
NO FLY ZONE
- ASU has 53 interceptions since 2018 - 26th in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020.
- The Devils have an interception in eight straight games dating back to last season and 13 of the last 14 games.
- ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and has seven through this season - good for 30th in the FBS.
- Since the start of last season, ASU has allowed just 1,819 yards after the catch - the 25th-lowest tally in the FBS.
- Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 81.8 since the start of 2021 - the 12th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.7 yards attempt in that time are 24th in the FBS in that time.
- ASU has allowed just 21 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 9th fewest in the FBS.
- The team has allowed an explosive pass percentage (15+ yards) just 13 percent of the time since 2020 - 29th in the FBS - while its 3.7 percent interception rate is 10th in the FBS.
- The secondary has contested a target on 18.3 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 (128/701) - the 16th-highest percentage in the FBS.
- Three times last season, ASU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards - the most in a season since 1996. ASU also did so in the 2022 opener against NAU.
- ASU's coverage forced incompletion rate of 10.9 percent since the start of last year - sixth in the Power Five.
- Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 21 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranking second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
- LaDarius Henderson is among the Top 50-highest graded guards in the FBS this season as a pass blocker (72.5, min. 200 pass blocking snaps)
- Henderson has been credited with four QB pressures allowed - tied for 15th among all FBS guards. He allowed just 10 quarterback pressures last regular season- tied for fourth-fewest among Pac-12 offensive guards and among the Top-50 fewest among all guards in the FBS and while being tied for 38th among FBS guards with just one sack allowed on the year.
- Henderson played all but 12 snaps on offense for the entire season (of ASU's 808 snaps). He has played on 343 of ASU's 362 offensive snaps this year.
- A resilient athlete, Ben Scott started in all 13 games at right tackle for ASU and played on 794 of the Sun Devils' 808 offensive plays on the season. He has played on 359 of ASU's 362 offensive snaps this year - all but the final three snaps of ASU's season opening rout over NAU.
- Scott ranks in the Top-50 in grades as a pass blocker among centers (min. 150 pass blocking snaps).
- Last season, his 83.0 run blocking score was 28th among all offensive tackles in the FBS last season with at least 500 snaps played
- Scott had a negative grade on just 10.9 percent of his run-blocking plays on the season - sixth lowest in the Pac-12
MAGICAL MERLIN
- Merlin Robertson was named a captain in the preseason while also finding his name on the Butkus Award Watch List. and as an honorable mention linebacker by the Pac-12 Conference.
- Robertson matched a career-high with 11 tackles in the team's opener against NAU.
- Last season among Pac-12 linebackers with 400+ snaps, Robertson was the sixth-highest graded one.
- According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 31 missed tackles in his career on 2,893 snaps, which is the second-fewest of active FBS linebacker with over 2400 snaps played over the last four+ seasons, though he has played over 300 more snaps USF's Dwayne Broyles (28 on 2,564 snaps)
- Robertson has 42 starts in his career and his 281 tackles are 25th among active FBS players (20th among linebackers) while his six interceptions lead all active FBS linebackers
- He has played 2,893 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 3,026) and sixth-most of any active defensive player in the FBS.
X GON' GIVE IT TO YA
- X Valladay is the FBS active leader in career rushing yards at 3,847 with 566 of those coming this season.
- He became the first running back in the FBS to rush and catch a touchdown in back-to-back games this season, doing so against USC and UW.
- His 361 rushing yards in the first three games were the most by an ASU running back in the first three games of the season since D.J. Foster had 510 in 2014. He was the first Sun Devil to rush for 100+ yards in the first three games of the season since Foster that year.
- Valladay was one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season. He has four in six games this year.
- His 5.90 yards per carry this season are 36th in the FBS while his 566 overall rushing yards are 33rd.
- His eight total touchdowns this season are 22nd in the FBS and second nationally.
- In four seasons with Wyoming, Valladay compiled 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns on 626 carries and finished career as the second-leading rusher in program history
- He also finished his Cowboys' career with 51 catches for 584 yards and two touchdowns.
- Valladay has 95 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 - fourth-most among active FBS backs.
- His eight 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for fifth in the FBS.
- He has forced 126 missed tackles in his career, ninth among active FBS backs.
- He eclipsed 1,000 yards in two seasons, including a 1,265-yard effort in 2019 which was the third-most in single-season program history
- He earned Second Team All-MWC after rushing for 1,070 yards in 2021
- Valladay is up to 18 100+-yard performances in his career with 14 at Wyoming and four at Arizona State.
SILVERA IS GOLD
- Nesta Jade Silvera has 56 career stops on run defense - good for 8th among active FBS interior linemen.
- He has 37 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for second among active FBS interior linemen.
- With 12 tackles against Utah, Silvera became the first Sun Devil interior linemen to record double-digit tackles in a single game since AT LEAST 1990. It was the second-most for any Sun Devil defensive lineman since at least 1990 behind defensive end Marcus Hardison had 13 in the 2014 Sun Bowl.
- The 12 tackles were tied for the most by any FBS interior linemen this season. His 142 career tackles are fifth among all active FBS interior linemen. His 29 tackles this year are fourth among FBS interior linemen.
- A consistent presence over his four years at Miami, Silvera has now played in 45 games during his career and became a starter at defensive tackle his junior year and has started 18 games over the past two seasons in the ACC.
- Silvera appeared in 11 games during the 2021 season, starting eight of them.
- In 2021, he was the fourth-highest graded interior lineman in the ACC last season among linemen with at least 200 snaps (74.1), playing 405 snaps on the year. He was the third-highest graded interior lineman in the league in run defense (77.0)
- Silvera was credited with 24 stops last season, third among defensive interior players in the ACC last year - two shy of the league lead despite playing 80-150 fewer snaps than the two players ahead of him... 21 of those stops came on run defense - the highest tally in the league and 25th among all interior linemen in the FBS
- He was extremely productive from his interior position, collecting 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss while also recovering a fumble. He also enjoyed a breakout junior season when he started 10 games and saw action in all 11 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 as he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition after leading all interior defensive linemen in total tackles (35) and tackles for loss (8.0).
NEVERENDING KHOURY
- Khoury Bethley is currently the second-highest graded safety in the Pac-12 and 11th-highest graded in the FBS on run defense this year (79.6, min. 200 snaps).
- His 12 defensive stops this season are tied for sixth among Pac-12 safeties, despite playing the second-fewest snaps among the Top-12.
- Bethley played more snaps than any safety in the nation in 2021 (1,037) and the most by any FBS safety since 2016. It was the ninth-most safety snaps in a single season over the last decade.
- His 3,007 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety. It is the third-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.
- He is currently tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 335 career tackles. His 244 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS - 19 more than any other player.
- We was credited with 38 defensive stops in 2021, third-most among all FBS safeties. His 85.3 grade from PFF as a pass rusher was ninth among FBS safeties.
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES'
- Emory Jones has 1,410 rushing yards in his career, excluding sacks - good for 18th among active FBS quarterbacks.
- Since 2019, Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 84.2 - the fifth-highest of all active FBS quarterbacks.
- 34.2 percent of his career rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - 17th among active FBS quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts
- He has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.6 percent of his career rushes - the sixth-lowest total among active QBs (min. 200 attempts).
- In 2021, Jones made his first-career start at quarterback for Florida against FAU (Sept. 4) and appeared in all 13 games, starting 12.
- He was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week following his performance vs. Tennessee and was named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8 Watch List following his performance against Vanderbilt.
- His accumulation of 550 total yards against Samford was the best single game performance by a Gator in program history.
- He threw for 2,734 yards with 19 touchdowns as a starting quarterback in the SEC and rushed for 758 yards with 4 touchdowns as well.
- Averaged 5.4 yards per rush and 1,272 total rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Gators.
GREEN LIGHT GO
- B.J. Green has been credited with 13 QB pressures on the season. However, he has done it on significantly less snaps than many of the players ahead of him. He has generated a pressure on 16.3 percent of his passing rushing snaps this season - good for fifth among FBS interior linemen.
- He has been credited with a "win" on 26.3 percent of his snaps this season, the highest tally among FBS interior linemen with at least 75 pass rush snaps.
- Additionally, he has been credited with eight plays where he beat his defender but was denied a QB pressure by other factors - tied for 14th-most in the FBS. His 21 QB pressures+beaten defenders but no pressure are Top-25 among FBS interior linemen.
- His 84.9 grade as a pass rusher is 10th-best among FBS interior linemen this season with at least 75 pass-rushing snaps.
- Green was the team's highest graded pass rusher last season, earning a score of 75.7 on pass rush snaps. He played 117 snaps on the year, of which 104 were as a pass rusher.
- Green created a QB pressure (19 total) on 18.3 percent of his pass rush snap on the year, which was tops among any defensive lineman in the Pac-12 last year with at least 100 pass rushing snaps, ranking ahead of NFL first round draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (17.6).
- It was the 31st-highest percentage of any player in the FBS and second among all interior defensive linemen behind only Ohio State's Tyleik Williams (18.4 percent)
- His pass rush productivity rating (a formula accounting for sacks/hits/pressures divided by play count) was 11.5 - the highest of any player in the Pac-12 with 100+ pass-rush snaps
- This mark was good for 22nd in the nation and second of all interior linemen (again behind only Williams - 11.8)
- Green "won" 22.1 percent of his pass rushing snaps on the year (a formula using pressures and defeated defenders, subtracting unblocked pressures and divided by pass rushing snaps), a total good for 32nd in the FBS among all players with at least 100 pass rushing stats and second among all interior lineman (Florida State's Dennis Briggs. Jr. - 24.8).
HEART AND SOELLE
- Team captain Kyle Soelle had a career-high 16 tackles against Oklahoma State in Week two, and immediately followed it up with 18 against Eastern Michigan last weekend.
- The 18 against EMU are tied for the fourth-most by an FBS player in a single game this season. His 16 against Oklahoma State are tied for the third-most by an FBS player this season against a ranked opponent.
- Soelle has reeled off five-straight games with at least 10 tackles - the most for a Sun Devil since Christian Sam had seven-straight in 2017.
- Soelle is third in the nation in averaging 12.2 tackles per game this season and his 73 total tackles on the year currently sit sxith in the FBS.
- Soelle's 68 tackles over this most recent five-game span are the most for a Sun Devil player in a four-game span since at least beyond the 2000 season, as far back as easily accessible records go.
- Soelle has played on 408 of ASU's 438 defensive snaps this season, the second-most of any linebacker in the Pac-12.
- He also picked up his fourth interception of his career and second of the season against Oklahoma State. His four career interceptions rank among the Top-10 among active FBS linebackers since 2018.
- Soelle is tied for third among Pac-12 linebackers in being credited with 19 defensive stops this season.
BADGER DON'T CARE
- Elijhah Badger has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the Pac-12, currently fourth in the league with a receiving grade of 77.1 on the season (min. 35 targets).
- He became the first Sun Devil to have three straight games with 75 or more receiving yards since N'Keal Harry in 2018 with his efforts against Oklahoma State, EMU and Utah.
- Badger is responsible for 19 of ASU's 64 first downs by passing this year.
- His nine missed tackles forced are tied for third among league receivers.
- His 2.6 receiving yards per route run this year are fourth in the league.
- His 29.1 percent target share this season when he is on the field is second among all Pac-12 receivers (27th in the FBS) and his 127.0 NFL QB rating when targeted is fourth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 35 targets (19th in the FBS).
- He has just two drops on the year, tied for fifth-fewest among Pac-12 receivers with at least 35 targets.
NOT STARSTRUCK
- Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan has at least 59 receiving yards in every game this season except one. Arizona State held him to only 25 yards on four catches. McMillan is averaging 75.7 yards per game.
- USC running back Travis Dye has over 100 rushing yards in four games. Arizona State held him to only 62 yards on 13 carries. Dye is averaging 92.4 yards per game
- Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley 60 or more receiving yards in four of the first five games. The only game in which he didn't have 60+ was against Arizona State, when he was held to 23 yards on four catches. Presley averages 58.3 yards per game.
- NAU wide receiver Jamal Glapsie has 418 receiving yards over his last six games, averaging 69.7 yards per game. In his first game of the season, Arizona State held him to 17 yards on three catches
- USC QB Caleb Williams' (230 pass attempts) only pick this season was by Arizona State's Timarcus Davis.
- Utah QB Cam Rising (215 pass attempts) has only three picks this season, one coming at the hands of Arizona State's Timarcus Davis
- Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (205 pass attempts) has only three picks this season, one of which was by Arizona State's Kyle Soelle.
- Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (288 pass attempts) has only four picks this season, one courtesy of Arizona State's Jordan Clark.