Jordan Hamm
Arizona State football is looking to finish off its 2024 roster with few remaining scholarships left and added to a position of depth on Thursday.
Former Houston and Colorado running back Alton McCaskill pledged to Arizona State, adding to a versatile backfield.
McCaskill was the AAC Rookie of the Year in 2021 at Houston, rushing for 961 yards and 18 total touchdowns. He tore his ACL in the spring of 2022 and has been limited in his return since then. He had 14 carries with Colorado last year and was in a non-contact jersey this past spring.
Depth, Depth, Depth
With the addition of McCaskill, the running backs room is truly a pick your poison group.
Leading rusher Cameron Skattebo returns as a punishing runner. DeCarlos Brooks – when healthy – can supply a similar between the tackle ground-and-pound mentality. New addition Raleek Brown is a home run hitter that can break a big play on a moment’s notice. Dillingham said he hoped to play basketball on a football field and exploit matchups with Brown.
Kyson Brown had a good spring heading into his sophomore season, and Jason Brown Jr. was a highly-touted recruit that is looking to hit the ground running when he gets to Tempe in the fall.
In McCaskill, the Sun Devils add a versatile runner who reminds me of X Valladay. They are built similarly, slippery and patient for blockers. He’s proven he can be a feature back.
🦬 As much as I’m looking forward to this new line protecting Shedeur, I’m equally as excited about the potential they possess to block for CU’s stable of backs, including Dylan Edwards and a fully healthy Alton McCaskill next year. pic.twitter.com/4T4VIif2MB
— Mat Smith (@RealMatSmith) December 23, 2023
But the luxury here is he doesn’t have to be the feature back…at least right away. He’s had 14 carries over the last two years and can ease his way back into a role.
Shaun Aguano’s approach has been to be a by-committee backfield, but an alpha has revealed himself throughout the year, whether it was Rachaad White, X Valladay or Cam Skattebo.
This might be the toughest year to have that primary back role emerge early. This is depth we haven’t seen in quite some time in Tempe. We’ve seen Kenny Dillingham’s offense get creative in their concepts in the running game, whether it’s the Wild-Skat or having Brooks run fullback in front of Skattebo.
Now they have the personnel to get creative as well and have fresh legs throughout the game.
Boulder to Tempe
The Sun Devil offense could be heavily influenced by skill guys that were previously with the Colorado Buffaloes.
Jordyn Tyson looks to be a prominent piece of the passing game after sitting out for the majority of last year due to injury. Chamon Metayer never actually played a game with Colorado but transferred to Boulder this offseason from Cincinnati, where five of his 23 catches went for touchdowns.
McCaskill could make his impact in the ground game as well.
With Deion Sanders’ roster overhauls in back-to-back years, the Sun Devils have been beneficiaries to their own roster.
