Sun Devil players stress team culture as their bedrock of success
The 2025 Big 12 Media Days took place at The Star in Frisco, Texas, otherwise known as the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility located in the northern region of the Dallas metro area. Fitting the name of the grounds, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was accompanied by some of his marquee players on Tuesday as the Big 12 champions spent the day on various media platforms.
Our crew at Devils Digest was able to earn some one-on-one time with all six Sun Devil player representatives, who offered their thoughts on the upcoming 2025 season, as this year starts from the top of the totem pole, in only their second year in the Big 12.
R-So. QB Sam Leavitt
Oh, how things can change in just 12 months. That’s exactly how the Big 12 and the college football landscape view ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt. The redshirt sophomore was a young and talented transfer in July 2024, still in the mix for the QB1 battle with the more experienced Jeff Sims. Now, looking ahead to Week 1, Leavitt’s face is plastered across national media, with many major analysts and publications anticipating a Heisman-caliber campaign from the signal-caller.
With ASU’s unprecedented success in 2024, the word is out on many players and their talent, none more than Leavitt. Racking up more than 3,300 yards and 29 total touchdowns while lifting the Big 12 championship can alter opinions. Leavitt reportedly spoke to approximately 20 outlets on Tuesday, making appearances on various podcasts and shows.
“It’s mixed emotions. I don’t love doing a bunch of media stuff; I just really like to play the game,” Leavitt said Tuesday. “But I do like to share my story and be with my team and lift them up.”
The balancing act the Sun Devils face now is taking the praise and notoriety from their magical 2024 run and using it to fuel the drive for another monstrous campaign. Both Dillingham and Leavitt spent a large portion of their time answering questions in an attempt to ring that very bell. That said, it’s easier said than done, and Leavitt is aware of that.
“I think the only thing we really take (from 2024) is culture,” Leavitt added. “Our play as well, I think, our cultural aspect, and the way we went about winning games and such. But you can’t take the pride from last year; you gotta give and pick some parts.”
In 2024, Leavitt came in and made his presence felt during his first spring in Tempe. As a player, he’s never been fearful of giving direction or commanding the offense he’s part of. In his first year as a starter, Leavitt and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo discussed “training wheels” and other limitations imposed on Leavitt to allow him to grow into the role.
Heading into the fall of 2025, however, Leavitt has a full year and then of familiarity with the offensive system and how things run as the Sun Devils’ starting quarterback. With that in mind, he’s taken on a much larger leadership role on and off the field — a role he feels most comfortable in.
“In terms of knowing the system and players, people have respect for me,” Leavitt said. “What I say goes in a lot of situations. I’m never going to put myself above anyone else, but the fact that I have a bigger leadership role, that factor alone brings more comfort.”
In late June, Leavitt attended the Manning Passing Academy, held by NFL quarterback legends Peyton and Eli Manning. The camp featured a star-studded cast of Power Four signal-callers, including Texas Tech starting quarterback Behren Morton and others.
Leavitt’s time in Louisiana for the week continued to broaden his lens on the quarterback experience as he works toward his ultimate goal of playing in the NFL.
“It was a great experience just being around [other quarterbacks] and seeing their approach and what they go through,” Leavitt said. “Being around Peyton and Eli and understanding what they did to get to the point they were at.”
R-Jr. WR Jordyn Tyson
Leavitt’s right-hand man offensively in 2024 was easily redshirt junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Recording 75 receptions and 1,101 receiving yards during the campaign, Tyson dominated the Big 12, particularly as the season reached its later stages, going on to score six of his 10 touchdowns in the final five weeks.
It all came to an abrupt halt, however, in the final regular-season game against Arizona, when Tyson dislocated his collarbone, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season, including the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff.
Tyson has struggled with injuries in the past. He didn’t record a stat during the 2023 season due to a knee injury that kept him sidelined. Although he’s had injury-riddled periods in Tempe, he hasn’t let that affect his mindset heading into 2025.
“‘Response’ is one of our big pillars, so I just continue to respond,” Tyson said. “I’ve been fine from the collarbone for a long time now, so that isn’t a problem at all. I just continue to respond to success and failure.”
Tyson has used the offseason to dive deeper into his faith, getting baptized in March following a hectic football season. He was also named Arizona State Student-Athlete of the Semester for spring 2025, using his time away from football to enhance his personal life and refocus on his priorities outside of the gridiron.
“I’ve just been trying to improve myself on the day-to-day,” Tyson said. “I feel like the football piece is already there. In terms of school, faith, and recovery, that’s where I’ve been trying to grow and just be a better all-around person through and through.”
Graduate OL Ben Coleman
Lining up at left guard in 2024, graduate offensive lineman Ben Coleman was a premier piece of a dominant running game that saw Cam Skattebo finish fourth in the Heisman Trophy race. However, with center Leif Fautanu exhausting his eligibility, the void as the leader and figurehead of the offensive line was prevalent. The coaching staff determined that Coleman would take the reins as the next starting center for the Maroon and Gold in his final year of eligibility.
Learning how to adjust to the center position is about more than just snapping the pigskin. Coleman now serves as the leader of the offensive line, tasked with reading defensive line coverages and effectively communicating with the rest of the offensive front on audibles and adjustments.
With Coleman’s experience and knowledge taking precedence, he’s been able to set the bar for the position group, not just with words but with action.
“I think this summer has just been ‘work, work, work,’” Coleman said. “That’s something we harp on as players and as leaders to the younger guys, worry about how good we can be today, and how many mistakes we made, so we aren’t making those mistakes on other days.”
Coleman has reflected on a long collegiate career, which included an Achilles injury, redshirting early on, and earning eligibility through the COVID-19 pandemic. He claimed he hasn’t felt that his story is done yet, a factor that has driven his mindset this offseason.
“It’s going to be seven years when I’m done with this thing,” Coleman said. “I think it was important for me to come back. I think I’m taking advantage of my opportunity. I think it’s important for me to use my experience; how can I use my experience and apply that to them so they can start their ball rolling?”
Jr. DL C.J. Fite
A multi-time member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council, junior defensive lineman C.J. Fite is a vocal leader among the defense and the entire team at ASU. Being in a role like that has allowed him to become an effective communicator between players and coaching staff as the program looks to build on its 2024 success.
“The physicality has ramped up,” Fite said, noting that the coaching staff added vigor to practices. “The coaches are demanding more from us, not only just physically, but mentally. They’ve put more on us early since we’ve been in the system for more time.”
When asked about how to balance moving on from the past with building off the foundation set the season prior, Fite showed optimism.
“I wouldn’t say it’s hard because you’d rather take the negatives and just try to improve on those things,” he said. “And the positives, if that’s you, then it’ll still be there. You just find the bad and ugly and try to flip it. So you just elevate yourself and everyone else.”
R-Sr. DL Clayton Smith
Redshirt senior defensive end Clayton Smith may be the heart and soul of ASU’s defense, not just for his experience and talent but also the swagger and energy he brings each day.
Often the loudest one on the field during practice, Smith’s growth on and off the field has allowed him to excel in ways Dillingham said have “changed the trajectory of his life.”
“I’d agree with that,” Smith said. “It more so comes from my mindset, shifting my mindset from what it was to what it is now. It definitely translates on the field, but also off the field, and to my life. You don’t want to come to school and leave the same person.”
Smith’s personal growth led him to prioritize consistent effort. The adage “character is what you do when no one is watching” rang true for him, and the work he’s done behind the scenes has paid off.
R-Sr. DB Xavion Alford
Representing the defensive backs for ASU is safety Xavion Alford, an experienced leader who dominated the Big 12 in 2024 with timely plays and sound tackling. Heading into 2025, the mission remains the same for Alford and a defensive back unit that returns nearly all of its contributors.
“He started the meeting with a butter-you-up, like, ‘Look at what y’all did,’” Alford laughed, recalling Dillingham’s speech to the team ahead of 2025 spring practice. “He had a Big 12 cake, and he smashed it. Even though it’s funny, that’s really a metaphor for what this season is. We’re smashing the cake.
“It’s over. Everyone patted us on the back, especially after being picked last. But take advantage of the opportunity. Guys might leave, but everyone staying shows we are a true family.”
Alford said much of the offseason has been spent doing drills that not only build physical toughness but also mental resilience, such as sled pushes and internal competitions designed to keep the team sharp.
ASU has raised its expectations, with players aiming for top defensive rankings. For Alford, the goal is simple: be the best and raise the bar even higher.
“We know there’s way more out there for us,” Alford said. “We know we have what it takes to be an elite defense, and we pride ourselves on that. We plan on getting more turnovers than we got last year, and we’re definitely excited about this defense.”
