Predicting ASU football’s offensive and defensive rotations

© Diannie Chavez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The ASU football team opens its season in six days against Southern Utah at Mountain America Stadium.

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Yesterday, coach Kenny Dillingham gave more of a glimpse on how the Sun Devils will manage who is on the field.

“In today’s day and age, the d-line and the linebackers, you’re gonna play 12 to 14 guys,” Dillingham said. “On the o-line, you better be ready to play eight. The wideouts, you better be ready to play six to seven. At running back, you better be ready to play three. Tight end, you better be ready to play two to four.

“‘Okay, we have starters, great.’ That’s like the famous thing people always talk about. Who are on the field when the game matters the most? And those are the people we trust, that person may not start. They may not fit in the game plan to open in 11 personnel. We may start the game at 12. But our A receiver may be on the field when the game’s on the line because we trust them. Or we may have three different wide receivers on the field when the game’s on the line instead of the starter … Same thing on defense. It’s all about who you trust when the game’s on the line. (That’s) the most important thing to me, not who takes the field first.”

Dillingham added that he feels his staff has pretty much figured out how their rotation is going to look.

He expanded more on positions where there could be multiple bodies.

“I think linebacker is one that you could put a numerous amount of guys there,” Dillingham said. “I think o-line, there’s a few guys that we know are all similar that you could put in, take out and there wouldn’t be a huge drop off … Wide out is one where we got some really good wide outs, but we got a lot of depth there.”

As for how many freshmen could see the field, Dillingham said:

“I would say three to eight, anywhere in there. But I mean, you never know … what happens with just people throughout the season. So who knows?”

With all this being said and what I’ve seen at practice, here’s my predicted rotation of players on the offense and defense.

• First player listed is starter (who is on field first)
• Rotatable is who could see significant playing time, whether it be filling in or in specialty sets
• Backup is someone who may get in for some plays at positions where there won’t be as much rotation
• Next up are players who could see the field but have a smaller chance (follows rotatable or backup)

Offense

QB: Jaden Rashada (Fr.)

• Backup: Trenton Bourguet (R-Jr.) | Drew Pyne (R-So.) (when healthy)

RB: Cameron Skattebo (Jr.)

• Rotatable: DeCarlos Brooks (R-Jr.) | Javen Jacobs (So.)
• Next up: George Hart III (Jr.)

WR1 (Outside): Elijhah Badger (R-Jr.)

• Backup: Troy Omeire (R-Jr.) | Andre Johnson (R-Sr.)
• Next up: Kaleb Black (Fr.)
• Note: Jordyn Tyson (So.) should fit into this too when healthy

WR2 (Outside): Xavier Guillory (Jr.)

• Backup: Troy Omeire (R-Jr.) | Andre Johnson (R-Sr.)
• Next up: Kaleb Black (Fr.)
• Note: Jordyn Tyson (So.) should fit into this too when healthy

Slot WR: Melquan Stovall (Gr.)

• Rotatable: Gio Sanders (Gr.)

Tight End: Jalin Conyers (R-Jr.)

• Rotatable: Bryce Pierre (R-Sr.) | Messiah Swinson (R-Sr.)
• Next up: Ryan Morgan (R-Jr.)

Left Tackle: Isaia Glass (Jr.)

• Rotatable: Bram Walden (R-So.)

Left Guard: Sione Finau (R-Sr.)

• Rotatable: Cade Briggs (R-Jr.)

Center: Leif Fautanu (R-Jr.)

• Backup: Ben Bray (R-Jr.)

Right Guard: Joey Ramos (R-Sr.)

• Rotatable: Aaron Frost (Gr.)

Right Tackle: Emmit Bohle (Gr.)

• Backup: Max Iheanachor (Jr.)

Defense

Right End: Clayton Smith (R-So.)

• Rotatable: Prince Dorbah (R-Jr.) | Michael Matus (Gr.) | Gharin Stansbury (R-So.) | Elijah O’Neal (Jr.) | Ashley Williams (Fr.)

Defensive Tackle: Anthoine Cooper (R-Sr.)

• Rotatable: B.J. Green (Jr.) | Tristan Monday (R-Fr.) | Sam Benjamin (R-Fr.) | C.J. Fite (Fr.) | Michael Matus (Gr.) | Gharin Stansbury (R-So.)

Defensive Tackle: Dashaun Mallory (Gr.)

• Rotatable: B.J. Green (Jr.) | Tristan Monday (R-Fr.) | Sam Benjamin (R-Fr.) | C.J. Fite (Fr.) | Michael Matus (Gr.) | Gharin Stansbury (R-So.)

Left End: B.J. Green (Jr.)

• Rotatable: Prince Dorbah (R-Jr.) | Michael Matus (Gr.) | Gharin Stansbury (R-So.) | Elijah O’Neal (Jr.) | Ashley Williams (Fr.)

Middle Linebacker: Travion Brown (Gr.)

• Backup: James Djonkam (Jr.)
• Next up: K’Vion Thunderbird (Fr.)

Outside Linebacker: Will Shaffer (R-Jr.)

• Rotatable: Tate Romney (R-Fr.) | Caleb McCullough (R-Jr.) | James Djonkam (Jr.)
• Next up: K’Vion Thunderbird (Fr.)

CB1 (Outside): Ro Torrence (R-Jr.)

• Rotatable: Ed Woods (R-Jr.) 
• Next up: Keith Abney (Fr.) 

CB2 (Outside): Dee Ford (R-Sr.)

• Rotatable: Ed Woods (R-Jr.)
• Next up: Keith Abney (Fr.)

CB3 (Nickel): Jordan Clark (R-Sr.) 

• Backup: Macen Williams (R-Jr.) | Dee Ford (R-Sr.)

Strong Safety: Xavion Alford (R-Jr.) (if eligible) | Shamari Simmons (R-Sr.) (if not)

• Backup: Josiah Cox (Fr.) | Damon Williamson (R-Jr.)

Free Safety: Chris Edmonds (Sr.)

• Rotatable: Xavion Alford (R-Jr.) | Shamari Simmons (R-Sr.)
• Backup: Josiah Cox (Fr.) | Damon Williamson (R-Jr.)

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Brendan Mau is a college sports insider and general assignment reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau