"Who had the greatest freshman season in Sun Devil history?"
That question could and does get a lot of responses. We put it it to the test listing most recent ones first, not all of them are the "greatest" but we listed great ones to chat about. Don't panic, if your favorite Sparky freshman isn't on here they will be. The page is under construction, thanks for patience as we update it! Also, many of these might not be in contention for the greatest, but they were really good.
WENYI DING – MEN'S GOLF – 2023-24
Sun Devil freshman Wenyi Ding -- who earned both Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year -- earned first-team PING All-America honors as announced by the GCAA for 2023-24. Ding and Auburn's Jackson Koivun were the only freshman on the 11-man team, and he is just the fifth Sun Devil to earn first-team All-America in the past 17 seasons. He joins Preston Summerhays (2023), Chun An Yu (2019), Jon Rahm (2016 and 2015) and Max Rotluff (2015). He is the first Sun Devil freshman to earn first-team honors since Alejandro Canizares in 2003. He was the first Sun Devil to win both Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year and finished the year ranked third by Scoreboard/Clippd with a 69.56 stroke average. He notched six top-10 and four top-five finishes in eight tournaments, including a ridiculous victory at the Amer Ari Invitational in just his second event. He posted a 27-under 189 (63-64-62), the first collegiate golfer to break 190, and helped ASU to a trio of tournament titles this spring, including its first Pac-12 Championship since 2008. He posted 12 rounds in the 60s and 16 of his 25 rounds were at par or better.
JULIETTE DHALLUIN – WATER POLO – 2022-23
Coming from France, Juliette Dhalluin was a force to be reckoned starting in all 24 games. She became an All-Amercan posting 70 goals, which ranks sixth most in program history and third in the MPSF conference. Including the goals, she posted 38 assists which ranked fourth in the conference and became one of three athletes in the MPSF to surpass the 100 point mark, coming in tied for second with 108 points in a season. Her 19-multi goal games included 14 hat tricks and leading the toughest conference in the country with 2.92 goals per game. She also made plays on the defensive end with 48 steals in 24 games which also led the conference with an average of two per contest. Dhalluin ranked second in conference averaging 4.5 points a game and notched three MPSF Newcomer of the week awards, landing on the MPSF all-tournament team and earning a spot on the MPSF All-Second Team and the MPSF All-Newcomer team.
TEAGAN NG -- LACROSSE -- 2022-23
Teagan Ng was named the Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year after she played in all 19 games where she scored 30 goals and tallied six assists for 36 total points. Ng finished third on the team in free position goals with eight. She had a season/career high of five goals in a single game and scored three goals in four different games.
MICHAEL MJAASETH -- MEN'S GOLF-- 2022-23
Michael Mjaaseth earned All-Freshman national team by the Golf Coaches Association of America, which included a 70.72 stroke average, the fifth-ranked freshman in the country, according to Golfstat. Mjaaseth played in 39 rounds, firing 16 in the 60s and 23 of those at par or better. He fired 66 or better on three occasions, including a 4-under card in the third round of the 2023 National Championships, pacing ASU in their rise from T21 after day one to a match play top eight finish after four days. He was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the sixth Sun Devil to win the award since its inception in 1999 and the fourth consecutive Sun Devil to win the honor. He won the Maui Jim Individual on Sept. 9-10, 2022, tying for first, after missing ASU's qualifying while he was securing a ninth-place finish at the World Amateur Championship in Paris, France.
LEON MARCHAND -- MEN'S SWIMMING-- 2021-22
Léon Marchand earned both the Pac-12 Men's Freshman of the Year and the Swimmer of the Year. He earned four Pac-12 champion, taking home titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast and 800 free relay. The freshman became the third individual men's conference champion in the Bob Bowman era, steering the Sun Devils to a third-place finish, their best showing at the conference tournament in 27 years. He was also named the Swimmer of the Meet. Weeks later at the NCAA Championships, he won the 200 IM and 200 breast while helping the Sun Devils earn their highest finish in the team standings since 1982. He became ASU's first men's swimming national champion since Attila Czene won the 200 IM in 2000. His efforts earned him the CSCAAMen's Swimmer of the Year Award.
MURPHY CASSONE -- MEN'S TENNIS-- 2021-22
Murphy Cassone earned the national Rookie of the Year award from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as well as ITA Southwest Region Rookie of the Year. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year went undefeated in conference play and reached the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship. He ended 15-6 (9-0 Pac-12) in singles and 10-9 in doubles. Cassone is the first Pac-12 men's winner of the national Rookie of the Year award since Stanford's Bradley Klahn in 2009.
PRESTON SUMMERHAYS -- MEN'S GOLF -- 2021-22
Preston Summerhays was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and posted a 71.33 stroke average, at the time second-best by a freshman in ASU history. He posted one of the most impressive wins in NCAA match-play history with a 7&5 win over Oklahoma's Chris Gotterup in the quarterfinals, who was the Haskins Award winner and getting the trophy handed to him that evening. He also defeated Pepperdine's Joe Highsmith in the semifinals and had eight top-10 finishes in 13 tournaments and was co-medalist at the 18-hole East Lake Cup on Oct. 25, 2021.
VANDA BAKSA – WOMEN'S WATER POLO – 2021-22
Vanda Baksa etched her name into the program's record book as a Sun Devil where she led the MPSF conference in goals (73), assists (49) and points (122) and placed top-3 in steals (35) and blocks (21) at the end of the season. She was rightfully named MPSF Newcomer of the year which was the program's first ever major annual conference award. Baksa was named to the All-MPSF Second Team and a second team ACWPC All-American. During the season she was named an MPSF Newcomer of the Week six times and holds the ASU Freshman points, goal, and assists records.
CAIRO LEONARD BAKER -- GYMNASTICS -- 2017-18
Cairo Leonard-Baker made a name for herself for Sun Devil gymnastics in 2017-18. She became the first Gym Devil to win Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, which marked the first time since Katie Freeland (1996) that an ASU gymnast had won a yearly conference award. She earned Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the week four times, including three weeks in a row (Weeks 2-4).
KORDELL NORFLEET -- WRESTLING 2017-18
True freshman Kordell Norfleet became a Pac-12 wrestling champion at 184 pounds in 2017-18. He was named Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
BASEBALL -- SPENCER TORKELSON -- 2018
Spencer Torkelson's impact on Sun Devil Baseball was immediately felt, as the freshman went on a historic tear during his first season in Tempe. On March 30, Torkelson hit his 12th home run, breaking Sun Devil legend Barry Bonds 35-year old single season freshman home run record. Torkelson was the only freshman in the country to be named to the Golden Spikes Award Mid-season watch list on April 10th.
WRESTLING -- ZAHID VALENCIA -- 2016-17
In 2016-17, Valencia garnered Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year and Pac-12 Newcomer/Freshman of the Year awards, the first time in conference history that the same person received both awards. He became a Pac-12 champion (174) and finished third at the NCAA championships. Valencia won four titles and became an All-American.
ZANE GONZALES -- FOOTBALL -- 2013
Zane Gonzalez's freshman season was a prime reason the Sun Devils won the 2013 Pac-12 South. In earning All-Pac-12 honors, Gonzalez led the conference in kick scoring, converting 25-of-30 field goals (.833). He had a streak of 18 consecutive made field goals, tying the NCAA record for field goals made by a freshman in the process. His 1.7 field goals per game led the Pac-12, and he was nominated for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top collegiate placekicker (an award he won as a senior). Tight End Zach Miller became the second Sun Devil to be named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (the other being Terrell Suggs two years earlier) in 2004. Miller set ASU freshman receiving records with 56 catches for 552 yards. He earned Freshman All-America honors as well, leading ASU to a 9-3 record and a Sun Bowl win over Purdue. Zach MIller (2004) and Terrell Suggs (2000) each earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, while Junior Onyeali (2010) and Vontaze Burfict (2009) earned Defensive Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
MEN'S GOLF -- JON RAHM -- 2012-13
Jon Rahm in 2012-13 earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and had two wins (Bill Cullum Invitational and Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic), scored in all 46 rounds he played (one of only two players in nation to do that), ranked first in nation in par-5 scoring (4.51), tied for first in nation with nine eagles, led nation with 165 birdies (beating NCAA champion Max Homa by three) and became just one of three Sun Devils in 20 seasons to have have 100 percent scoring (Chris Hanell in 39 rounds in 1996-97 and Niklas Lemke in 2006-07 in 37 rounds). He posted a 71.37 scoring average in 15 tournaments had had six top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the NCAA Championships when he shot a 61 in the first round.
CROSS COUNTRY -- SHELBY HOULIHAN -- 2011-12
Shelby Houlihan earned 2012 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year for both cross country and track which made her the first student-athlete in Pac-12 history to earn both the cross country and track and field Newcomer of the Year honors since the conference began awarding both in 2000. She became the third Sun Devil to be honored as Newcomer of the Year behind Jacquelyn Johnson (2003) and Charonda Williams (2008) Set freshmen records in both the 800m and 1500m and blew away the previously held school record for the indoor mile with a time of 4:39.56. She was favored to advance to the 2012 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, before an untimely fall at the NCAA West Preliminary knocked her from contention.
SOFTBALL-- DALLAS ESCOBEDO -- 2011
Dallas Escobedo led ASU to the NCAA title in her freshman season (2011) as her 37 wins were the second-most in a ASU history, while recording the fourth-most strikeouts (326). Her list of accolades included Women's College World Seriesco-Most Outstanding Player, WCWS All-Tournament, First-Team All-America, NFCA All-Region, USA Softball Collegiate Pitcher of the Week, two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, First-Team All-Pac-10, Pac-10 All-Freshman and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. She finished the season with 19 straight wins, and became the first freshman to clinch a title game in 21 years as ASU defeated Florida, 7-2.
MEN'S TENNIS -- MATT BROOKLYN -- 2006-07
Brooklyn earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 All-Freshman and second-team All-Pac-10 in his rookie season as he was 27-11 and 21-15 in doubles and was the first Sun Devil men's tennis player to earn Pac-10 Player of the Week.
BASEBALL -- IKE DAVIS -- 2006
Davis starred at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale and made an immediate impact at ASU -- playing in all 58 games and starting in 57 -- as he earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and earned first-team Pac-10 honors. He earned freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America as he set the ASU freshman record with 65 RBI (second in the Pac-10) and also hit nine home runs. He started, relieved and played first base and outfield. He batted .329 (79-240) with 39 runs and a team leading 20 doubles, tying the school record for doubles by a freshman. He belted grand slams in consecutive games vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 28) and Auburn (Mar. 3) and batted .529 with (9-of-17) with the bases load.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD -- JACQUELYN JOHNSON -- 2004
Johnson won the NCAA heptathlon title as ASU finished 20th at the NCAA outdoor championships, as she was first Sun Devil to win gold at the national meet since Pal Arne Fagemes won the 1996 javelin. She became the first Sun Devil woman to a national title in track and field since Maicel Malone took the 1992 indoor 400m race, and the first Sun Devil woman to win an outdoor title since Gea Johnson won the heptathlon in 1990. Johnson won the Pac-10 title in heptathlon and high jump. Johnson earned Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year, first-team outdoor All-America honors and second team All-America indoor honors as she finished second in the pentathlon.
MEN'S BASKETBALL -- JAMAL FAULKNER -- 1990-91
Jamal Faulkner started 28 of 30 games and earned 1990-91 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year as he set ASU freshman records for points per game (15.4), rebounds (6.2), blocks (33), points (462) and 20-point games (seven), including an 18-point effort against Kansas in his debut Nov. 23, 1990. He averaged 32.1 minutes in Pac-10 games (29.1 overall) and scored a season-best 29 against Arkansas on March 17, 1991, in the NCAA Tournament in Atlanta.
MEN'S GOLF -- PHIL MICKELSON -- 1988-89
Phil Mickelson's freshman year with the ASU men's golf team resulted in the first of his three individual NCAA Championships, as well as a first-team Ping All-America selection (Mickelson earned the honor each of his four years at ASU). His opening round at the NCAA's was eye-popping. Playing at the Oaktree Country Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, Mickelson tamed the Pete Dye-designed course with a nine-under par 63. He finished the four rounds at 17-under 271.
BASEBALL -- BARRY BONDS -- 1983
Barry Bonds was one of the most heralded freshman in the long history of Sun Devil Baseball, and his first year validated the attention. Bonds hit .306 for the year, with an OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of .963. His 11 home runs, 16 stolen bases and 60 runs scored all set ASU freshman records. His extra-inning home run propelled ASU to a late-season win at UCLA, sparking the Devils to a run that took them to a third-place finish at the College World Series in Omaha. Bonds was named to the All-CWS team.
BASEBALL -- KENDALL CARTER -- 1981
On the mound, Kendall Carter's freshman season set plenty of records. Carter won 19 games, mostly in relief, and earned first-team All-America as the Devils won the 1981 NCAA title.
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Now, let's turn the tables – here's some of the most famous names in Sun Devil Athletics who DIDN'T earn national or conference accolades as freshmen, but ended up doing quite well.
JAKE PLUMMER – Started nine games for ASU in 1993, completed 51.3 % of his passes for 1,650 yards and nine touchdowns. By his senior year, Plummer was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, and led the Sun Devils into the 1997 Rose Bowl.
PAT TILLMAN – While eventually earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997 and having the award named for him, Tillman recorded 10 tackles in 1994. His first collegiate play from scrimmage? A sack of California quarterback Dave Barr.
FAT LEVER – The point guard for two ASU NCAA Tournament teams (1980 and 1981), Lever posted a 3.6 point, 1.8 assist average in 29 games in 1978-79. "Fat" would go on to lead the Devils in assists and steals each of the next three seasons, and in 2004 was voted into the Pac-10 Hall of Honor.
ALVIN DAVIS – The sweet-swinging first baseman on ASU's 1981 NCAA title eam came off the bench as a freshman in 1979, playing behind Mike Ancich.
CHRISTY NORE - While her name can be found in several categories in Sun Devil volleyball's career statistics lists, Nore did not earn national or conference honors in 1985.
That question could and does get a lot of responses. We put it it to the test listing most recent ones first, not all of them are the "greatest" but we listed great ones to chat about. Don't panic, if your favorite Sparky freshman isn't on here they will be. The page is under construction, thanks for patience as we update it! Also, many of these might not be in contention for the greatest, but they were really good.
WENYI DING – MEN'S GOLF – 2023-24
Sun Devil freshman Wenyi Ding -- who earned both Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year -- earned first-team PING All-America honors as announced by the GCAA for 2023-24. Ding and Auburn's Jackson Koivun were the only freshman on the 11-man team, and he is just the fifth Sun Devil to earn first-team All-America in the past 17 seasons. He joins Preston Summerhays (2023), Chun An Yu (2019), Jon Rahm (2016 and 2015) and Max Rotluff (2015). He is the first Sun Devil freshman to earn first-team honors since Alejandro Canizares in 2003. He was the first Sun Devil to win both Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year and finished the year ranked third by Scoreboard/Clippd with a 69.56 stroke average. He notched six top-10 and four top-five finishes in eight tournaments, including a ridiculous victory at the Amer Ari Invitational in just his second event. He posted a 27-under 189 (63-64-62), the first collegiate golfer to break 190, and helped ASU to a trio of tournament titles this spring, including its first Pac-12 Championship since 2008. He posted 12 rounds in the 60s and 16 of his 25 rounds were at par or better.
JULIETTE DHALLUIN – WATER POLO – 2022-23
Coming from France, Juliette Dhalluin was a force to be reckoned starting in all 24 games. She became an All-Amercan posting 70 goals, which ranks sixth most in program history and third in the MPSF conference. Including the goals, she posted 38 assists which ranked fourth in the conference and became one of three athletes in the MPSF to surpass the 100 point mark, coming in tied for second with 108 points in a season. Her 19-multi goal games included 14 hat tricks and leading the toughest conference in the country with 2.92 goals per game. She also made plays on the defensive end with 48 steals in 24 games which also led the conference with an average of two per contest. Dhalluin ranked second in conference averaging 4.5 points a game and notched three MPSF Newcomer of the week awards, landing on the MPSF all-tournament team and earning a spot on the MPSF All-Second Team and the MPSF All-Newcomer team.
TEAGAN NG -- LACROSSE -- 2022-23
Teagan Ng was named the Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year after she played in all 19 games where she scored 30 goals and tallied six assists for 36 total points. Ng finished third on the team in free position goals with eight. She had a season/career high of five goals in a single game and scored three goals in four different games.
She has etched herself into Sun Devil Lacrosse history, get to know the person behind No. 77 ??#ForksUp /// #O2V
— Sun Devil Lacrosse (@SunDevilWLax) June 14, 2023
MICHAEL MJAASETH -- MEN'S GOLF-- 2022-23
Michael Mjaaseth earned All-Freshman national team by the Golf Coaches Association of America, which included a 70.72 stroke average, the fifth-ranked freshman in the country, according to Golfstat. Mjaaseth played in 39 rounds, firing 16 in the 60s and 23 of those at par or better. He fired 66 or better on three occasions, including a 4-under card in the third round of the 2023 National Championships, pacing ASU in their rise from T21 after day one to a match play top eight finish after four days. He was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the sixth Sun Devil to win the award since its inception in 1999 and the fourth consecutive Sun Devil to win the honor. He won the Maui Jim Individual on Sept. 9-10, 2022, tying for first, after missing ASU's qualifying while he was securing a ninth-place finish at the World Amateur Championship in Paris, France.
LEON MARCHAND -- MEN'S SWIMMING-- 2021-22
Léon Marchand earned both the Pac-12 Men's Freshman of the Year and the Swimmer of the Year. He earned four Pac-12 champion, taking home titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast and 800 free relay. The freshman became the third individual men's conference champion in the Bob Bowman era, steering the Sun Devils to a third-place finish, their best showing at the conference tournament in 27 years. He was also named the Swimmer of the Meet. Weeks later at the NCAA Championships, he won the 200 IM and 200 breast while helping the Sun Devils earn their highest finish in the team standings since 1982. He became ASU's first men's swimming national champion since Attila Czene won the 200 IM in 2000. His efforts earned him the CSCAAMen's Swimmer of the Year Award.
MURPHY CASSONE -- MEN'S TENNIS-- 2021-22
Murphy Cassone earned the national Rookie of the Year award from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as well as ITA Southwest Region Rookie of the Year. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year went undefeated in conference play and reached the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship. He ended 15-6 (9-0 Pac-12) in singles and 10-9 in doubles. Cassone is the first Pac-12 men's winner of the national Rookie of the Year award since Stanford's Bradley Klahn in 2009.
He's him. Murphy Cassone is going to the US Open!??
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) August 18, 2022
?? Read up https://t.co/rdOL8PrgpW pic.twitter.com/4lBAaiRYeB
PRESTON SUMMERHAYS -- MEN'S GOLF -- 2021-22
Preston Summerhays was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and posted a 71.33 stroke average, at the time second-best by a freshman in ASU history. He posted one of the most impressive wins in NCAA match-play history with a 7&5 win over Oklahoma's Chris Gotterup in the quarterfinals, who was the Haskins Award winner and getting the trophy handed to him that evening. He also defeated Pepperdine's Joe Highsmith in the semifinals and had eight top-10 finishes in 13 tournaments and was co-medalist at the 18-hole East Lake Cup on Oct. 25, 2021.
VANDA BAKSA – WOMEN'S WATER POLO – 2021-22
Vanda Baksa etched her name into the program's record book as a Sun Devil where she led the MPSF conference in goals (73), assists (49) and points (122) and placed top-3 in steals (35) and blocks (21) at the end of the season. She was rightfully named MPSF Newcomer of the year which was the program's first ever major annual conference award. Baksa was named to the All-MPSF Second Team and a second team ACWPC All-American. During the season she was named an MPSF Newcomer of the Week six times and holds the ASU Freshman points, goal, and assists records.
CAIRO LEONARD BAKER -- GYMNASTICS -- 2017-18
Cairo Leonard-Baker made a name for herself for Sun Devil gymnastics in 2017-18. She became the first Gym Devil to win Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, which marked the first time since Katie Freeland (1996) that an ASU gymnast had won a yearly conference award. She earned Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the week four times, including three weeks in a row (Weeks 2-4).
.@SunDevilGym's Cairo Leonard-Baker has taken #Pac12Gym by storm.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 25, 2018
The five-time Freshman of the Week honoree has also nabbed the #Pac12Gym Freshman of the Year award: https://t.co/l0xtitMKpg pic.twitter.com/CWRIuj03At
KORDELL NORFLEET -- WRESTLING 2017-18
True freshman Kordell Norfleet became a Pac-12 wrestling champion at 184 pounds in 2017-18. He was named Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
????? The future is bright for @ASUWrestling! ?????
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) March 28, 2018
True freshman KordellNorfleetnamed Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year. pic.twitter.com/70Obvc1W9G
BASEBALL -- SPENCER TORKELSON -- 2018
Spencer Torkelson's impact on Sun Devil Baseball was immediately felt, as the freshman went on a historic tear during his first season in Tempe. On March 30, Torkelson hit his 12th home run, breaking Sun Devil legend Barry Bonds 35-year old single season freshman home run record. Torkelson was the only freshman in the country to be named to the Golden Spikes Award Mid-season watch list on April 10th.
???? HISTORY. HAS. BEEN. MADE. ????
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) March 30, 2018
Spencer Torkelsonhas hit his 12th home run to pass @BarryBondsfor the @ASU_Baseballfreshman HR record! pic.twitter.com/lQQchEyvKZ
WRESTLING -- ZAHID VALENCIA -- 2016-17
In 2016-17, Valencia garnered Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year and Pac-12 Newcomer/Freshman of the Year awards, the first time in conference history that the same person received both awards. He became a Pac-12 champion (174) and finished third at the NCAA championships. Valencia won four titles and became an All-American.
??: @ncaawrestlingchamp @z_money_97is just getting started #SunDevilIntensity#NCAAWrestling@craigsmorganhttps://t.co/IaqJOCJ0Yi
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2018
ZANE GONZALES -- FOOTBALL -- 2013
Zane Gonzalez's freshman season was a prime reason the Sun Devils won the 2013 Pac-12 South. In earning All-Pac-12 honors, Gonzalez led the conference in kick scoring, converting 25-of-30 field goals (.833). He had a streak of 18 consecutive made field goals, tying the NCAA record for field goals made by a freshman in the process. His 1.7 field goals per game led the Pac-12, and he was nominated for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top collegiate placekicker (an award he won as a senior). Tight End Zach Miller became the second Sun Devil to be named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (the other being Terrell Suggs two years earlier) in 2004. Miller set ASU freshman receiving records with 56 catches for 552 yards. He earned Freshman All-America honors as well, leading ASU to a 9-3 record and a Sun Bowl win over Purdue. Zach MIller (2004) and Terrell Suggs (2000) each earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, while Junior Onyeali (2010) and Vontaze Burfict (2009) earned Defensive Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
MEN'S GOLF -- JON RAHM -- 2012-13
Jon Rahm in 2012-13 earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and had two wins (Bill Cullum Invitational and Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic), scored in all 46 rounds he played (one of only two players in nation to do that), ranked first in nation in par-5 scoring (4.51), tied for first in nation with nine eagles, led nation with 165 birdies (beating NCAA champion Max Homa by three) and became just one of three Sun Devils in 20 seasons to have have 100 percent scoring (Chris Hanell in 39 rounds in 1996-97 and Niklas Lemke in 2006-07 in 37 rounds). He posted a 71.37 scoring average in 15 tournaments had had six top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the NCAA Championships when he shot a 61 in the first round.
CROSS COUNTRY -- SHELBY HOULIHAN -- 2011-12
Shelby Houlihan earned 2012 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year for both cross country and track which made her the first student-athlete in Pac-12 history to earn both the cross country and track and field Newcomer of the Year honors since the conference began awarding both in 2000. She became the third Sun Devil to be honored as Newcomer of the Year behind Jacquelyn Johnson (2003) and Charonda Williams (2008) Set freshmen records in both the 800m and 1500m and blew away the previously held school record for the indoor mile with a time of 4:39.56. She was favored to advance to the 2012 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, before an untimely fall at the NCAA West Preliminary knocked her from contention.
SOFTBALL-- DALLAS ESCOBEDO -- 2011
Dallas Escobedo led ASU to the NCAA title in her freshman season (2011) as her 37 wins were the second-most in a ASU history, while recording the fourth-most strikeouts (326). Her list of accolades included Women's College World Seriesco-Most Outstanding Player, WCWS All-Tournament, First-Team All-America, NFCA All-Region, USA Softball Collegiate Pitcher of the Week, two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, First-Team All-Pac-10, Pac-10 All-Freshman and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. She finished the season with 19 straight wins, and became the first freshman to clinch a title game in 21 years as ASU defeated Florida, 7-2.
MEN'S TENNIS -- MATT BROOKLYN -- 2006-07
Brooklyn earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 All-Freshman and second-team All-Pac-10 in his rookie season as he was 27-11 and 21-15 in doubles and was the first Sun Devil men's tennis player to earn Pac-10 Player of the Week.
BASEBALL -- IKE DAVIS -- 2006
Davis starred at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale and made an immediate impact at ASU -- playing in all 58 games and starting in 57 -- as he earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and earned first-team Pac-10 honors. He earned freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America as he set the ASU freshman record with 65 RBI (second in the Pac-10) and also hit nine home runs. He started, relieved and played first base and outfield. He batted .329 (79-240) with 39 runs and a team leading 20 doubles, tying the school record for doubles by a freshman. He belted grand slams in consecutive games vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 28) and Auburn (Mar. 3) and batted .529 with (9-of-17) with the bases load.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD -- JACQUELYN JOHNSON -- 2004
Johnson won the NCAA heptathlon title as ASU finished 20th at the NCAA outdoor championships, as she was first Sun Devil to win gold at the national meet since Pal Arne Fagemes won the 1996 javelin. She became the first Sun Devil woman to a national title in track and field since Maicel Malone took the 1992 indoor 400m race, and the first Sun Devil woman to win an outdoor title since Gea Johnson won the heptathlon in 1990. Johnson won the Pac-10 title in heptathlon and high jump. Johnson earned Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year, first-team outdoor All-America honors and second team All-America indoor honors as she finished second in the pentathlon.
FOOTBALL -- ZACH MILLER -- 2004
Local Desert Vista High School product Zach Miller earned Pac-12 Freshmen of the Year in 2004 started all 12 games as a true freshman and was one of just four freshman to earn first- or second-team All-America honors, as he earned second-team honors from Sporting News. He had 56 catches for 552 years, topping Sun Devil freshman records held by Derek Hagan and John Jefferson. His 56 catches -- tied for most in the nation by a tight end -- also was an ASU record for a tight end, topping Todd Heap's 55 did in 1999 and he added six touchdowns. He caught 10 passes for 85 yards and the first two touchdown receptions of his career in the Sept. 18 win over Iowa, and also had eight catches for 102 yards on Oct. 16 vs. national champion USC.
MEN'S GOLF -- ALEJANDRO CANIZARES -- 2002-03
Alejandro Canizares earned Co-Pac-12 Freshmen of the Year in 2003, as he became just the sixth freshman to win the NCAA golf title in June of 2003 with his 1-under 287 at the Karsten Creek Course in Stillwater, Okla.
WRESTLING -- MARCUS MOLLICA -- 1992-93
Marcus Mollica won the NCAA Championship competing at 158 pounds in 1993 as a freshman and earned All-Pac-10 and first-team All-American honors that year. Sun Devil wrestling head coach Zeke Jones won the Pac-10 Championship in 1987 as a freshman competing at 118 pounds.
FOOTBALL -- TERRELL SUGGS -- 2000
Before he earned 2022 ASU Hall of Fame inductee honors and two Super Bowl rings, Terrell Suggs posted 10 sacks as a true freshman in 2000 and won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and earned Football News first-team Freshman All-America honors and third team by Sporting News. He was just the second true freshman to start the first game of the season and posted 48 tackles (41 unassisted) and led ASU in tackles for loss with 16 (fourth in Pac-10) for 72 and had a team-leading 10 sacks for 60 yards. His resume also included an interception, three pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles (tied for second in the Pac-10). He was honored for his outstanding rookie campaign by his hometown of Chandler with Jan. 25, 2001 being named Terrell Suggs Day and was one of six true freshman to play in 2000.
MEN'S BASKETBALL -- JAMAL FAULKNER -- 1990-91
Jamal Faulkner started 28 of 30 games and earned 1990-91 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year as he set ASU freshman records for points per game (15.4), rebounds (6.2), blocks (33), points (462) and 20-point games (seven), including an 18-point effort against Kansas in his debut Nov. 23, 1990. He averaged 32.1 minutes in Pac-10 games (29.1 overall) and scored a season-best 29 against Arkansas on March 17, 1991, in the NCAA Tournament in Atlanta.
MEN'S GOLF -- PHIL MICKELSON -- 1988-89
Phil Mickelson's freshman year with the ASU men's golf team resulted in the first of his three individual NCAA Championships, as well as a first-team Ping All-America selection (Mickelson earned the honor each of his four years at ASU). His opening round at the NCAA's was eye-popping. Playing at the Oaktree Country Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, Mickelson tamed the Pete Dye-designed course with a nine-under par 63. He finished the four rounds at 17-under 271.
BASEBALL -- BARRY BONDS -- 1983
Barry Bonds was one of the most heralded freshman in the long history of Sun Devil Baseball, and his first year validated the attention. Bonds hit .306 for the year, with an OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of .963. His 11 home runs, 16 stolen bases and 60 runs scored all set ASU freshman records. His extra-inning home run propelled ASU to a late-season win at UCLA, sparking the Devils to a run that took them to a third-place finish at the College World Series in Omaha. Bonds was named to the All-CWS team.
BASEBALL -- KENDALL CARTER -- 1981
On the mound, Kendall Carter's freshman season set plenty of records. Carter won 19 games, mostly in relief, and earned first-team All-America as the Devils won the 1981 NCAA title.
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Now, let's turn the tables – here's some of the most famous names in Sun Devil Athletics who DIDN'T earn national or conference accolades as freshmen, but ended up doing quite well.
JAKE PLUMMER – Started nine games for ASU in 1993, completed 51.3 % of his passes for 1,650 yards and nine touchdowns. By his senior year, Plummer was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, and led the Sun Devils into the 1997 Rose Bowl.
PAT TILLMAN – While eventually earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997 and having the award named for him, Tillman recorded 10 tackles in 1994. His first collegiate play from scrimmage? A sack of California quarterback Dave Barr.
FAT LEVER – The point guard for two ASU NCAA Tournament teams (1980 and 1981), Lever posted a 3.6 point, 1.8 assist average in 29 games in 1978-79. "Fat" would go on to lead the Devils in assists and steals each of the next three seasons, and in 2004 was voted into the Pac-10 Hall of Honor.
ALVIN DAVIS – The sweet-swinging first baseman on ASU's 1981 NCAA title eam came off the bench as a freshman in 1979, playing behind Mike Ancich.
CHRISTY NORE - While her name can be found in several categories in Sun Devil volleyball's career statistics lists, Nore did not earn national or conference honors in 1985.