It’s all about Benjamin: ASU back breaks out in rivalry victory

  • Slug: Sports-ASU-UA Football, 1000 words.
  • 2 Photos attached.

By Matthew Roy
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After the final seconds had ticked off the clock and fans had streamed out of Sun Devil Stadium to celebrate Arizona State’s 24-14 Territorial Cup victory over rival Arizona, a few ASU players filed into an interview room to meet with the media.

In came freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels, junior defensive back Evan Fields and sophomore defensive lineman Jermayne Lole.

There was one obvious omission.

“Can we get Eno?” a member of the gathered media asked Mark Jezek, ASU’s assistant director of athletic communications, who said, “Yeah, I’ll go get him.” Continue reading “It’s all about Benjamin: ASU back breaks out in rivalry victory”

Duck and cover: ASU football stuns No. 6 Oregon on national stage

  • Slug: Sports-ASU football stuns Oregon, about 880 words.
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By Matthew Roy
Cronkite News

TEMPE – On November 25th, 2001, then-Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora walked up to the microphone after a blowout loss and went on a rant that lives just a Google search away to this day.

“Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs?” Mora said, his voice rising. “You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game.”

Almost 18 years to the day from that rant, ASU receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Frank Darby channeled their inner Mora, but in a slightly different context.

Continue reading “Duck and cover: ASU football stuns No. 6 Oregon on national stage”

ASU’s N’Keal Harry declares he will enter NFL draft, doesn’t rule out playing in bowl game

  • Slug: Sports-N’Keal Harry decision.
  • Photo available, thumbnail attached below.

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After a stellar 3-year career at Arizona State, junior wideout N’Keal Harry announced Monday he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 213-pound receiver is projected as a potential first-round pick.

“First of all, I would like to say thank you to everybody in Sun Devil nation, the coaches, my teammates, all the media, all the fans,” Harry said at a news conference. “This has been a great ride. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

“With that being said, I would like to forgo my senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.”

Continue reading “ASU’s N’Keal Harry declares he will enter NFL draft, doesn’t rule out playing in bowl game”

Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Two weeks can change everything for a college football team.

Just ask the Arizona State Sun Devils, who came off a second consecutive 7-point loss October 18 against Stanford. The hope of ASU even attaining six victories to become eligible for a postseason bowl game was in question. After the loss to the Cardinal, ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins entered the post-game press conference visibly emotional, tears in his eyes after completing a checkdown pass inbounds that allowed time to expire to end the game.

Fast-forward to today. After a successful trip to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where ASU beat Southern California, and an upset win over then-15th ranked Utah at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU now is just one-win shy of bowl eligibility.

Continue reading “Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA”

ASU quarterback Wilkins influenced by music

  • Slug: Sports-Wilkins music, 600 words
  • Photos available

By RYAN CLARKE
Cronkite News

TEMPE — “You said that you think about me every day, Saturday to Saturday. You see that I’ve been going through it, hoping everything’s OK.” – Drake, “Since Way Back” (featuring PartyNextDoor).

From Saturday to Saturday, Arizona State football fans watch quarterback Manny Wilkins go through the ups and downs of college football, always hoping that everything is OK. Wilkins, meanwhile, finds peace through music, particularly Drake, PartyNextDoor and other artists under the OVO Sound record label.

Continue reading “ASU quarterback Wilkins influenced by music”

Arizona State ‘caps’ recruiting with its best class of local players

  • Slug: Sports-ASU recruiting, 1,700 words
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By FABIAN ARDAYA
Cronkite News

TEMPE – It’s one of the most time-honored traditions in recruiting: the selection of a hat bearing the logo of the school where a football recruit is verbally committing to play.

Many schools have a tale of being spurned at the drop of a hat. Many also have their stories of landing a crown jewel for their program.

Arizona State’s most fond moment came at Saguaro High School in January of 2012. The hats on the table: ASU, California and Southern California.

With a smile, D.J. Foster grabbed the hat closest to him. The gold scripted “Sun Devils” glistened across the cap as it nestled onto his head. Coach Todd Graham, entering his second month on the job, had his first major recruit.

Continue reading “Arizona State ‘caps’ recruiting with its best class of local players”