THE GAME - Sun Devil Football hits the road for the first time this Saturday, Sept. 10 against the #11/#10 Oklahoma State Cowboys at at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. The game is slated for a 4:30 p.m. AZT/6:30 p.m. Local kickoff on ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Tiffany Blackmon on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on ESPN 620 AM/98.7 FM-2 (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).
ON THE COWBOYS/RANKED OPPONENTS - ASU leads the all-time series against the Cowboys, 2-1. The two squads last played in 1993 - a 12-10 victory for the Sun Devils in Tempe. ASU won the only contest in Stillwater in 1991, 30-3.
This marks the fourth-straight season that ASU's first road game of the year is taking place against a ranked opponent (#23 BYU in 2021, #20 USC in 2020, #18 Michigan State in 2019). ASU is 6-6 under Herm Edwards against AP-Ranked opponents, including three road wins against ranked teams - notable as the Sun Devils had just three total from 2003-17. The three wins are tied for the fifth-most in the FBS since 2018.
KICKING OFF
- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
- ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 19 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 in 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over three seasons. The 19-game streak is the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
- The Sun Devils were the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last season, and extended the program's active streak of games without a 50-yard play allowed to an FBS-leading 16 games against NAU. The next closest team in Ole Miss at 12 games.
- ASU is one of just three FBS teams to rank in the Top-35 nationally in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons. Coincidentally, the other two teams in the category are the Pac-12's Cal and Utah.
- Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 26 occasions over 44 games (59.1 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 120 yards of total offense by Northern Arizona were the fourth-fewest by an ASU opponent since 1996. It was just the seventh time since 1996 that ASU has held an opponent to under 100 passing AND rushing yards.
- Carter Brown's four field goals in the opener were tied for the fourth-most in a single game since 1996 and are the most for any Sun Devil kicker in their debut performance in program history.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
- Move ASU to 7-6 against AP-ranked teams under Herm Edwards.
- Be the fourth road win over an AP-ranked team in the Edwards era - notable as ASU had just three total from 2003-17.
- Give ASU a 9-2 record in regular season non-conference games since 2018.
- End Oklahoma State's nine-game winning streak at Boone Pickens Stadium and keep the Cowboys from tying their school record for consecutive home victories.
- End OSU's 10-game non-conference game winning streak.
- Be just the third loss for the Cowboys in its their last 23 non-conference games.
- Be just the third loss for OSU in its last 18 games overall - dating to 2020.
SMART DEVILS
- Arizona State University 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 Arizona State history. Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, which is 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 will feature 14 Sun Devils who are working toward graduate degrees.
MILESTONE WATCH
- 13 all-purpose yards for X Valladay to reach 4,000 for his career (currently at 3,987)
- 4 tackles for Khoury Bethey to reach 300 for this career (currently at 296)
- 181 yards of total offense for Emory Jones to reach 5,000 in his career (currently at 4,819 - 3,499 passing, 1,320 rushing)
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. Khoury Bethley (2,724) and Merlin Robertson (2,528) have played the second and seventh-most career snaps among all active FBS players.
2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17.
3. The Sun Devils have rushed for over 100 yards in 19-straight regular season games - good for the eighth-longest active streak in the FBS and longest at ASU since a 23-game streak from 1995-97.
4. ASU has gone 16 games without allowing a 50+-yard play - the longest active streak in the FBS and four more than the next closest team (Ole Miss).
5. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.5 percent of its rushes - the third-lowest tally in the FBS.
6. Carter Brown's four field goals against NAU were the most by any ASU kicker in a career debut in program history.
7. ASU has held opponents to 400 yards or less in 26 of 44 games under Edwards. It accomplished that just 24 of the previous 65 games dating back to 2013.
8. Nesta Jade Silvera has 25 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen.
9. X Valladay leads all active FBS running backs with 3,397 career yards and is second among active backs with 71 career explosive runs (10+ yards).
10 Since 2019, Emory Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 87.4 - the highest of all active FBS quarterbacks.
BY THE NUMBERS
31 - ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17. The Sun Devils have allowed just 120 offensive touchdowns (2.7 per game/44 games) since Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 - among the Top-20-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016-17 (4.4 per game/25 games). Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 108 times on 369 drives, a 29.5 score % that is the 25th-lowest in the FBS. ASU has pitched a second half shut out four times in its last 14 games.
24 - According to Pro Football Focus, Merlin Robertson has been credited with just 24 missed tackles in his career on 2,528 snaps, which is the second-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons (USF's Dwayne Boyles on 24 on 2,179 snaps – over 300 fewer than Robertson). He has played 2,528 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 2,734) and seventh-most of any active defensive player in the FBS. Robertson has collected 249 tackles in his career, a total that currently ranks him 22nd among active FBS players. He has started 38 games in his career.
19 - ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 19 straight regular season games. It is 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 19-game streak is the eighth-longest active streak in the FBS. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.5 percent of its rushes - the third-lowest tally in the FBS. Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 32.0 percent of its rushes - 11th-most in the FBS and sixth in the Power Five. ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 11 of its last 20 games dating back to 2019.
16 - ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and extended their streak to 16 straight games without allowing a 50-yard play against NAU, the longest active streak in the FBS - four more than Ole Miss (12). ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 44 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game are 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 per game on 5 plays over 44 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17. ASU is one of 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).
1 - Khoury Bethley's 2,724 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety and the seventh-most of all FBS safeties over the previous four seasons. It is the second-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.He enters the season tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 296 career tackles. His 220 solo tackles are the most of any returning player in the FBS - 15 more than Troy's Carlton Martial (205). His 21.0 career tackles for loss are tops among all active FBS defensive backs. Bethley needs just four tackles to reach 300 for his FBS career. Bethley is credited with 102 stops in his career - 26 more than the closest active FBS safety.
0 - No active player in the FBS this season has more career rushing yards than Sun Devil Football's X Valladay (3,397). Valladay has 71 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2019 - tied for second among active FBS backs. He has forced 107 missed tackles in his career, seventh among active FBS backs. With his 116-yard, two touchdown effort against NAU, Valladay now has 14 100-yard performances in his career. Valladay had the 13th-highest grade aon rushing plays of all FBS backs in Week One (78.5) and was the Pac-12's 14th-highest graded player overall on offense with his overall score of 75.3.
RUSH HOUR
- ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 19 straight regular season games. It is 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 19-game streak is the eighth-longest active streak in the FBS.
- ASU had four rushing touchdowns in its opener. Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 54 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 19th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 18 games, where none of the 20 teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 24 games over the last three years.
- Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.5 percent of its rushes - the third-lowest tally in the FBS.
- Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 32.0 percent of its rushes - 11th-most in the FBS and sixth in the Power Five.
- Since the start of last year, ASU has 101 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 13th-most in the FBS. It had nine in the opener against NAU - 12th most in the FBS last week.
- ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 11 of its last 20 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 8 of the last 17 games. In the Herm Edwards era, ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 16 times and 250+ yards 13 times.
- Last season, ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.
TAKING OFFENSE
- During the 2021 regular season against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU had a +1.09 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive was 20th-highest in the nation.
- ASU's offense average 6.30 yards per play on the regular season (against FBS opponents in non-garbage time) - good for 34th in the FBS.
- Against FBS opponents in the regular season, the Sun Devils pick up at least four yards per play on 61.3 percent of plays (18th in the FBS) and gained at least seven yards on 35.8 percent of plays (20th in the FBS).
- ASU's offense earned 53.2 percent of the total yards available during last regular season - the 33rd-best tally in the FBS.
- According to CFB-Graphs.com, ASU's Expected Points Added (EPA) per offensive play average was .158 - good for 14th in the FBS in the regular season. ASU's .234 EPA on rushing plays were second in the country. The analytic site credits ASU's offense with a positive play 49.0 percent of the time - the fifth-best ratio in the nation.
- ASU was 18th in the nation in averaging 9.4 points per fourth quarter against FBS teams. in the regular season
- ASU earned at least one first down on 80.2 percent of its drives during the regular season against FBS teams in non-garbage time - good for 9th in the FBS.
- The team had a drive earn zero or negative yards just 5.7 percent of the time during the regular season, the sixth-lowest total in the nation.
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM
- ASU had a third-down conversion rate of 44.0 against FBS opponents in the regular season, good for 29th in the country.
- With Southern Utah included, ASU's third-down conversion rate still sat at 43.8 percent - good for 31st in the FBS during the regular season.
- This was a marked improvement for the Sun Devils over the past decade-plus. ASU was also 21st in the shortened season in 2020 (46.67). For perspective, ASU finished in the Top-25 in third-down conversions just once from 2009-2019 (23rd in 2017). It finished 47th or worse in every other year in that span at 75th or worse in six of those.
- The team was especially deadly on third-and-short, converting 84.0 percent of its opportunities (21-of-25) with one or two yards to go on third down - third in the FBS during the regular season.
A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR
- ASU has forced 61 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 17th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
- ASU has outscored opponents 857-454 in points off takeaways since 2012.
- Since 2012, ASU has scored 64.0 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (144 of 225) while finding the end zone 106 times in that span (47.1 percent).
- Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.7 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (77 of 158) with 58 touchdowns (36.7 percent).
- ASU had two interceptions in the opener a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
- The Sun Devils didn't allow a play longer than 15 yards in the opener against NAU.
- ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and extended its streak to 16 games without allowing a 50-yard play against NAU, the longest active streak in the FBS - four more than Ole Miss (12).
- Last season, ASU was the final team in country to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards last year, a streak that came to a close against Washington State. Still, ASU's four total 40-yard plays were the second-fewest in the nation.
- The team had the third-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 13.
- ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 44 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 per game on 5 plays over 44 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
- The last time ASU gave up a 50-yard play was a rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020.. It last gave up a 50-yard passing play in the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, marking 18 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
- 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.
- The Devils held NAU to under 100 yards passing AND rushing in the opener. Last season, ASU had nine occurrences last season in which it held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing AND/OR less than 100 yards passing (6 games under 100 yards rushing/3 games under 100 yards passing). The nine total sub-100 stat lines in one category or the other were the most since 1996 (also 9 - 5 games under 100 yards rushing, 4 under 100 yard passing).
- The three games holding opponents under 100 passing yards marked the first time that had happened since doing it thrice in 1996.
- In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, ASU allowed just 5.21 yards per play last season, good for 23rd in the country.
- Last season in non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gained 7 or more yards on a play just 18.5 percent of the time (11th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.9 percent of the time (16th in the FBS).
- Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 26 occasions over 44 games (59.1 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)
- Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 57 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/44 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU has given up just nine this season - good for second in the FBS.
KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD
- Last season, ASU was 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game. It held NAU to just three in the opener.
- 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.
- Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 109 times on 369 drives, a 29.5 score percentage that is the 25th-lowest in the FBS.
- Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 23.7 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (44 of 186) - the 7th-lowest in the FBS.
- The Sun Devils have allowed just 120 offensive touchdowns (2.7 per game/44 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 - among the Top-20-fewest 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 52 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 7th fewest in the FBS.
- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, 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.
NO FLY ZONE
- ASU recorded multiple interceptions 13 times in the Herm Edwards era over 44 games (30 percent of games).
- ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and had two in the opener against NAU (and a third called back due to a penalty).
- The Sun Devils have emphasized "cat" coverage under Herm Edwards - man coverage where its players are simply asked to guard their "cat". Last season, ASU was lock down with there being an open target allowed just 46.1 percent of the time - the sixth-lowest tally in the Power Five.
- Opponents had an NFL quarterback rating of just 78.2 last year - third-lowest 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 opener against NAU
- ASU's coverage forced incompletion rate of 10.6 percent during the last year - sixth in the FBS.
- Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 12.3 percent of the time (83 on 662 attempts) - good for 22nd in the FBS.
- Since Herm Edwards' arrival in 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 18 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranked second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
IN THE TRENCHES
- LaDarius Henderson was the 11th-highest graded guard overall on offense in the Pac-12 (71.3) in the regular season in 2021. He earned PFF's highest grade among Pac-12 guards in Week 1 (74.8) and was 26th among guards in the FBS.
- Henderson was not credited with a QB pressure allowed in the opener. 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 was 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).
- 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
- 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
- The duo played a pivotal role in ASU averaging 202.3 rushing yards per game during the regular season, which was good for 24th in the FBS and the most for a full season at ASU since 2012 (205.4) – and just the eighth time ASU has rushed for over 200 yards per game since joining the Pac-12 in 1978
- Only six of ASU's sacks allowed during the 2021 regular season eason were credited solely to the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus - the 10th-lowest tally in the FBS.
- All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone allowed just 65 quarterback pressures during the regular season - 10 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 17th-fewest in the FBS. As a team last year, only 30 pressures during the regular season came unblocked, good for the 16th-lowest total in the FBS.
- ASU allowed a pressure on just 26.8 percent of quarterback dropbacks last year as a team during the regular season, the 21st-lowest total in the FBS. ASU quarterbacks were knocked down just 26 times during the regular season - 10th-lowest in the FBS.
- ASU allowed just 21 sacks during the 2021 regular season - tied for 36th-fewest in the FBS and notable as - outside of 2018 (12th in FBS with only 16 allowed) and excluding the shortened 2020 season – ASU finished outside the Top-100 seven times (2012-17, 2019) in the last decade and have not been in the Top 75 in any season since AT LEAST 2005 (when the NCAA sacks allowed records start becoming more difficult to locate).
MERLIN'S MYSTICS
- 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 (65.9).
- According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 24 missed tackles in his career on 2,528 snaps, which is the second-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons (USF's Dwayne Boyles on 24 on 2,179 snaps – over 300 fewer than Robertson).
- Robertson has 38 starts in his career, playing in 41 games and collecting 249 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and six interceptions.
- His 249 tackles are 22nd among active FBS players
- He has played 2,528 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 2,734) and seventh-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 3,397 after his 116-yard effort with two touchdowns against NAU in the opener.
- 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 71 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2019 - tied for second among active FBS backs.
- He has forced 107 missed tackles in his career, seventh 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 put together 14 100-yard performances with the Cowboys and now has 15 in his career, including a 204-yard game in the Arizona Bowl victory over Georgia State in 2019
SILVERA IS GOLD
- Nesta Jade Silvera has 45 career stops on run defense - good for 15th among active FBS interior linemen.
- He has 25 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen.
- A consistent presence over his four years at Miami, Silvera has now played in 42 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 on 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).
GO D.J., THAT'S MY D.J.
- D.J. Taylor was named 2022 Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Selection as a kick returner.
- During the 2021 campaign, he appeared in 12 games, collecting 716 all-purpose yards - good for 10th in the FBS last season
- He yielded 525 kick return yards on 24 attempts last season, including an electrifying 60-yard return against Washington State
- Taylor added 191 punt return yards on 14 attempts, averaging 13.6 yards per return
- He was incredible in the season opener against Southern Utah, returning three punts a total of 87 yards, highlighted by a 47-yard return. He also eclipsed 40 punt return yards in victories over UNLV and Colorado
- Despite playing just three games in 2020 and just 15 games total, Taylor has the 8th-most return yards of any active FBS player since 2020 (1055) with the seven players ahead of him having between two to ten more games to their credit.
- His 25.0 yards per kickoff return in his career are seventh-most among active FBS players in the past two+ seasons since 2020.
NEVERENDING KHOURY
- Khoury 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 2,724 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety and the seventh-most of all FBS safeties over the previous four seasons. It is the second-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.
- He enters the season tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 296 career tackles. His 220 solo tackles are the most of any returning player in the FBS - 15 more than Troy's Carlton Martial (205).
- His 21.0 career tackles for loss are tops among all active FBS defensive backs.
- 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 1,320 rushing yards in his career - good for 13th among active FBS quarterbacks.
- Since 2019, Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 87.4 - the highest of all active FBS quarterbacks.
- 36.4 percent of his career rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - 11th among active FBS quarterbacks.
- He has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.3 percent of his career rushes - the seventh-lowest total among active QBs.
- 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.
CASE IN POINT
- Named a team captain and played in 10 games in 2021 and enters 2022 season with 27 games of experience, Case Hatch makes the plays that don't always show up in the stat sheet.
- He played 155 of his 190 snaps last season as a run blocker, recording a run-blocking score of 77.1 on the year - the highest grade of any tight end in the Pac-12 and the 19th-highest grade among all FBS tight ends with at least 150 run blocking snaps
- He received a positive run blocking grade on 16.8 percent of his snaps - the ninth-best tally among all FBS tight ends
- He played 136 snaps on special teams, serving on all return and coverage units
GREEN LIGHT GO
- B.J. 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).