Last year, a pair of ASU All-Americans elected not to return for their senior seasons. The Sun Devil football team never did find suitable replacements for defensive end Terrell Suggs and wide receiver Shaun McDonald.
Quarterback Andrew Walter and safety Jason Shivers have yet to commit fully to returning for their senior years. Both players are far from making a decision, but if those two leave ASU the loss could have a greater impact than Suggs and McDonald's departures. That's saying a lot, considering the absence of those two was a huge reason ASU's record fell from 8-6 in '02 to 5-7 this year.
Before I get too far, I want to reiterate that both Walter and Shivers haven't yet decided one way or the other, and they could eventually choose to stay for a fourth season.
Shivers doesn't get the same publicity as some of his teammates, but the Phoenix native is an absolute maniac on defense and special teams. ASU's secondary was criticized heavily for giving up big plays this season, but without Shivers, some of ASU's blowout losses could have been absolute massacres.
Unfortunately for ASU fans, Shivers doesn't have much left to prove on the collegiate level. Unless he is motivated by the potential success of next year's team, Shivers could very well be out the door, and replacing him might be impossible.
Even more impossible to replace would be Walter, but unlike Shivers, Walter has some unfinished business he could settle as a Sun Devil in 2004 that might motivate him to stay.
Believe it or not, Walter's numbers this season were outstanding, with him throwing for more than 3,000 yards with 24 touchdowns and only 10 picks.
Despite the solid numbers, what many remember Walter for in 2003 is captaining an underachieving team.
Walter will have the weapons he needs for redemption, should he return. Sophomore receiver Derek Hagan seems to be improving every week, while redshirt freshman tailback Loren Wade has shown that - when healthy - he could be one of the Pac-10's best ball carriers.
Pro scouts drool over Walter's arm strength and accuracy, and a successful run with ASU in 2004 would improve his draft status. Walter told The State Press before this season: "As far as I'm concerned I've got two years left." It would be in the best interest of ASU and Walter if his words become a reality.
Reach the reporter at andrew.bernick@asu.edu.
