Arizona State Football: 2017 Sun Devils season preview, predictions
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
The Sun Devils just might have the best one-two punch at running back in the Pac-12. Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard both return to Tempe for their senior seasons. Ballage broke out against Texas Tech last season with an eight-touchdown game. Richard ended up leading the team in rushing yards for the season. Both could approach 1000 yards this season. They will also be spelled by redshirt sophomore Nick Ralston.
They’ll be running behind an offensive line that might start as many as three freshman or sophomores. Redshirt senior A.J. McCollum will anchor the line at center, having taken over immediately after transferring from City College of San Francisco. He alone is responsible for more than one-quarter of the unit’s 41 career starts along the offensive line.
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The receiving corps also lost its biggest threat, as last year’s leading receiver Tim White is now a Baltimore Raven. Spring practices revealed a group that is low on experience but high on talent and potential. N’Keal Harry has the most experience as last year’s second-leading receiver, but the unit could feature as many as eight different receivers throughout the season.
Who will play at quarterback?
Who will throw to those receivers is a question that remains on the table after spring. Manny Wilkins started the majority of games last year after three other quarterbacks went down to injury. He looks like the favorite to remain in the starting role before the start of preseason practices. But there are plenty of other people on the depth chart who could ostensibly supplant Wilkins before Week 1.
That includes Alabama transfer Blake Barnett, who looked solid during spring practices. So too could sophomore Dillon Sterling-Cole, who was forced to burn his redshirt last season due to all the injuries to other quarterbacks. Bryce Perkins and Brady White, both injured during the spring, might also find themselves in the running in the fall. Graham will need one of these quarterbacks to assert himself as the clear starter if Arizona State’s offense is going to take off in 2017.