2026 Positional Breakdown: Owen Long ready to lead Sun Devil linebackers

The Sun Devils are less than a week away from kicking off their 2026 season, and the defense is widely expected to be the best its been under Kenny Dillingham and defensive coordinator Brian Ward. Part of that is due to their linebackers, which we preview today.

Owen Long primed for stardom

While most of Arizona State's offseason headlines centered on the acquisitions of Cutter Boley, Omarion Miller, and Reed Harris, their most valuable pickup may have been Owen Long.

A sophomore for Colorado State the last two years, Long exploded onto the scene with 151 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks. He led the entire nation in tackles, which helped put him on Arizona State's radar.

As a freshman, Long's instincts and heady play helped him get a quality rotational role on the Rams defense. He finished with 45 tackles, seventh on the team despite not being a starter.

In making the jump to Tempe, Long is ready to be on the national scene. Statistically speaking, he probably won't lead the nation in tackles again, but coaches have raved about his football IQ and intensity at the point of attack. With the way Ward uses his linebackers to clean things up against the run, Long should be able to make plenty of plays for what should be a top-tier defense.

Martell Hughes ready for his shot

Part of Dillingham's first full recruiting class, Martell Hughes played safety in high school out in San Diego, but the Sun Devils recruited him to play linebacker. As a true freshman, Hughes played in all but one game that year, mostly on special teams but he cracked the rotation on defense, too.

Last year marked another jump for Hughes, suiting up for every game and settling in as the third linebacker on the team. He tied Keith Abney for the team lead in interceptions, showing off his background as a former defensive back.

Now, Hughes will be a full-time starter alongside Long, and he's more than ready for it. Hughes was competing with Zyrus Fiaseu for that coveted number two spot - Ward's 4-2-5 defense primarily only uses two linebackers at a time, though they do occasionally send a third linebacker out there in certain situations - but a combination of Hughes' stellar practices and Fiaseu's injury cemented his role.

Whereas Long is a prototypical run stopper, Hughes has more to offer in coverage, given his background. However, he's added weight each of the last three years to be better against the run, and he's ready for a workhorse role heading into 2026.

Injury throws depth into question

As mentioned, Zyrus Fiaseu was expected to be either the second or third linebacker on this defense. The former San Diego State linebacker has been in Tempe for two years now - he kicked off that big 2024 season with a pick six - and last year was supposed to be his moment.

Expected to split time with Jordan Crook, Fiaseu entered last year much like Hughes is entering this year. But injuries limited him to just four games, ending his season early and helping him gain an extra year of eligibility this year.

Tragedy struck again a few weeks ago when Fiaseu suffered a season-ending injury in the Sun Devils' scrimmage.

Now, the depth of this linebacker room will be tested. Sophomore Tristan Bacon, a local product, has been turning heads all summer and figures to be the next man up. Juniors Ramere Davis and Prayer Young-Blackgoat have also been getting consistent second-team work in practices, and could see some snaps in games too.

The nature of Ward's defense makes this injury a little more manageable than other positions may have been, but the Sun Devils are now overly reliant on the duo of Long and Hughes. Additionally, their ability to go to a three linebacker set could be compromised if Bacon, Davis, or Young-Blackgoat aren't ready for work.

There is a lot of optimism around the top two linebackers in Tempe, and rightfully so, but the depth behind them could potentially become this defense's Achilles heel.