Amanda: We are three days away from kickoff. Three days. The Big 12 is waiting, the nation is watching, and Arizona State is sitting pretty at number one in the conference standings with a pristine 0-0 record. But don't let the ranking fool you. We know the questions. We’ve been asking them for three straight days.
Paul: That’s right, Amanda. You’re listening to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we break down every snap, every depth chart move, and every roster battle that defines the college football season. I’m Paul, and alongside me as always is the lead host, Amanda.
Amanda: And welcome, Devils fans! If you joined us yesterday or the day before, you know we’ve been deep-diving into Cutter Boley’s path to the starting quarterback job. Today, we’re going deeper into the trenches. We’re looking at the specific battles happening right now on this roster heading into the Morgan State opener on Saturday night.
Paul: Exactly. It’s not just about who starts at QB anymore. It’s about the running back committee dynamics, the wide receiver rotations, and whether that offensive line can actually hold together against a FCS opponent trying to upset us.
Amanda: So here is what we have for you today. First, we’re breaking down the most critical position battle of camp: the Running Back rotation. Who gets the early downs? Who is the pass-catcher? Second, we’re looking at the Wide Receiver depth chart and the tight end mismatches. And finally, we’re making our roster cut predictions—who is trending up, who is trending down, and who might see their playing time limited early on.
Paul: We’re also tying this back to those predictions we made last week. Can the defense force that first-quarter turnover against Morgan State? And will ASU hit that nine-to-eleven win mark? Let’s get into it.
Amanda: Let’s start with Segment One. The most important battle right now. It’s the Running Back room. Paul, when you look at the names on the roster—David Avit, Kyson Brown, Jason Brown Jr., Marquis Gillis, Cardae Mack—what is the story here?
Paul: It’s a classic committee approach, Amanda. Kenny Dillingham loves his multi-back sets. He wants to keep legs fresh and create mismatches. But if I had to pick the guy who feels like he has the slight edge for early-down work, it’s David Avit. He’s got that physical profile that fits the power run game they want to establish against teams like Morgan State.
Amanda: Right. And then you have Jason Brown Jr. coming in. He’s a big name, high pedigree. Does he immediately challenge Avit?
Paul: He challenges everyone. But in camp, sometimes the veterans who know the system take precedence over the talent-heavy newcomers until the playbook is fully ingrained. I think Brown Jr. is more likely to be used in specific packages or goal-line situations initially. Gillis brings speed, so he’s your third-down guy potentially.
Amanda: So we’re talking Avit on first down, Gillis in space, and Brown Jr. as the explosive play threat? That sounds like a nightmare for a defensive coordinator to prepare for if they all stay healthy.
Paul: Exactly. And remember, Cutter Boley needs these guys to be reliable in pass protection. If the backfield is juggling identities, the pocket collapses faster. So whoever gets the nod early needs to be locked in on blocking assignments, not just chasing yards.
Amanda: That’s a great point. Because if Boley is pressured, we lose the whole offense. Speaking of pressure, let’s talk about the skill positions behind him. The Wide Receivers.
Paul: This is where it gets interesting. You have Chance Ables, Cory Butler Jr., Derek Eusebio, Jaren Hamilton, Reed Harris, Harry Hassmann, Jeremiah Johnson, Plas Johnson, Omarion Miller, Jalen Moss, Uriah Neloms. That is a massive group.
Amanda: It is overwhelming. Who stands out as the primary target for Boley? Is it one of the experienced guys or someone new?
Paul: I’m leaning toward Derek Eusebio and Jaren Hamilton having established chemistry with Boley from previous seasons. They know the timing routes. But keep an eye on Omarion Miller. He’s got the size and speed combo that forces defenses to respect the vertical stretch. If Boley is looking for that big play, Miller is the safety valve.
Amanda: Okay, so Eusebio and Hamilton for the intermediate stuff, Miller for the deep ball. What about the Tight Ends? Khamari Anderson, James Giggey, AJ Ia, Kristian Ingman, Anthony Miller, Landen Miree.
Paul: James Giggey is the veteran presence here. He’s reliable in the red zone. But Khamari Anderson is the one who could create some matchup problems if he can get outside. Morgan State is going to try to stack the box because of that RB committee, so the TE slot is going to be crucial.
Amanda: So, if the box is stacked, Boley needs to hit Giggey or Anderson in the seam. That’s the key to unlocking this offense. If they can’t do that, the RBs get nothing. Let’s move to Segment Two. We have two more battles to discuss. First up: The Offensive Line Chemistry.
Amanda: Paul, we talked about this on Friday. This is the area of concern. Tana Alo-Tupuola, Luke Baklenko, Desean Bryant Jr., Brent Helton, Wade Helton, Matai Jefferson, Jaren Hamilton—wait, no, Jaren Hamilton is WR. Sorry, Jalen Klemm, Terrell Kim, Rob Lapuaho, Siosaia Lapuaho, Filiva'a Lokotui, Jarmaine Mitchell, Manamo'ui Muti, Niniva Nicholson.
Paul: No worries, Amanda. It’s a huge group. The issue isn’t talent; it’s continuity. In the Big 12, if your O-Line isn’t synchronized, you’re in trouble against elite pass rushers. Against Morgan State, you need basic communication to avoid freebies. Who is anchoring the line?
Amanda: Who do you trust to be the leader there? Is it Luke Baklenko? Or maybe one of the newer transfers like Siosaia Lapuaho?
Paul: Baklenko has been around longer, so he knows the terminology. But Siosaia Lapuaho has the athleticism to handle the speed. I think the battle is really about who pairs well on the interior. If the center and guards aren’t calling out blitzes correctly, Boley is in trouble.
Amanda: And that ties back to our prediction about the turnover. If the O-Line slips, the defense has to carry the load. Do you still believe the defense forces a first-quarter turnover against Morgan State?
Paul: I do. Morgan State is going to be physical. They’re going to try to make ASU uncomfortable early. If the Sun Devils’ defense can create that one negative play—a fumble, an interception—it changes the momentum completely. I expect ASU to come out aggressive.
Amanda: Aggressive defense. I like that. Now, let’s talk about the second battle in Segment Two: The Quarterback Depth Chart Stability. We know Cutter Boley is the starter. But Pauly Keene and Jake Fette are still on the roster.
Paul: Right. Cameron Dyer is also there. This isn’t a competition anymore; it’s about readiness. Boley won the job. But how does the team handle it if he gets hurt? Jake Fette is a freshman. Pauly Keene is a transfer. Cameron Dyer is another option.
Amanda: So the battle isn’t for the starting spot, it’s for the backup role. Who is the 'next man up'?
Paul: Pauly Keene probably has the most experience in the system among the backups. He was in the mix during camp. Fette is raw. Dyer is solid but less proven in live action. So Keene is likely the immediate successor. But the real test is whether Boley stays healthy enough to lead this team to those nine-plus wins we predicted.
Amanda: Healthy Boley equals success. Simple as that. Let’s move to Segment Three. Roster Cut Predictions. Who is trending up? Who is trending down? And who might be surprised by their role?
Amanda: Let’s start with trending up. I think Harry Hassmann is trending up. He’s been quiet, but he’s got the hands. If he makes a few plays in camp, he could crack the top five receivers.
Paul: I agree with Hassmann. He’s a sleeper. Also, I think Landen Miree at Tight End is trending up. He’s young, but he’s getting reps with the first team. If he can win a spot in the rotation, that adds depth to a position that often gets overlooked.
Amanda: Miree and Hassmann. Okay. Now, who is trending down? Who is in danger of losing their spot or seeing reduced snaps?
Paul: I’d say some of the younger RBs like Cardae Mack might find themselves on the outside looking in if Avit and Brown Jr. dominate early. Also, watch the OL depth. With so many bodies, some guys might get squeezed out by the sheer volume of competition. It’s tough luck, but that’s college football.
Amanda: Tough love. I like it. Finally, who is the surprise player to watch? Someone who might step up unexpectedly?
Paul: I’m going to go with Jalen Moss at WR. He hasn’t been the headline grabber, but if he catches a touchdown pass in the opener, he becomes a fan favorite overnight. Surprise factor is high.
Amanda: Jalen Moss. I’ll take that bet. Okay, Paul, let’s wrap this up. We’ve covered the RB committee, the WR/TE battles, the OL chemistry, and the QB stability. What’s your final takeaway for the fans heading into Saturday night?
Paul: My takeaway is that ASU has the talent to win, but execution is key. If the O-Line protects Boley and the RBs control the clock, this is an easy win. If not, it’s a grind. Stay ready.
Amanda: Love that energy. Fans, thank you for tuning into the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Devil!
Paul: Remember, we predict 9-11 wins this year. Let’s make sure we start strong on September 6th.
Amanda: Go Devils! We’ll see you next time.