ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Sun Devils begin game-planning for New Mexico State

Aug 22, 2017, 4:13 PM

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham speaks at the Pac-12 NCAA college football media day, Thursday...

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham speaks at the Pac-12 NCAA college football media day, Thursday, July 27, 2017, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

TEMPE, Ariz. — The offseason and training camp grind came to an end for the Arizona State football team on Tuesday. The Sun Devils began game-planning for their first opponent, New Mexico State, which comes to Sun Devil Stadium on Aug. 31.

That was a welcome relief for the players.

“Time to amp it up,” quarterback Manny Wilkins said. “We work for this first Thursday coming out. This is what we’ve been working this whole offseason for, whether it was winter, spring, fall camp, summer… this is the time where it starts to count.”

Coach Todd Graham said the scout teams were in effect on Tuesday and the Devils “got a lot of work done; thought it was a positive.”

While Graham showered the Aggies’ skill positions with praise, New Mexico State hasn’t won more than four games in a season in the last 12 years.

This is an unofficial preseason game to work out the kinks before the Devils face more serious opponents, starting nine days later with San Diego State, which went 11-3 last year, defeated the Pac-12’s Cal Bears in September and defeated Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl to finish ranked among the AP top 25.

“It’s just about getting guys dialed in,” Wilkins said. “I think guys know the importance of honing in on everything, watching film, studying a lot of formations, how they pressure, what they do, how they do it, personnel, all those little things.

“We’ve just got to go out there every single day, take it game by game and go 1-0 every week.”

Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter

Arizona State Football

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

3 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

4 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

4 days ago

ASU QB Drew Pyne...

Arizona Sports

Former ASU starting QB Drew Pyne headed to Missouri

After playing in just two games in his ASU football career, quarterback Drew Pyne is moving on to the Missouri Tigers.

8 days ago

Sparky's Fairway at Mountain America Stadium...

Tyler Drake

Sparky’s Fairway golf takes over Arizona State’s Mountain America Stadium

ASU's Mountain America Stadium is trading in its hash marks for yardage markers as Sparky's Fairway takes center stage beginning Thursday.

11 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What does Arizona State men’s basketball need to do against Bronny James and USC?

On the latest edition of State of the Sun Devils, the guys discuss what Arizona State men's basketball needs to do next.

13 days ago

Sun Devils begin game-planning for New Mexico State