Jordan Hamm
As ASU prepares for its biggest home game in a decade, there are plenty of news and notes regarding the Devils on and off the field too good not to share.
Let’s dive in:
Jordyn Tyson’s Barefoot Pregame Routine
If you get to Mountain America Stadium early enough, you’ll see star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson as one of the first players out on the field. Something is missing, though: his shoes.
He walks around the field barefoot as he preps for the game mentally and physically. He said he’s done it since his trainer brought the idea to him at eight years old.
Tyson is thorough in his warm-up, and it’s paid off so far with 58 catches, 833 yards and nine touchdowns – all team leads.
While celebrity chef Ina Garten is known as “The Barefoot Contessa,” is it time for Tyson to be known as “The Barefoot Pass-Catcha”?
Clayton Smith: Man of the Reptiles
When Clayton Smith told me he loved playing with the Florida Gators in EA Sports College Football while growing up, I figured it was because he was a fan of the Tim Tebow offense or returning kicks with Percy Harvin.
The really reason why? He likes reptiles.
No, really. Like A LOT.
He currently has two tortoises, three snakes and three lizards. Over the years, he’s had over 40 pet reptiles.
One of his first interactions with a snake is absolutely wild. He shared it with me at Big 12 Media Day:
The Sun Devil social media team actually took advantage of Smith’s pets when they produced their Week 8 jersey reveal on Halloween. Clayton’s co-star is his own snake named Kobe, which he’s had since 2020.
Step into the shadows… if you dare š
Game 8ļøā£ threads: #ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/Ks2jw9mWW1
ā Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) October 31, 2024
Like his reptilian friends, Smith is looking to be cold-blooded when he takes the field against BYU on Saturday.
Friendly Fire from the Hometown Crowd?
Hearing ASU coaches pipe in crowd noise on the practice speakers isn’t all that unique…when ASU is preparing to play on the road.
But on Wednesday, the speakers were blaring at full blast, despite the Sun Devils hosting BYU on Saturday. Was it because of an expected big Cougar turnout?
Not exactly.
ASU opponents are converting the exact same percentage of third & fourth downs against the Sun Devils whether they are on the road or at home: 41.6%. However, in Big 12 play, opponents are converting 48% of third and fourth downs at Mountain America Stadium. When the Sun Devils are on the road, opponents are converting at a 38.6% clip.
There may be a case that the Sun Devil homefield advantage is TOO good. The fans get loud when the visiting team is facing third and fourth downs. It gets so loud that the hometown defense has had communication breakdowns in that setting, so the Sun Devils are doubling down in preparation for a big Saturday crowd.
Tempeās going to be ROCKING ā¼ļøš„
Saturdayās game vs BYU is officially SOLD OUT
If you still want to get tickets, donāt worry! Score tickets for the game through Ticketmaster, our Official Fan-to-Fan Ticket Marketplace ā”ļø https://t.co/LUzAmVspOJ#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/eBb0MiwI4E
ā Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 19, 2024
Sam Herbert & Taylor Retzlaff
What would a match-up between Justin Herbert and Taylor Kelly look like?
It’s not fantasy football. It’s not a new update of College Football 2025 on PlayStation 5.
Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and BYU’s Jake Retzlaff have been compared to former Pac-12 greats this week by the ASU coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, who coached Herbert at Oregon, sees a lot – even an eerie amount – of his game in Sam Leavitt.
On the other side, Retzlaff was described by Kenny Dillingham as, “creative, off-platform. He can make all the throws. He can throw from different arm platforms. He extends plays.”
Sound familiar, ASU fans?
The Sun Devil head coach sees TK when he sees the Cougar signal-caller. The BYU QB is in his first season as the predominant starter, and he’s on pace to have a similar season (currently 22 total touchdowns, eight interceptions) to Kelly’s first year in that role (30 total touchdowns, 9 interceptions).
Sun Devil fans assuredly are hoping Retzlaff can’t hit on any back-shoulder fades or slip out of any tackles for loss on Saturday.
Two surprise teams and two surprise quarterbacks are ready to to battle it out and take control of their Big 12 destiny on Saturday.
Here. We. Go.
