After a season plagued by COVID-19 protocols and four game cancellations, ASU football is looking to make a comeback this season, and that starts with junior quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Sun Devils went 2-2 in the shortened 2020 season and Daniels did not have a full opportunity to improve upon his skills from his freshman year.
Daniels was also joined by new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zak Hill, who joined the team in December 2019.
The team's first opponent of the season will be Southern Utah University, whose season started on Saturday. Throughout, Daniels texted Hill his observations on the team's plays in preparation for their future matchup, Hill said.
"There's more communication nowadays with the meetings, and even outside of football," Hill said. "(Daniels) understands what we're trying to do as an offense. I utilize some of the things that he likes or he feels comfortable with, and there's a lot of open dialogue, which is a great thing."
Coming into his third season as quarterback, Daniels has thrown over 300 passing yards in five individual games as a freshman, totaling 2,943 passing yards by the end of the 2019 season.
Daniels completed 49 passes out of 84 attempts for 701 yards and five touchdowns for an average of 175.3 yards per game. He will look to the running backs, five of whom are returning, to have running and passing options throughout the season.
However, Daniels remains consistent as he has only had three interceptions in the last two years. He committed just five turnovers on 618 plays in his career, the fewest among football bowl subdivision quarterbacks since 2019.
Daniels's performance this season will depend on ASU's offense, and according to Pro Football Focus, Daniels is ranked 72 out of 130 quarterbacks in the FBS.
Coming into the 2021 season, Daniels will look to expand on his relationship with redshirt senior running back Rachaad White, who led the Sun Devils in rushing and receiving yards as a junior college transfer after the two developed a close bond last year.
"Jayden is Jayden,” White said. "He's so composed all the time. He does all the things a quarterback should do, and he's really taken that next step as a leader."
Head coach Herm Edwards said in his press conference Monday that the receivers have another year under their belt and they look forward to seeing how it will come together with Daniels at quarterback.
Last season, Daniels improved his rushing, going for 223 yards and four touchdowns in four games, an average of 55.8, up from 29.6 his freshman season.
The only competition standing in Daniels's way would be redshirt sophomore Trenton Bourguet, who is currently serving as ASU football's backup quarterback. Bourguet played in one game last season, ending with a 24-yard completion in two attempts.
At this point, Daniels is the starting quarterback, Edwards said.
The team ranked 11th in Pac-12 yards per game last season with194.3 passing yards a disappointing feat, but first in rushing with 264.3 yards per game.
ASU will take on Southern Utah on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. MST in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at slynch20@asu.edu and follow @seanlynch845 on Twitter.
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