Embracing unglorified run blocking duties pays dividends for Metayer in the air 

When asked about the importance of blocking, any Arizona State offensive position coach would say it’s in the culture and DNA of the program. Most notably, Super Bowl XL MVP and wide receivers coach Hines Ward claimed, “No block, no rock.” 

The emphasis on blocking powers the Sun Devils’ offense, and senior tight end Chamon Metayer fully embraces this standard instilled by the coaching staff. 

“I’ve perfected my craft,” Metayer claimed following last Tuesday’s practice on his run blocking. “I work on it every day. If I miss a block, I lock back in on the details that (tight ends coach Jason Mohns) coaches me every day on. I just preach it every day to myself.” 

During the Sun Devils’ (2-1) road upset by Mississippi State in a 24-20 contest, the ASU run game kept them in it, generating 251 of 333 total offensive yards—over 75% of the production. 

In that game, Metayer didn’t make a single catch, and through two games, he had just a single reception for 20 yards. The lack of targets was not something Metayer would’ve been accustomed to, as he averaged 2.3 receptions per game in 2024. 

Metayer played a key role in last year’s playoff run, finishing third in receptions for ASU and tying for second in touchdown catches with five. 

Regardless, Metayer dominated in his craft of run blocking. Last Monday, Dillingham claimed he was an “unsung hero” for his impact on the ground game. 

“That dude was unbelievable,” Dillingham said last Monday on Metayer. “That’s a guy whose Twitter handle is takeemdeep7, and he’s bought into playing a brand of football that’s old school.” 

The hard-nosed playstyle Metayer has unveiled through the non-conference would make many forget what he can do over the air, and on Saturday against Texas State (2-1), he gave anyone with those questions a fairly obvious answer. 

Metayer completed a career-high six receptions for 60 yards, including a 27-yard TD after catching a screen pass and sprinting into the end zone untouched, opening his account on the score sheet for 2025. 

Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo made it a point to get Metayer the ball, drawing up numerous screens and short passing plays to open up the field for him to attack. All six of sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt’s passes to Metayer were complete. 

“Chamon’s just been a soldier for us in the first few games,” Dillingham praised after Saturday’s 34-15 win over Texas State. “He’s just gone to work, and I said, ‘You gotta reward people that just work like that, and block like that.’ 

“And he can do that, his Twitter handle is takeemdeep7. He didn’t take-em-deep, but he took-em-short, and he scored seven, so that kind of counts. I’ve been very pleased with how he’s been blocking and playing football, so you gotta reward him.” 

ASU utilized Metayer to gain more advantageous down-and-distance situations after failing to find consistency in the passing game against Mississippi State. All six of Metayer’s receptions came on either first or second down plays, and on five of those catches, ASU was at least 10 yards away from moving the chains. 

Metayer’s steady hands and mobility at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds make him a difficult player to stop in short-yardage scenarios, unlocking the rest of the offense. 

Questions had been floating the Sun Devils’ downfield targets and Leavitt, as 18 of the signal callers’ 35 completions through two weeks had been to junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, and players such as Metayer and others hadn’t seen a generous share of the passing game. 

“It was big for them to see the ball,” Leavitt said post-game Saturday on the tight ends making seven catches. “To get them going and to get me going early in the game. It kind of simplified a lot of things from our perspective. I saw a lot of the same pictures, and it was clean for me to get the ball in my playmaker’s hands and let them go make plays.” 

Metayer was tied with Tyson in receptions on Saturday with six, and overall, the Sun Devil offense showed more swagger than it had in previous games. Despite scoring fewer than the 38 points they put up against Northern Arizona, Leavitt’s 12.5 yards per pass against the Bobcats was the most he’s had all year. 

That boost from just 8.2 yards per reception against the Bulldogs can be attributed to multiple factors, but one is certainly the amount of yards gained after the catch by receivers, including Metayer. Yards after catch look great for the individual who is generating those yards, but it’s also an indictment on the downfield blocking and effort from his teammates as well. 

“Chamon’s an amazing blocker,” Tyson added Saturday post-game. “I missed a couple of my blocks today, and I felt so bad I went up to him and apologized like three times. He probably would’ve strung it for more yards, and probably would’ve had 100 on the day.” 

Tyson’s apologetic response, despite putting in noticeable effort on multiple players, where Metayer did get the ball, personifies the identity that ASU skill position players are displaying. 

“It’s just how our team is,” Tyson noted. “We’re unselfish and humility is a big thing, we just don’t care who’s getting the ball, I feel.” 

For Metayer, however, blocking isn’t just a sacrifice; like he stated, it’s a craft. He takes pride in that ability and desires to leave it out on the field. Although finding statistics on individuals’ blocking ability is hard to come by, Metayer’s pride in that aspect of the game is evident in his conviction on the subject, and his work ethic in the ground game has rubbed off on other players in his position group.

“I think I’m the best blocker in the nation for my position,” Metayer exclaimed last Tuesday. “So I think when my peers see me out there putting in the work, they go out of their way to put their work in. I know a couple of guys in my room struggled early, so I immediately reached out to them and we got it fixed.” 

Metayer’s been elevated to one of the leaders for the offense and the program as a whole, given the keys to lead by example. And through three games, his words and actions have displayed a player willing to do anything for a win. 

“I’m not really focused on targets right now,” He added. “There are ways to impact the game without the ball, and the ball’s gonna find me eventually, and I’ll be ready when it does.”