ASU's 2016 Recruiting Class Defensive Overview
With all of ASU’s known commits officially signed, here is an overview of the players the Sun Devils have landed on defense.
Defensive Line/Devilbacker
Koron Crump
Hometown/School: St. Louis, Mo./Fort Scott CC
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 11/16/15
Official Visits: Baylor (7/24/15), ASU (11/14/15)
Summary: The No. 39 junior college prospect and the No. 6 JUCO defensive end in the nation according to Rivals, Crump comes to ASU with the ability to play multiple linebacker positions. Over his two-year community college career, Crump totaled 100 tackles including 32.0 for loss with 21 sacks while also leading the NJCAA with six forced fumbles in 2015. An early enrollee, Crump could be a top option to replace Antonio Longino at Devilbacker in the spring.
Christian Hill
Hometown/School: Kansas City, Mo./Glendale (Ariz.) CC
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 5/29/15
Official Visits: None Listed
Summary: Undoubtedly the most unique story of the 2016 class, Hill comes to ASU with Air Force experience in addition to his time spent on the field at the community college level. A four-star prospect and the No. 27 overall JUCO recruit according to Rivals, Hill adds substantial length and size for the defensive line and chose ASU over offers from Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State and Washington State. An early enrollee, Hill figures to spend the spring helping to fortify the Sun Devil pass rush.
Hometown/School: Bunnell, Fla./Victor Valley College
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 10/21/15
Official Visits: ASU (10/10/15)
Summary: Perhaps the premier defender of the 2016 class, Subtyl is the highest rated JUCO prospect of the Sun Devils’ haul as he was rated the No. 21 overall player and the second-best defensive end from the JUCO ranks according to Rivals. Likely a candidate at Devilbacker, Subtyl is expected to arrive in the fall and compete for immediate time at a position that loses the top two members of its depth chart from 2015. At the JUCO level, Subtyl totaled 18 sacks in 2015 and nine the year before giving ASU the presence it desires from the Devilbacker position. Florida State was among the most competitive suitors for Subtyl but he never strayed from his commitment to ASU.
Defensive Back
Maurice Chandler
Hometown/School: Lawton, Okla./NE Oklahoma A&M
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 12/7/15
Official Visits: Oklahoma (9/4/15), ASU (10/29/15), Nebraska (11/26/15)
Summary: One of two early enrollees from the junior college level for the secondary, the former Oklahoma commit gives ASU a much-needed presence with a host of departed seniors from the 2015 secondary. The No. 59 JUCO prospect in the nation according to Rivals, Chandler should see ample first-team time in the secondary this spring.
Chase Lucas
Hometown/School: Chandler, Ariz./Chandler HS
Position Ranking: 10 (Athlete)
National Ranking: 197
Commitment Date: 11/9/15
Official Visits: Washington (9/11/15), Oregon State (10/23/15), ASU (11/20/15)
Summary: Perhaps the most important addition to the class not named N’Keal Harry, Lucas followed the footsteps of his five-star friend from Chandler High to Arizona State. An elite level standout in multiple areas during his high school career, Lucas figures to start his college days at safety for the Sun Devils. Lucas had a slew of offers from the Pac-12 as well as from nationally prominent programs such as Nebraska, Notre Dame and Texas, but despite the coast-to-coast attention he opted to stay local and true to ASU. Though ASU has some experience returning at safety in Kareem Orr and Armand Perry, Lucas has the athleticism and versatility to etch out a first-year role.
Hometown/School: Orange, Texas/Kilgore JC
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 6/14/15
Official Visits: ASU (6/12/15)
Summary: Rhodes joins Chandler as early enrollees in the secondary for ASU and the two could realistically formulate the Devils’ starting cornerback duo in 2016. Rhodes turned down reported offers from the likes of Missouri and Oklahoma to become a Sun Devil and was rated by Rivals as the No. 42 overall JUCO prospect in the nation after picking off three passes in 2015. As mentioned, it would be little surprise to see Rhodes and Chandler as ASU’s top two cornerbacks in the spring and potentially the 2016 season as a whole.
Robbie Robinson
Hometown/School: Hampton, Va./DeMatha HS
Position Ranking: 26
Commitment Date: 7/25/15
Official Visits: 12/12/15
Summary: An elite level defensive back from an area generally unfamiliar for ASU recruiting (though 2015 signee Jason Lewis also hailed from Virginia), the four-star Robinson gives the Sun Devils a priceless four-year contributor at a position of dire need. Robinson claimed offers from numerous elite programs including Clemson, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford and Wisconsin and given the tremendous lack of depth at cornerback could earn a place in the two-deep with relative ease. Depending on the spring performances of early enrollees Maurice Chandler and J’Marcus Rhodes, Robinson could battle for a starting position upon his arrival this fall.
Jack Smith
Hometown/School: Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe HS
Position Ranking: N/A
Commitment Date: 2/4/16
Official Visits: None Listed
Summary: Added to the class the day after Signing day (though his NLI will be signed next week), the son of ASU head baseball coach Tracy Smith comes to ASU after previously having been committed to both UNLV and NAU. A quarterback at the high school level, the speedy Smith will relocate to safety at ASU. Rivals lists additional scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan, Eastern Washington, Florida Atlantic, Montana and New Mexico State. Smith surely is a project at the position and is highly likely to redshirt in 2016.
