Jordan HammYou’ll hear coaches use certain terms and buzz words when talking about local recruiting: canvassing the state and closing the border. It’s a first talking point for many head coaches in a new place and a priority for the local fans to try to keep the hometown kids home.
On Wednesday morning, Kenny Dillingham used some different phrases when talking about this upcoming in-state class. The Sun Devil coaching staff has made reference to a “golden ticket” on June 15, the first day coaches can talk to a 2027 prospect.
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) June 10, 2025
Dillingham said to expect “special things going out to a select few in the state.” He’s hoping for the reaction to be “Wow, I’m one of the few people who get the opportunity to stay in state.”
Certainly doesn’t sound like an all-out assault on the state to throw out offers left and right. It sounds like the Sun Devils will be meticulous and picky with who earns these golden tickets.
It could be a public declaration that says “HEY WE ARE MAKING THIS PLAYER A HIGH PRIORITY,” something that is typically said quietly between a recruiter and a prospect.
But why potentially show your hand to other programs and other players? Maybe that player who receives a golden ticket will see some weight in that public declaration.
And, to be honest, it’s not like the usual strategies haven’t really worked. It’s been that way for a while.
Dillingham admitted this staff – with the majority of it entering its third year together – has not cracked the code on how to keep those elite top players home.
Since taking over, this staff has found success adding in-state talent by being one of the first Power 4 schools to offer them like Ramar Williams (Eastmark) and Uriah Neloms (San Tan Charter). Currently Liberty safety Zeth Theus, whose reported offers included Kansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin, is the lone in-state commit for the class of 2026.
Using rankings to measure the level of recruiting success can be risky. I think many would now argue Brock Purdy should have been much higher than the No. 10 player in the state in the 2018 class. Ricky Pearsall came in at No. 20 in his class. Higher ratings does not automatically equate success.
But the Sun Devils have struggled to keep that upper echelon of elite recruit in the state.
Going back the past 10 classes, the Sun Devils have brought in seven top-10 players in the state (according to 247Sports), and that is spread among two classes.
The 2016 class featured N’Keal Harry (No. 1), Chase Lucas (No. 4) and Marshal Nathe (No. 7). The 2017 class had Tyler Johnson (No. 3), KJ Jarrell (No.4), Kyle Soelle (No. 6) and Ryan Kelley (No. 10).
Since then…nothing.
Depending on the coaching staff and time frame, there could be a number of reasons for this inability to keep players home. Dillingham and his coaching staff are willing to see if putting an emphasis on a select few will add value to the golden tickets.
If local schools – not just ASU, but across the nation – offer, say, the top 15-20 players in each class, is that special? Depends on the player, but we’ve seen when a school comes to town and offers the entire state – many of which aren’t immediately committable – but essentially the start of a conversation.
Is that as special as trying to really put an emphasis on a select few as CKD puts it? We’ll have to see.
And from what I’ve been told, not receiving a golden ticket does not mean an in-state player won’t be recruited by the Sun Devils.
What will that look like beyond June 15? What exactly encompasses all that comes with a golden ticket?
We’ll have to find out together.
