ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

ASU’s Will Sutton returning for senior season

Jan 8, 2013, 11:31 PM | Updated: Jan 9, 2013, 12:52 am

Will Sutton, the reigning Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, announced he will return to Arizona State for his senior season, eschewing the the popular thinking that he’d leave early for the NFL draft.

“It’s been a long decision, it’s been a hard decision, but my decision is that I’m going to stay and play another year at ASU,” Sutton said Tuesday amid thunderous applause at his press conference.

Sutton, a junior from Centennial High School in Corona, California, had a dominant season in which he earned consensus All-American honors, becoming the 18th player in ASU history to do so.

Sutton was unblockable throughout most of the season, finishing with 63 tackles, 23.5 for loss and 13 sacks. He capped off his campaign by wreaking havoc in Navy’s backfield during ASU’s decisive 62-28 win at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco December 29. Sutton finished with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and took home the game’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.

The junior didn’t pinpoint just one factor that helped him arrive at his decision.

“It was a lot of things, there was a lot of pros and cons, but some of the main the things were coming back, winning a championship, doing it for my teammates and getting my education,” Sutton said.

Getting Sutton back in 2013 is a huge coup for Arizona State head coach Todd Graham. In fact, Sutton’s return, along with fellow defensive playmakers Carl Bradford, Chris Young and Osahon Irabor could have the Sun Devils at or near the top of the Pac-12 South in most projections.

“He’s the best defensive lineman I’ve ever coached and one of the best defensive players I’ve ever coached,” Graham said. “I think it speaks volumes about his commitment to our team. I do think his teammates had a lot to do with that decision.”

With the decision to return now behind him, Sutton was asked “what’s next?”

“I’ve got class at six o’clock,” he joked.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona State Football

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA college footb...

Vincent DeAngelis

Kenny Dillingham talks Jaden Rashada injury, revamped roster ahead of spring ball

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed quarterback Jaden Rashada's injury, revamped roster and NIL ahead of start of spring ball

6 days ago

Jaden Rashada on the football field...

Arizona Sports

Report: ASU’s Jaden Rashada dealing with thumb injury, will miss spring ball

ASU's Jaden Rashada won't be a full participant in spring ball due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered earlier in the year.

7 days ago

...

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.

13 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.

13 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.

14 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.

18 days ago

ASU’s Will Sutton returning for senior season