2017 Arizona State Sun Devils football team


The 2017 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were led by sixth-year head coach Todd Graham and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium. They competed as a member of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 6–3 in Pac-12 play to finish in second place in the South Division. They were invited to the Sun Bowl where they lost to [2017 2017 NC State Wolfpack football team|NC State Wolfpack football team|NC State].
On November 26, one day after the conclusion of the regular season, Graham and Arizona State agreed to part ways. He continued to coach the team through their bowl game.

Preseason

Coaching changes

Arizona State hired Phil Bennett as defensive coordinator on January 11, 2017. Bennett was previously the defensive coordinator at Baylor University. He replaced Keith Patterson, who remained on the staff as linebackers coach.
Arizona State hired Billy Napier as offensive coordinator on January 28, 2017. Napier was previously the receivers coach at the University of Alabama. He replaced Chip Lindsey, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Auburn University.

Incoming transfers

Arizona State had one incoming transfer. Quarterback Blake Barnett transferred from Alabama. Barnett was eligible to play the entire 2017 season at Arizona State following an appeal to the NCAA.

Offseason departures

Arizona State lost 18 players in the 2016 offseason, 13 due to graduation and 5 due to transferring or injuries.
NameNumberPos.YearNotes
Edmond Boateng97DESeniorGraduated
Tramel Topps92DLSeniorGraduated
Frederick Gammage89WRSeniorGraduated
Kody Kohl83TESeniorGraduated
Salamo Fiso58LBSeniorGraduated
Evan Goodman57OLSeniorGraduated
Stephon McCray77OLSeniorGraduated
Carlos Mendoza7LBSeniorGraduated
Laiu Moeakiola12LBSeniorGraduated
Tim White12WRSeniorGraduated
De'Chavon Hayes1DBSeniorGraduated
Eric Lauderdale14DBSeniorGraduated
Brandon Mathews54OLSeniorGraduated
Ellis Jefferson19WRSeniorTransfer
James Johnson18SJuniorTransfer
Bryce Perkins3QBJuniorTransfer
Armand Perry13CBSophomoreRetired due to Injuries.
Kareem Orr25DBSophomoretransferred

Schedule

Arizona State announced their 2017 football schedule on January 18, 2017. In non-conference play, the Sun Devils played former Border Conference rivals New Mexico State and Texas Tech, as well as San Diego State. In Pac-12 conference play, they played all conference members except cross-divisional foes California and Washington State.
Source:

Game summaries

vs New Mexico State

StatisticsNMSUASU
First downs2719
Total yards549400
Rushing yards30–15140–79
Passing yards398321
Passing: Comp–Att–Int40–58–224–30–0
Time of possession30:2029:40

vs San Diego State

StatisticsSDSUASU
First downs1415
Total yards352342
Rushing yards43–27931–44
Passing yards73298
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–18–020–33–0
Time of possession31:4328:17

at Texas Tech

StatisticsASUTTU
First downs2733
Total yards494615
Rushing yards44–16829–72
Passing yards326543
Passing: Comp–Att–Int27–41–037–50–0
Time of possession32:2927:31

vs No. 24 Oregon

StatisticsOREASU
First downs2023
Total yards401489
Rushing yards30–12053–142
Passing yards281347
Passing: Comp–Att–Int19–35–024–39–0
Time of possession21:5438:06

at Stanford

StatisticsASUSTAN
First downs2217
Total yards409501
Rushing yards46–21433–328
Passing yards195173
Passing: Comp–Att–Int16–25–215–24–0
Time of possession32:1527:45

vs No. 5 Washington

StatisticsWASHASU
First downs1417
Total yards230285
Rushing yards31–9132–40
Passing yards139245
Passing: Comp–Att–Int17–30–029–41–0
Time of possession25:0534:55

at Utah

StatisticsASUUTAH
First downs2118
Total yards345265
Rushing yards46–20525–110
Passing yards140155
Passing: Comp–Att–Int19–29–119–35–4
Time of possession36:1923:41

vs No. 21 USC

StatisticsUSCASU
First downs2915
Total yards607357
Rushing yards46–34130–79
Passing yards266278
Passing: Comp–Att–Int19–35–018–31–1
Time of possession34:0326:57

vs Colorado

StatisticsCOLOASU
First downs2327
Total yards454583
Rushing yards39–10954–381
Passing yards345202
Passing: Comp–Att–Int23–41–118–34–0
Time of possession26:5033:10

at UCLA

StatisticsASUUCLA
First downs2925
Total yards584573
Rushing yards61–29433–192
Passing yards290381
Passing: Comp–Att–Int21–37–125–45–1
Time of possession36:0823:52

at Oregon State

StatisticsASUOSU
First downs2423
Total yards453375
Rushing yards49–28633–106
Passing yards167269
Passing: Comp–Att–Int12–19–026–37–2
Time of possession27:3232:28

vs Arizona

StatisticsARIZASU
First downs2418
Total yards439390
Rushing yards51–24549–227
Passing yards194163
Passing: Comp–Att–Int15–21–111–17–1
Time of possession32:0727:53

vs No. 24 NC State (Sun Bowl">2017 Sun Bowl">Sun Bowl)

StatisticsASUNCST
First downs2423
Total yards469482
Rushing yards30–11743–164
Passing yards352318
Passing: Comp–Att–Int25–40–324–29–0
Time of possession25:3134:29

NC State running back Nyheim Hines was named MVP.

Players in the 2018 NFL draft

The Sun Devils had three players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Kalen BallageRB4131Miami Dolphins
Christian SamLB6178New England Patriots
Sam JonesG6183Denver Broncos