Tuesday practice report as Sun Devils prepare for season opener

TEMPE, Ariz. – The calendar flipped to September, marking the final milestone before the beginning of Arizona State’s football season. The new month signifies the transition out of fall camp into game weeks as the football team practiced Tuesday.

On the first offensive drive, the first-team offense could not move the ball, with a sack and a Cutter Boley pass going off the referee, derailing it rather quickly. Later in practice, the offense moved the ball on a short drive. Freshman running back Cardae Mack and senior wide receiver Omarion Miller had medium gains on a run and pass, respectively.

The second team offense had more success. Sophomore running back Grayson Rigdon caught a short pass and had a short run. Sophomore receiver Corey Butler Jr caught a short pass as well. The drive ended in a successful Carson Smith field goal. 

The second drive started on an incomplete pass as sophomore wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright tried to make a one-handed catch on a low throw from quarterback Mikey Keene. The drive picked up with good runs from sixth-year running back Marquis Gillis and junior running back Jason Brown Jr. A completion to Vines-Bright ended the drive.

In three-on-two’s, sophomore defensive back Jessiah McGrew punched the ball out of a wide receiver’s hands, causing an incompletion. Junior cornerback Rodney Bimmage Jr made a good pass breakup on Jaren Hamilton. Senior wide receiver Reed Harris made a leaping grab over safety Adrian “Boogie” Wilson on a deep ball in the end zone. Vines-Bright made a nice leaping grab.

Against the scout team defense, Miller made a Jordyn Tyson-esque acrobatic jumping catch on the sideline. All four quarterbacks mixed in with the parts of the offense in this portion of practice.

A short seven-on-seven period occurred with Boley and Keene splitting work. Both had similar success moving the ball.

Sixth-year kicker Carson Smith made four of his six field goal attempts, making it from 32, 37, 43 and 45 yards. He missed short from 49 and 52. Senior placekicker Carston Kieffer made only one of his three attempts. His lone make bounced through the left upright from around the 39-yard line. He missed one wide right from inside the 30 and one left at the 44.

Senior punter Nick McLarty averaged just under 42 yards on eight kicks. His best boots were a 48-yard punt and a 47-yard punt, which the returners against the sideline. One of his punts was downed at the five-yard line. Junior punter Kanyon Floyd averaged just under 35 yards on his three punts, one of which was a shank that got a favorable bounce and roll.

Wide receivers Jalen Moss, Raiden Vines-Bright, and Cory Butler Jr. caught the punts.