Despite losing one of the best defensive linemen in the Pac-12, the ASU football team is optimistic about the play at defensive line entering 2015. With returners across the line and possibly the best recruit to come to Tempe in the Todd Graham era, the Sun Devils hope to shore up a grouping that was hot and cold a season ago.
Nose
With Jaxon Hood no longer in the program, redshirt senior Demetrius Cherry will step in to take on nose guard responsibilities in 2015. Despite a lack of raw numbers, Cherry was disruptive in the middle of the line last year, where he played in all but one game for the Sun Devils. He was important in run defense, providing an anchor on the line of scrimmage while also shedding blocks to make hits. Cherry showed a nose for the football, recovering two fumbles, taking one to the end zone against Arizona.
Tiger
This may be ASU's deepest position on the defense. Sophomore Tashon Smallwood and junior Ami Latu are tabbed as starters, with redshirt freshman Renell Wren rounding out the depth chart. Smallwood was a force on the line last year, making five and a half tackles for a loss, more than a quarter of his season total. He has impressed even more this spring, drawing comparisons to two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Will Sutton.
Latu was effective last season, totaling one more tackle than Smallwood with five for a loss and two sacks. With 570 pounds between them, the pairing will be hard for lines to push off to get running room, allowing ASU's linebackers time to make tackles near the line of scrimmage.
End
With high expectations coming into his freshman year, Jojo Wicker has met, and maybe even exceeded, them in his first camp, taking over the starting role at defensive end. The player who has repeatedly been referred to as possibly the best to sign with the Sun Devils since Todd Graham's hire has stormed up the depth chart and will likely be the only true freshman to start for ASU this season.
Along with Wicker, redshirt junior Edmond Boateng will also get time at end. In limited time last year, Boateng registered four and a half tackles for loss and two and a half sacks for the Sun Devils, showing some promise as a pass rusher in 2014. This year he may be leaned on more with the departure of Marcus Hardison, the lead rusher from a season ago.
Related Links:
5 predictions for ASU football's 2015 season
ASU football hopes Saturday's game brings more success in Texas
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow @Tonis_The_Tiger on Twitter.
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