ASU linebacker Koron Crump: ‘We’re going to get it done this year’

The start of the college football regular season is almost here.

So is the return of Arizona State linebacker Koron Crump.

“It’s been a long process,” Crump said during the team’s media day on Monday. “It was the first time going through this knee injury, the ups and downs, but I’ll be back by first game.”

“I’m just ready to play this first game, same goals as last year, nothing’s changed. Twenty sacks and play my role.”

Crump was a force to be reckoned with for ASU in 2016.

As a junior, the linebacker led the Sun Devils with nine sacks. He also recorded an interception and three fumble recoveries in 11 games.

He looked like he was in store for an even bigger year in 2017 before an ACL tear cut his season short.

The senior entered Week 2 with the four sacks, the second most in the nation. He paired that with 13 tackles and four tackles for loss before going down with the injury against Texas Tech on Sept. 16.

Luckily for Crump, his college career didn’t end there. He was granted an extra year of eligibility after his medical hardship waiver was cleared by the NCAA in January.

Now healthy, Crump is looking to get back to his quarterback-chasing ways by any means necessary.

“Anything I can, play the run, sacks. Anything I can do to help the team I’m doing it,” Crump said when asked about his role as one of the veterans on defense.

Crump may get just that as the Sun Devils announced safety Tyler Whiley, who had been taking first-team reps in the Tillman position, will miss the season due to a foot injury he suffered during the team’s first scrimmage.

And while the loss certainly hurts the team’s morale and depth at the position, first-year defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales’ 3-3-5 scheme should still cause headaches for opposing offenses.

“We’re going to play fast, real fast, that’s all I can say right now,” Crump said of the new defense, while not giving away too much on the new look.

While the 3-3-5 is susceptible to the run, with just three down linemen, the defense is built for speed and takeaways.

Gonzales’ former team, San Diego State, has been a menace to opposing offenses, forcing 83 turnovers since 2015.

Add in the additions of Nick Ralston and Jalen Harvey, who switched from offense to defense this year, and defensive back Joey Bryant’s return from his ACL injury, and Crump feels this team can make a lot of noise defensively.

Not only in the Pac-12, but nationwide.

“We’re going to be top five, top five defense,” Crump said. “We’re going to get it done this year.”

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