Sun Devil Football Preseason Watch List Central

Second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham has established positive momentum for the Sun Devil Football program while constructing a strong roster featuring talent on both sides of the ball. Arizona State fans will be treated to explosive plays, an aggressive style, and relentless effort. There is plenty of buzz being generated by the program heading into the 2024 season. Keeping track of all the members of Sun Devil Football that received recognition in the preseason.

PAUL HORNUNG AWARD - Cam Skattebo (Senior; Running Back)
The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award was created by the LSC in January 2010 in honor of the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
More on Skattebo...

• Was a a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player after doing a little of everything last season, recording over 50 snaps at quarterback, over 350 at running back, two at tight end, over 100 as either a slot receiver or wide wide receiver, three on kick return and over five on punt coverage
• He also punted eight times for a team-best 42.3 yards per punt on eight punts, none of which were returned - one of just three punters in the country with 8+ punts in the country to lay such a claim - and three punts over 50 yards
• Skattebo is 10th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs entering 2024 with 2,681 career rushing yards while his 6.4 yards is tied for fourth in that group. (min. 300 carries)
• He has forced 150 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 5th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.38 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are third (min. 300 attempts) entering 2024
• He forced 57 last season on rushing plays, 3rd among FBS running backs. His 69 overall missed tackles forced on offense were 21st among all FBS running backs
• Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 37.2 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts) entering 2024. His 29.9 percent 1D/TD percentage this season was Top-45 in the FBS. 
• He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.9 percent of his career carries, good for the third-lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts). His 10.5 percent stuff rate last season was 14th among FBS running backs this year.
• He is currently averaging 3.9 yards after contact per career rush - tied for sixth among all active FBS/FCS backs
• he posted three games with over 100 yards last season (Arizona, Washington State, USC), giving him 13 for his career
• His 66-yard scamper in the third quarter was the first time a Sun Devil had a 50+ yard rush since Jayden Daniels ran for 51-yards on a play Oct. 8, 2021 in a victory over Stanford. It was the longest by a running back since Rachaad White had a 93-yard run in the 70-7 victory over Arizona back on  2021. It was also the longest rush of Skattebo's career. 

All eyes back on the reigning finalist ??#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/m5qJWKQ9mE

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 1, 2024

RIMINGTON TROPHY - Leif Fautanu (Redshirt Senior; Center)
The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in college football. Dave Rimington was a center who played at the University of Nebraska from 1979 to 1982.
More on Fautanu...

• Was named ASU's offensive MVP and earned Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades
• Has played 2,657 career snaps, the third-most snaps among active players heading into the 2024 season behind only NMSU's Canaan Yaro (2,816) and Texas' Jake Majors (2,707)
• Started all 12 games for the Sun Devils, playing every single snap of the season for the team at center (851)
• Finished with the fifth-best pass-blocking score among centers in the Pac-12 (78.7) - a total good for 29th in the country among all centers (min. 500 snaps)...It will be the second-best grade of any returning player in the Big 12 this season
• His overall offensive grade of 69.3 will be third among returning Big 12 centers entering the 2024 season
• Was credited with allowing just two sacks all season by Pro Football Focus and only three QB hits
• Was named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week and Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week following ASU's win over Washington State...Arizona State's offense racked up 509 total yards (274 passing and 235 rushing) with Fautanu and the offensive line leading the way. It is the first time the Sun Devils have eclipsed 250 passing yards and 200 rushing yards (234) in the same game since a victory over No. 15 Utah Nov. 3, 2018 (285 passing, 251 rushing)... Arizona State finished with 235 yards and five touchdowns on the ground...The five rushing touchdowns as a team were the most since ASU ran for six in a victory over Southern Utah in the 2021 season opener... It was the most in a FBS game since the Sun Devils ran for six in a victory over Oregon State in the 2020 season finale. It was one of only 16 times since 1996 that ASU has ran for five or more touchdowns in a game...
• Fautanu did not allow a single pressure according to PFF in that game and was also the 15th-highest graded center in the nation according to PFF.

????

Leif Fautanu named to @rimingtontrophy watchlist! #ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/SlAFgDtXg3

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 13, 2024

POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Leif Fautanu (Redshirt Senior; Center) & Sean Na'a (Sophomore; Offensive Line)
The Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award, instituted in 2014 by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, is given annually to the most outstanding player of Polynesian descent at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football.
More on Na'a...

• Saw significant playing time as a true freshman along the offensive line, playing in nine games and starting the final seven games of the season
• One of just 20 true freshman offensive linemen in the FBS to play 400+ snaps on the season 

??????

2?? Sun Devils named to the 2024 @PolynesianFBHOF College Football Player of the Year Watch List! #ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/YD3LNoxdfT

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 16, 2024

SENIOR BOWL
The Reese's Senior Bowl released its watch list of 2025 NFL Draft hopefuls earlier in August, consisting of 859 prospects from more than 180 college programs. Ten different Sun Devils earned a spot on the list.
Emmit Bohle (Graduate; Offensive Line)
More on Bohle...

• Granted a seventh year of eligibility after going down in the season opener with a year-ending injury
• Will be one of approximately 35 FBS players competing in their seventh year of college football in 2024
• A member of the 2025 Senior Bowl Preseason Watch List
• Graduated in Spring of 2023 and remains as a non-degree seeking graduate student

DeCarlos Brooks (Redshirt Senior; Running Back)
More on Brooks...

• Led the Sun Devils in averaging 5.4 yards per rush on 48 carries, recording three touchdowns and 259 yards on the season in just five games - missing most of the year with an injury
• The yards per rush were the seventh-best among Pac-12 running backs with at least 40 carries and his 3.4 yards after contact per rush were 10th in the league
• Rushed for a first down or touchdown on 34.7 percent of his touches - fourth among Pac-12 backs and his 8.2 percent stuff rate was the second-lowest in the league and 12th in the FBS

Ben Coleman (Graduate; Offensive Line)
More on Coleman...

• Granted an extra year of eligibility after being forced to sit out the season with an injury sustained during the Spring
• Played in 25 games at Cal with 22 starts (16 at left guard and nine at left tackle)
• Started 11 of 12 games as a redshirt junior in 2022, including each of the first 10 and the season finale against UCLA with his first six starts at left tackle and his final five at left guard
• As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches

Anthonie Cooper (Redshirt Senior; Defensive Line)
More on Cooper...

• Battled through multiple injuries to start four games and appear in six
• Recorded 12 tackles with half a sack and 1.0 TFL
• Will miss a significant portion of the 2024 campaign after suffering an offseason injury
• Was 10th in the Pac-12 among edge defenders with a pass rushing score of 76.0
• Finished with 21 total tackles and two sacks while starting all 12 games for the Sun Devil

Prince Dorbah (Redshirt Senior; Defensive Line)
More on Dorbah...

• Had six sacks including 2.5 vs. Colorado and had 14 solo tackles and 16 assists on the year
• Was the Pac-12's sixth-highest graded edge defender on run defense on the season (75.8), receiving a negative grade just 6.2 percent of the time
• Recorded 33 quarterback pressures on the season and his 24 quarterback hurries were 13th among Pac-12 edge defenders
• Colorado game was his best as he had four solos and three assists
• Posted eight tackles vs. Fresno State on Sept. 16 and five tackles vs. Oklahoma State on Sept. 9
• A member of the Shrine Bowl 1000 and Senior Bowl Watch Lists heading into 2024

Leif Fautanu (Redshirt Senior; Center)
Max Iheanachor (Senior; Offensive Line)
More on Iheanachor...

• A plague on injuries along the offensive front forced Iheanachor into action with five starts and six appearances last season
• Was not credited with allowing a sack on hois 200+ pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus - one of just five Pac-12 tackles with 200+ pass block snaps to lay such a claim

Shamari Simmons (Redshirt Senior; Defensive Back)
More on Simmons...

• Played the most snaps of any Sun Devil defender (796), good for eighth among all Pac-12 defensive players during the regular season and was named the Sun Devil Football Defensive MVP for the season for his efforts
• Was seventh among Pac-12 safeties on run defense with a grade of 72.9 from Pro Football Focus and was fifth among Pac-12 safeties as a pass rusher
• Led the Sun Devils with 73 total tackles, 54 of which were solo - a total that was 15 more than any other player on the roster
• Added 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and six breakups while recovering two fumbles and recording seven quarterback pressures

Cam Skattebo (Senior; Running Back)
Melquan Stovall (Graduate; Wide Receiver)
More on Stovall...

• Accounted for 18 catches for 207 yards in his debut season with Arizona State
• Ran for a 15-yard touchdown against No. 6 Oregon; finished season with 21 rushing yards on three carries
• Led the team with 85 punt return yards on only eight attempts, averaging over 10 yards per return
• Compiled 411 all-purpose yards, fourth-most on the team

?? Sun Devils make the @seniorbowl watch list! #ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/1uPa8hZzGT

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 21, 2024

EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL 1000
The East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation's oldest college football all-star game, released its annual Shrine Bowl 1,000 of top eligible collegiate stars for the upcoming 2024 game. The 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl will take place Thursday, February 1, 2024, in Frisco, Texas, at Ford Center at The Star, the worldwide headquarters and training facility for the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be televised nationally on NFL Network.

Chamon Metayer (Redshirt Junior; Tight End)
More on Metayer...

• 247 Sports listed him with a transfer ranking of .9000 as the No. 75 ranked player overall and the No. 5 ranked tight end in the transfer portal (as of December 20, 2023) when he transferred to Colorado before leaving the program in the spring and joining the Sun Devils
• Played in 17 games over three seasons for Cincinnati, finishing with 24 receptions for 290 yards and five touchdowns.
• Broke onto the scene in 2023, finishing the season with 23 receptions for 258 receiving yards and five touchdowns...He scored his first career touchdown early in the season against BYU...Led the Bearcats in receiving touchdowns with five and finished third on the team in both receptions and receiving yards.
• In 2022 he appeared in six games, making his first career start against Louisville in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl...His first career reception came against Kennesaw State and went for 32 yards

Prince Dorbah (Redshirt Senior; Defensive Line)
Clayton Smith (Redshirt Junior; Defensive Line)
More on Smith...

• Played in nine games for the the Sun Devils, primarily as a pass rush specialist with 217 of his 402 total snaps
• Recorded a QB pressure on 14.8 percent of his 217 pass rush snaps on the season, eighth among Pac-12 edge defenders with at least 200 pass rush snaps and finishing with 32 total on the season 
• Recorded 21 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks with a pass defended

Max Iheanachor (Senior; Offensive Line)
Shamari Simmons (Redshirt Senior; Defensive Back)
Xavier Guillory (Redshirt Junior; Wide Receiver)
More on Guillory...

• Started in six games and appeared in nine before missing the final three games with an injury
• Caught 21 balls for 226 yards and a touchdown
• Had his best game in the opener, catching five balls for 73 yards and a season-long 47-yard touchdown

Cam Skattebo (Senior; Running Back)
Ben Coleman (Graduate; Offensive Line)

EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD - Jordyn Tyson (Redshirt Sophomore; Wide Receiver); Alton McCaskill (Redshirt Junior; Running Back)
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: Played football at and graduated from a Texas High School and/or currently playing at Texas D1 four-year college.
More on Tyson...

• Sat out all of last season due to an offseason injury
• Played in nine games as a true freshman at Colorado in 2022, recording 22 receptions for a team-leading 470 yards and five total touchdowns this season
• Registered a 72.5 grade for the season as a receiver that was third among all true freshmen receivers in the country while his 470 receiving yards were Top-10 among all true freshmen receivers for the season
• His 21.36 yards per catch last season were fourth in the country and in the Top-25 of Division I football over the previous five seasons
• Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and special teams player of the week against Arizona State and was voted the offensive player of the game against Arizona State. Had 115 receiving yards and a touchdown, as well as 131 punt return yards with a touchdown, for a total of 246 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona State
• First CU player to have 100 receiving yards and punt return yards in a single game

More on McCaskill...

• Missed the 2022 season at Houston to injury before transferring to Colorado where he was seen as a four-star prospect in the transfer portal by 247, which rated him at .9100
• He was ranked as the No. 107 overall player in the portal and the No. 9 running back
• Played in four games at Colorado, starting one. Recorded 14 carries for 59 yards and two receptions for 19 yards
• Broke onto the scene as a true freshman for Houston in 2021.
• Appeared in 14 games, starting the final 12 games of his freshman year with 189 rushes for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns. Added 21 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns
• American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year; All-American Athletic Conference Second Team; Dave Campbell Offensive Freshman of the Year

????@tyson_jordyn & @AltonMcaskillIV named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list! #ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/6lFp1qmDva

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 22, 2024

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SUN DEVIL NATIONAL AWARD HISTORY 
BILETNIKOFF AWARD
2018 N'Keal Harry (semifinalist)
2014 Jaelen Strong (semifinalist)
2004-05 Derek Hagan (semifinalist)

CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD
2012 Will Sutton (semifinalist)
2002 Terrell Suggs (finalist)

ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD
2002 Terrell Suggs, defensive end (winner)
1998 Grey Ruegamer, center (semifinalist)

BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
2002 Terrell Suggs, defensive end (winner)
1996 Derrick Rodgers, rush end (finalist)

TED HENDRICKS AWARD
2002 Terrell Suggs (winner)

HEISMAN TROPHY
1996 Jake Plummer, quarterback (third)
1973 Woody Green, tailback (eighth)
 Danny White, quarterback (ninth)

DOAK WALKER AWARD
2018 Eno Benjamin (semifinalist)

PAUL HORNUNG
2018 N'Keal Harry (semifinalist)

THORPE AWARD
2000 Nijrell Eason (semifinalist)
1991 Phillippi Sparks (semifinalist)
1990 Nathan LaDuke (finalist)
1989 Nathan LaDuke (finalist)
DICK BUTKUS AWARD
2000 Adam Archuleta (semifinalist)
1974 Bob Breunig (Silver Anniversary winner – awarded in 1999)

LOU GROZA AWARD
2016 Zane Gonzalez (winnner)
2014 Zane Gonzalez (semifinalist)
2013 Zane Gonzalez (semifinalist)
2007 Thomas Weber (winner)
2001 Mike Barth (semifinalist)

RAY GUY AWARD
2001 Nick Murphy (semifinalist)
2000 Nick Murphy (semifinalist)

JOHN MACKEY AWARD
2000 Todd Heap (finalist)

OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS
2005 Emmanuel Franklin, Pat Tillman Leadership Award (Gene Autry Courage Awards)
2002 Terrell Suggs, Columbus Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year
2000 Adam Archuleta, Football News Defensive Player of the Year finalist
1997 Michael Martin, Gene Autry Courage Award recipient
 Damien Richardson, Woody Hayes National ScholarAthlete Award
 Pat Tillman, Burger King Scholarship Award winner,
Sporting News Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Year