Wednesday practice report comes with first official depth chart

TEMPE, Ariz. – Wednesday’s sun beat down on the Kajikawa practice fields as the Arizona State football team practiced. It was the final practice with media availability before Saturday’s season-opening game against Morgan State.

The first team offense ran two drives, with the first one highlighted by a Grayson Rigdon reception, a Cardae Mack run and a Jaren Hamilton completion. 

The second one moved the ball further with senior wide receiver Reed Harris and sophomore wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright hauling in a pair of receptions. The drive derailed when quarterback Cutter Boley threw three plays over his receivers' heads in three of four consecutive plays, with two occurring in the end zone.

The second team offense logged a singular drive. Sixth-year quarterback Mikey Keene scrambled on a couple of plays and completed a pass to sophomore tight end AJ Ia. Keene was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Caleb Chester as well.

Wide receiver Corey Butler Jr. caught punts from a punting machine, and some Carson Smith kickoffs to wideout Jaren Hamilton were the only special teams action of the day.

Sophomore wide receiver Michael “Butter” Tollefson was in a regular maroon jersey after wearing a gold scout team jersey on Tuesday.

“He picked it up (transitioning from quarterback to wide receiver in the offseason) so fast,” wide receivers coach Hines Ward said. “I’m excited on this path of where he’s going, playing the position.”

The practice ended with some walkthroughs.

Arizona State released its depth chart early Wednesday morning. It lists 14 offensive positions and 13 defensive positions as well as multiple people who can start at one position. The practice’s 11-on-11s reflected the variety of players.

At running back, running back Kyson Brown got the lead work, with a slew of players getting reps with the first team. The wide receivers featured Harris, Miller and Jalen Moss as the primary three receivers with some rotation. Senior Khamari Anderson was the primary tight end, with others mixing in on occasion.

At left tackle, senior Luke Baklenko saw first-team action over junior Champ Westbrooks. At right guard, junior Wade Helton saw the first-team reps instead of sophomore Rob Lapuaho.

The defensive line consisted of rotations of players with senior C.J. Fite, fifth-year Blazen Lono-Wong up the middle and senior Jalen Thompson and fifth-year Roman Pitre on the ends. Senior Montana Warren had the nickel back position with sixth-year Lyrik Rawls and senior Adrian “Boogie” Wilson in the safety positions.

Any positions not named played consistent to the Sun Devils’ posted depth chart. The depth chart is subject to change.