Entering the Big 12 conference next football season has head coach Kenny Dillingham in full-speed preparation.
Over this offseason, Dillingham and his staff have worked hard to add more structure to this ASU team. While last season was focused on simply filling up a roster, this season, they’re focused on building a team for winning.
So far, the offseason has been productive, signing one of the largest recruiting classes in the country and having 22 transfers already committed. Jason Brown, Cole Martin, and Kamari Wilson headline the class.
After struggling offensively last season, one of the most significant moves Dillingham was considering was finding a competetive quarterback to join Jaden Rashada and Trenton Bourguet in the quarterback room.
With that in mind, Dillingham successfully found Michigan State freshman quarterback transfer Sam Leavitt.
"It’s all about competitiveness," Dillingham said. "He has the experience, plays like a true freshman, and is competitive. We are going to bring in the best player in any position. If you don’t think you’re not going to compete to make you better, you’re fooling yourself. You need internal and external competition and we brought in the best guy to our evaluation."
Dillingham, along with Leavitt, knows the best is yet to come. Dreams of being a potential first-round draft pick for the NFL carries much weight for Leavitt. But by being at ASU, both believe they can bring out the best version of Leavitt to reach that potential and bring his best to the team.
Leavitt will battle for the starting job this Spring with Rashada, who is the frontrunner after showing flashes of brilliance in an injury-riddled campaign that allowed him to get an extra year of eligibility last season.
In addition to adding new transfers, Dillingham also hired two new staff members as part of the refresh for the Sun Devils.
New offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo arrived from the UNLV, as a head coach. He also has experience coaching the Oregon offense, where he helped win a Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl the same year.
Arroyo has two decades of coaching experience and was a play-caller in the NFL. Dillingham looked for a coach who could reach national football status.
Arroyo also prides himself on his offensive coaching skills and strong connection with quarterbacks, another aspect Dillingham needed. In fact, during his time coaching in Oregon, he worked with first-round draft pick and 2020 NFL offensive rookie of the year Justin Herbert. Working with players like that carries much anticipation. Arroyo can bring the best out of new quarterback Leavitt.
Teaching highly skilled players and having spent many years on the field, Arroyo is a coach who is dedicated, aggressive, tough and structured in his style—all qualities this ASU program needs to improve the team.
"He is a quarterback-driven guy," Dillingham said. "He is very detailed in terms of route depths and a lot less freedom adding more structure. That’s what I’m a little more comfortable with: a guy unwilling to get on anybody if standards are not met. With all his experience coaching and in the NFL, I think he is a really good fit."
Along with Arroyo, Dillingham recruited a new defensive line coach, Diron Reynolds. Reynolds is also experienced in college and the NFL fields.
Reynolds has more than a decade's worth of coaching in the NFL. His biggest victory was during his time coaching the Indianapolis Colts and winning a Super Bowl.
"Professionals go to him in the offseason to get better in the national football league; why not come here to train with him for free,” Dillingham said. “He is an unbelievable football player, coach, and a great person. He checked all the boxes."
There is plenty of potential for the future of this Sun Devil team, and all the transfers and the coaching styles of Dillingham, Arroyo, and Reynolds are related. There could be positive momentum with how ASU continues to progress into the next season.
Edited By Vinny DeAngelis, Walker Smith and Shane Brennan
Reach the reporter at linunez@asu.edu and follow @laurentahuka on X.
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