Amanda: The clock is ticking down to kickoff. We are forty-eight hours away from the season opener against Morgan State, and if you think things are settled, you haven't been paying attention to the portal chaos around the league. But here in Tempe? It’s quiet. It’s focused. And it’s led by one man.
Paul: That’s right. While other programs are scrambling for quarterbacks who barely know the playbook, Arizona State has named their starter. Cutter Boley is the guy. Today, we’re opening up the mailbag to answer your burning questions about the roster, the depth chart, and whether that offensive line can actually hold together long enough to let him throw.
Amanda: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Amanda, and this is your daily dose of Sun Devil football. Paul is here with the tactical breakdown. Before we dive into the questions, Ava wants to remind you of what’s coming up today: first, we’re tackling your biggest concerns about Cutter Boley’s readiness; second, we’re breaking down the running back committee and who actually gets the touches; and third, a lightning round on those sleeper players making noise nationally.
Paul: And remember, we predicted last week that ASU would win between nine and eleven games. With Boley under center and the defense set to force that first-quarter turnover against Morgan State, we still stand by that number. Let’s get into the mailbag.
Amanda: Our first question comes from Sarah in Tempe. She asks: 'With Pauly Keene and Jake Fette out of the picture, does Cutter Boley have any experience handling pressure, or is he just the best of a bad bunch?' This is the big one. Everyone knows he beat them out, but does he look like a franchise quarterback?
Paul: It’s a fair question because the narrative is always 'who was left?' But looking at the tape, Boley isn’t just surviving; he’s managing. Unlike the scramble-heavy style some of these other conference QBs are showing, Boley operates with timing. He reads leverage. He doesn’t panic when the pocket collapses. He steps up. That’s not 'best of a bad bunch'—that’s poise.
Amanda: Poise. I like that word. Because let’s be honest, Pauly Keene had the arm talent, and Jake Fette had the hype, but Boley had the command. Sarah also asks a follow-up: 'How does Boley compare to the rest of the Big 12 right now? We’re ranked first, but are we legit?'
Paul: Legit? Yes. Look at the headlines coming out of the conference. You’ve got teams dealing with mad two-week scrambles to land transfer portal QBs. You’ve got coaches talking about the coaching carousel and uncertainty. Meanwhile, ASU has its guy. In a conference where every team is worried about their quarterback situation, having a proven starter gives you a massive edge before you even snap the ball.
Amanda: That stability is huge. It allows the offense to run the play, not just react to the player. Next question comes from @SunDevilStan in Phoenix. He writes: 'I’m worried about the offensive line chemistry. Last year was rough. How do Tana Alo-Tupuola, Luke Baklenko, and the rest of that group gel in time for Saturday?'
Paul: Chemistry is always the risk with an O-line, especially with transfers and returning veterans mixed in. You’ve got guys like Desean Bryant Jr., Brent Helton, Wade Helton, Jalen Klemm, Rob Lapuaho, Siosaia Lapuaho, Terrell Kim, Jarmaine Mitchell, Manamo’ui Muti, Niniva Nicholson, Makua Pule... that’s a lot of bodies. But here’s the thing: they’ve been practicing together. The film study is done. They know each other’s tendencies. It’s not about knowing everyone’s name; it’s about knowing who’s going to pull and who’s going to reach.
Amanda: So, trust the process? Trust the reps?
Paul: Trust the reps. You don’t fix an O-line in a week. You fix it in August. If they were broken, we’d see it in camp. We haven’t seen that. We’ve seen protection schemes working. So yes, trust the process. But keep an eye on the first drive. If Boley has time, the line is playing well.
Amanda: Solid take. We’ll stick with us after this break to talk about the running backs. Who is getting the ball? Is David Avit the lead dog? Or is Kyson Brown ready to take over? Don’t go anywhere.
Amanda: We are back. Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network. I’m Amanda, joined by Paul. We’re deep in the mailbag, and the next wave of questions is all about the ground game. Marcus in Los Angeles asks: 'David Avit vs. Jason Brown Jr. vs. Kyson Brown. Who is the workhorse? And will we see a committee approach or one guy carrying the load?'
Paul: This is interesting because historically, ASU likes to use multiple backs to keep defenses guessing. But if I had to pick a primary guy based on size and vision, it leans toward David Avit. He’s got the physicality. But Jason Brown Jr. brings that explosiveness. And Kyson Brown? He’s the change-of-pace threat. I expect a committee early, maybe leaning on Avit for short yardage and Brown Jr. for outside runs.
Amanda: So, three-headed monster? That fits with our prediction that the running game exceeds 200 yards. If they split carries, they keep the legs fresh.
Paul: Exactly. And don’t forget Marquis Gillis and Cardae Mack in the mix too. Depth matters. If one guy gets hit, the next guy has to step up. That’s why the roster is so loaded at RB. You’ve got options. You’ve got versatility. That’s a strength.
Amanda: Next question comes from @DevilDad in Mesa. He writes: 'What about the tight ends? Khamari Anderson, James Giggey, AJ Ia, Kristian Ingman, Anthony Miller, Landen Miree. Who is Boley’s security blanket? Do we see more empty sets with five receivers instead?'
Paul: Great point. The TE room is deep. Khamari Anderson is the veteran presence. James Giggey is a reliable target. But honestly, with the amount of WR talent we have—Chance Ables, Cory Butler Jr., Derek Eusebio, Jaren Hamilton, Reed Harris, Harry Hassmann, Plas Johnson, Omarion Miller, Jalen Moss, Uriah Neloms—you might see more spread looks. Tight ends become blockers in space rather than primary receiving threats. Unless one of those TEs has a breakout camp, the WRs will eat up the targets.
Amanda: So, lots of slots, lots of motion. That keeps the defense off balance. One more question from Emily in Scottsdale: 'Cameron Dyer is still on the roster as a QB. What is his role? Is he just practice squad material, or could he see action if Boley struggles?'
Paul: Cameron Dyer is there for depth. If Boley gets hurt or has a day where he’s just not clicking, Dyer is the emergency option. But realistically, unless something drastic happens, he’s not playing against Morgan State. His job is to learn, to support, and to be ready if the unthinkable happens. It’s good insurance.
Amanda: Good insurance. I like that. We’re heading into our final segment, where we tackle some fun hypotheticals and quick takes. Stay tuned.
Amanda: Welcome back to the third segment of our mailbag special. I’m Amanda, and Paul is ready to wrap us up. Our first question is a fun one from Tyler in Chandler: 'If you could swap any player on this roster with one player from another team for one game, who would it be? And why?'
Paul: Oh, this is tough. But if I had to add one piece of elite talent to make sure we start 1-0, I’d probably grab a dominant defensive lineman from a top-tier SEC team. Just to control the line of scrimmage. But since we can’t do that, I’ll say... maybe a wide receiver with elite separation skills. Someone like a Jayden Higgins type. Just to give Boley that one-on-one matchup he can rely on.
Amanda: I love that. We already have the skill, but adding another elite separator would be scary for defenses. Okay, lightning round. Quick takes. First topic: The Sleeper Players. ESPN has a list of sleepers breaking out in 2026. Any ASU names on there that surprise you?
Paul: Yes. I’ve seen mentions of Chance Ables and maybe Derek Eusebio. These are guys who didn’t get the national hype coming in, but they’ve been productive in practice. Ables has great hands. Eusebio has speed. If they catch the ball consistently, they could be breakout stars.
Amanda: Ables and Eusebio. Noted. Second lightning round topic: The NFL Training Camp Rule. There’s talk about players returning to college. Does that impact ASU? Could we lose anyone?
Paul: Unlikely. The new five-for-five rule affects players who started in 2022 and went pro. Most of our key contributors are either younger or have already committed to staying. We’re stable. No one is leaving for the NFL prematurely.
Amanda: Stable. Good. Final lightning round: Cost of Each Position. ESPN talked about how much each position costs in the transfer portal. Are we spending smart?
Paul: Very smart. We didn’t blow the roof off for a QB. We developed Boley internally. That saves cap space and portal resources for other needs. It’s sustainable. It’s smart football.
Amanda: Sustainable. Smart. I love it. Paul, any final thoughts before we sign off? Anything else you want to tell our fans before Saturday?
Paul: Just this: Watch the first quarter. If the defense forces that turnover, and Boley controls the tempo, this game could be over early. Trust the process. Trust the roster. Go Sun Devils.
Amanda: Hear that? Trust the process. Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode of the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this mailbag, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share this with a friend who needs to hear about Cutter Boley’s rise.
Paul: We’ll be back tomorrow with a full breakdown of the Morgan State preview. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Amanda: I’m Amanda, this is Paul, and we’ll see you next time. Go Sun Devils!