2015 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
2015 Arizona State Sun Devils football | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Cactus Bowl, L 42–43 vs. West Virginia | |
Conference | Pac-12 Conference |
South Division | |
2015 record | 6–7 (4–5 Pac-12) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Mike Norvell (4th season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Keith Patterson (2nd season) |
Co-defensive coordinator | Chris Ball (3rd season) |
Base defense | Hybrid Attacking |
Captain | Mike Bercovici D.J. Foster Jordan Simone |
Home stadium | Sun Devil Stadium (Capacity: 64,248) |
2015 Pac-12 Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 3 Stanford x$ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 19 Oregon | 7 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington State | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | 4 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 0 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USC xy | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 17 Utah x | 6 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UCLA | 5 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State | 4 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | 3 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado | 1 | – | 8 | 4 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Stanford 41, USC 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The 2015 Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Todd Graham and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium. They were a member of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
Personnel[]
Coaching staff[]
Name | Position | Seasons at ASU |
Alma Mater |
---|---|---|---|
Todd Graham | Head coach | 4 | East Central (1987) |
Mike Norvell | Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks | 4 | Central Arkansas (2005) |
Keith Patterson | Defensive coordinator | 2 | East Central (1986) |
Shawn Slocum | Special teams coordinator | 1 | Texas A&M (1987) |
Chris Ball | Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive backs | 4 | Western State College (1985) |
Chris Thomsen | Offensive line | 3 | TCU (1993) |
Jackie Shipp | Defensive line | 3 | Oklahoma (1983) |
Chip Long | Tight ends | 4 | North Alabama (2005) |
DelVaughn Alexander | Wide receivers | 4 | USC (1995) |
Josh Martin | Running backs | 1 | Tarleton State (2011) |
Reference:[1] |
Previous season and offseason[]
Arizona State finished the 2014 season 10–3 (6–3 in the Pac-12), with a 36–31 victory over Duke in the Sun Bowl. The Sun Devils began the season ranked #19 in the AP Poll and won their first three games convincingly, but suffered a major loss when third-year starting quarterback Taylor Kelly broke his foot against Colorado. Backup junior Mike Bercovici made his first career start in a 62–27 loss to UCLA, the Sun Devils' worst loss under Todd Graham. The team quickly bounced back with a 38–34 victory over USC thanks to a Hail Mary with no time remaining to Jaelen Strong, a play dubbed by the media as the "Jael Mary". This momentum carried on as the Sun Devils defeated perennial Pac-12 power Stanford on ESPN.
Kelly returned from injury against Washington, and led them to a 24–10 victory. The following week ASU won a critical Pac-12 South game against top-25 Utah on a Zane Gonzalez field-goal in overtime. The following week, the Sun Devils played their biggest game in the Todd Graham era against highly ranked Notre Dame, a game that many analysts viewed as an elimination game for a spot in the first-ever College Football Playoff. ASU stormed out of the gates leading 34–3 late in the first half, and although the Irish managed to cut the lead to 3 in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils pulled away and secured a 55–31 victory. With the win, ASU moved into the top-10 for the first time since the 2007 season. The good feelings did not last long however as the Sun Devils were upset the following week at Oregon State. Despite the loss, ASU went into the final week of the season with a chance to clinch the Pac-12 South championship, and earn the right to play Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
In the final week of the regular season, ASU was fighting for the Pac-12 South with UCLA, and in-state rival Arizona. UCLA was considered the favorite since they were playing unranked Stanford. But with a loss, the Arizona-Arizona State game would decide the division champ. Both games kicked off simultaneously, and word had reached Tucson that Stanford upset UCLA with minutes to play. Arizona pulled away and defeated the Sun Devils 42–35, clinching the Pac-12 South. The following week, the Wildcats were defeated by Oregon who was selected to play in the inaugural College Football Playoff. ASU was invited to the Sun Bowl where they were matched with Duke. The game was expected to be a shootout as both teams had dynamic offenses. A late interception by ASU's Kweishi Brown sealed a 36–31 victory for the Sun Devils. Freshman running back Demario Richard scored all four Sun Devil touchdowns, and Zane Gonzalez added three field goals. A critical play was freshman Kalen Ballage's 96-yard kickoff return after Duke had taken a 31–30 lead to set up the go-ahead score. The 2014 season was a successful one in Todd Graham's third year as head coach. It marked the first time since 1973 Arizona State won ten or more games in back-to-back seasons.
Players drafted[]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 30 | Damarious Randall | Safety | Green Bay Packers |
3 | 70 | Jaelen Strong | Wide Receiver | Houston Texans |
4 | 114 | Jamil Douglas | Offensive Guard | Miami Dolphins |
4 | 135 | Marcus Hardison | Defensive End | Cincinnati Bengals |
- Reference:[2]
Class of 2015 signees[]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jalen Bates DE |
Kaplan, LA | Kaplan High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Oct 7, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Cade Cote OG |
Gilbert, AZ | Williams Field High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 257 lb (117 kg) | Jun 23, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Davon Durant OLB |
Greenwood, SC | Butler Community College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Oct 21, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Raymond Epps TE |
Yuma, AZ | Arizona Western College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Apr 5, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Morie Evans ATH |
Buford, GA | Buford High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jan 16, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Dillon Faamatau DT |
Norwalk, CA | Norwalk High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 268 lb (122 kg) | Jan 26, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Tommy Hudson TE |
San Jose, CA | Archbishop Mitty High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Jul 1, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Malik Lawal OLB |
Murrieta, CA | Chaparral High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | Jun 18, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
George Lea DT |
New Orleans, LA | Landry-Walker High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | Nov 12, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jaason Lewis ATH |
Virginia Beach, VA | Ocean Lakes High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 241 lb (109 kg) | Sep 25, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Steve Miller OT |
Gilbert, AZ | Gilbert High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | Jun 23, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Stanley Norman CB |
Gardena, CA | Junipero Serra High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Jan 3, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Kareem Orr DB |
Chattanooga, TN | Notre Dame School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 2, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Bryce Perkins QB |
Chandler, AZ | Chandler High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | Apr 3, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Nick Ralston RB |
Argyle, TX | Argyle High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Feb 1, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
DeOnte Reynolds DT |
Pinole, CA | Contra Costa College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 325 lb (147 kg) | Feb 4, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Zach Robertson OG |
Bellflower, CA | St. John Bosco High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 313 lb (142 kg) | Dec 26, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Khaylan Thomas OLB |
Etiwanda, CA | Etiwanda High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Apr 3, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Mason Walter OT |
Temecula, CA | Chaparral High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | Jun 23, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Brady White QB |
Newhall, CA | William S. Hart High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | May 2, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
JoJo Wicker DT |
Long Beach, CA | Long Beach Polytechnic High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | Feb 4, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jay Jay Wilson ATH |
Valencia, CA | Valencia High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Feb 2, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 19 Rivals: 20 247Sports: 20 ESPN: 26 | ||||||
Sources:
|
Schedule[]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 5 | 4:00 pm | vs. Texas A&M* | No. 15 |
| ESPN | L 17–38 | 66,308 |
September 12 | 8:00 pm | No. 18 (FCS) Cal Poly* |
| P12N | W 35–21 | 46,500 | |
September 18 | 7:00 pm | New Mexico* |
| P12N | W 34–10 | 43,310 | |
September 26 | 7:30 pm | No. 19 USC |
| ESPN | L 14–42 | 61,904 | |
October 3 | 4:30 pm | at No. 7 UCLA |
| FOX | W 38–23 | 80,113 | |
October 10 | 7:00 pm | Colorado |
| P12N | W 48–23 | 44,157 | |
October 17 | 7:00 pm | at No. 4 Utah |
| ESPN | L 18–34 | 46,192 | |
October 29 | 7:30 pm | Oregon |
| ESPN | L 55–61 3OT | 56,534 | |
November 7 | 1:30 pm | at Washington State |
| FS1 | L 24–38 | 32,952 | |
November 14 | 1:00 pm | Washington![]() |
| P12N | W 27–17 | 51,695 | |
November 21 | 1:30 pm | Arizona |
| FS1 | W 52–37 | 64,885 | |
November 28 | 8:00 pm | at California |
| FS1 | L 46–48 | 45,385 | |
January 2 | 8:15 pm | vs. West Virginia* |
| ESPN | L 42–43 | 39,321 | |
|
- Reference:[3]
Game summaries[]
Texas A&M[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Devils | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Aggies | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 38 |
Cal Poly[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mustangs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Sun Devils | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
New Mexico[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lobos | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Sun Devils | 0 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 34 |
USC[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trojans | 7 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
Sun Devils | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
UCLA[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Devils | 9 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 38 |
Bruins | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
Colorado[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffaloes | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
Sun Devils | 17 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 48 |
Utah[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Devils | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
Utes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 34 |
Oregon[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ducks | 10 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 61 |
Sun Devils | 0 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 55 |
Washington State[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Devils | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Cougars | 0 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 38 |
Washington[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Sun Devils | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 27 |
Arizona[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 0 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 37 |
Sun Devils | 14 | 17 | 0 | 21 | 52 |
California[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Devils | 10 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 46 |
Golden Bears | 3 | 7 | 21 | 17 | 48 |
West Virginia[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineers | 9 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 43 |
Sun Devils | 3 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 42 |
Rankings[]
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | 15 | RV | RV | RV | NR | RV | RV | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | |||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | 16 | RV | RV | RV | NR | RV | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | |||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | Not released |
References[]
- ^ "Football – 2015 Coaches". Arizona State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- ^ "Football – 2015 NFL Draft". National Football League. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Schedule". Arizona State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- 2015 Pac-12 Conference football season
- Arizona State Sun Devils football seasons
- 2015 in sports in Arizona