He has Arizona State headed in the right direction, but what’s more impressive is the opportunity Kenny Dillingham has provided his student-athletes at the next level.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A few players from the Sun Devils have made decisions for the upcoming NFL Draft, including two marquee standouts.
Former ASU safety urges Sun Devils to be all in on Kenny Dillingham
Max Iheanachor (offensive lineman) and Keith Abney II (cornerback) have declared to turn pro.
Arizona State OL Max Iheanachor has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, per his social media.
Iheanachor is a JUCO product and spent three seasons at ASU from 2023-2025. Full-time starter at RT for two seasons.@DevilsDigest pic.twitter.com/KQ9uLf6Cot
— Justin LaCertosa (@LaCertosaSports) December 18, 2025
Arizona State star corner Keith Abney II is declaring for the NFL Draft, he tells ESPN. Abney emerged as a first-team All-Big 12 corner in 2025 and is a potential Day 2 pick. Abney finished the year with 12 passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. pic.twitter.com/2ObEJYRbQy
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 17, 2025
Both announced decisions via social media after helping ASU win a Big 12 Championship and make the College Football Playoff in 2024. Dillingham and the Sun Devils will face Duke in the Sun Bowl to conclude this season. Iheanachor spent three seasons in Tempe (Ariz.) from 2023 to 2025, including two years as a starting right tackle. He cleared the way for Cam Skattebo to have a remarkable, first-team All-American season in 2024 — posting 1,711 rushing yards, 605 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns.
Raleek Brown, who has also declared for the NFL Draft, followed Iheanachor on the right side of the offensive line to a 1,000+ yard (1,141) rushing season with four touchdowns this year. Abney recorded six career interceptions in the secondary, while having 21 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He totaled a team-high 12 breakups, two forced fumbles, a blocked punt/kick, and two interceptions — en route to first-team All-Big 12 honors.
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Pete Thamel, a College Football Senior Writer for ESPN, has Abney project as a Day 2 pick for the draft.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
