ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

A look at Arizona State football’s transfer portal exodus

May 20, 2022, 1:00 PM | Updated: Jun 13, 2022, 12:03 pm

Arizona State football has an impending NCAA investigation on its hands while players are also entering the transfer portal citing name, image and likeness-related reasons.

Many coaches have since left Herm Edwards and the program including the man known for his recruiting, Antonio Pierce.

Sun Devil fans may not recognize many faces on their team after 17 players hit the transfer portal, four got drafted and four got signed as undrafted free agents.

Here is a list of the ASU players who have hit the transfer portal and where some of them have ended up.

QB Jayden Daniels — LSU

Daniels was the star quarterback for three seasons in Tempe.

A promising freshman season had Sun Devil fans eyeing another potential Rose Bowl appearance.

A COVID-19 shortened, four-game season in 2020 and tumultuous 2021 calendar year saw regression instead of progression and ultimately led to Daniels’ ugly departure from ASU.

He is now with the Tigers in the post-Ed Orgeron era in Baton Rouge. He will battle with Myles Brennan or Garrett Nussmeier for the starting position but could see his name fall as far as third on the depth chart.

DT Jermayne Lole — Louisville

Lole amassed 122 tackles and 20 sacks over three seasons (27 games).

The defensive lineman entered 2021 as a preseason first-team All-Pac-12 selection but missed the entirety of the season with a triceps injury back in August.

Lole was one of the better players defensively when healthy for Edwards and the defense.

He mentioned his entry into the transfer portal was NIL driven but also kept ASU as an option for a potential return.

OL Ezra Dotson-Oyetade — TCU

The center was a two-sport athlete in track and field but did not play in his freshman season under Edwards.

The highly touted four-star recruit sat behind Dohnovan West, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, at the center position.

WR LV Bunkley-Shelton — Oklahoma

Bunkley-Shelton appeared in four games as a freshman, hauling in 11 passes for 100 yards before he was eventually redshirted.

In his second season with the Sun Devils, Bunkley-Shelton caught 33 balls for 418 yards over 12 games.

He finished third on the team in receiving yards in 2021 behind Ricky Pearsall and Rachaad White, who both will not be with the team next season.

LB Eric Gentry — USC

This one is going to sting for a while to come.

Not only did the Devils lose a freshman All-American linebacker, but he went to bitter division rival USC.

He had 45 tackles (sixth among Sun Devil defenders), five of which were for losses, a sack and two passes defended over 10 games played as a freshman.

Per Pro Football Focus, Gentry posted the third-highest grade among Pac-12 linebackers with a 73.3.

RB DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum — Ohio State

Trayanum saw his playing time dwindle towards the end of the season due to fumbling issues and the ascension of Rachaad White.

In two years with the Sun Devils, he ran for 692 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He announced that he will be making a transition to play linebacker for the Buckeyes in Columbus.

WR Johnny Wilson — Florida State

Wilson came to ASU as a four-star recruit from Calabasas High School.

He was regarded as one of the top prospects at the receiver position, listed as the No. 116 overall player in the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports composite.

Wilson only caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a score over five games.

He dealt with a hamstring injury for a majority of the season after redshirting the year before.

DB Tommi Hill — Nebraska

Hill played in seven games as a freshman and had nine tackles. He was slotted behind cornerbacks Jack Jones and Chase Lucas on the depth chart last season.

WR Geordon Porter — New Mexico

Porter played in three seasons with the Sun Devils but struggled to find consistent playing time.

He caught 14 balls for 250 yards in 12 games and scored one touchdown.

WR Lonyatta Alexander — Washington

Alexander never played a snap with the Sun Devils.

He was a consensus four-star prospect on all three major recruiting services (Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN.) 247Sports listed him as the No. 7 wideout from Washington and the No. 240 overall recruit.

LB Jordan Banks — Northwestern State

Banks played two games in 2020 and did not play in 2021.

He recorded three tackles and one interception.

QB Ethan Long — Abilene Christian

Long was named a captain in 2019 as a freshman despite not having a starting role on the squad.

He was featured as a running quarterback and had six rushes for 32 yards his freshman year.

Long did not play in the last two seasons as a tight end/quarterback combo.

WR Ricky Pearsall — Florida

Pearsall was the team’s leading receiver in 2021.

He caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns.

A local prospect out of Tempe, Pearsall played his high school ball at Corona Del Sol and saw action right away in 13 games as a freshman in 2019.

DL Omarr Norman-Lott — returning

Norman-Lott announced that he would be returning to Arizona State by tweeting, “Loyalty means sticking with people you love through hard times.”

He played in only one game his freshman year but totaled 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in his sophomore campaign last season.

He was slotted behind Lole — who is also currently in the transfer portal — on the depth chart for next season.

DB Cam Phillips — undecided

Phillips was with the Sun Devils for four seasons from 2018-21.

He was productive early in his career, playing in 11 games over the first two seasons.

The corner and safety totaled 74 tackles and two interceptions before only playing in two games the last two seasons.

K Cristian Zendejas — undecided

This is the second time Zendejas has entered the portal with the first time being in August of 2021. He eventually returned to Arizona State.

Zendejas is an accurate short-range kicker that often struggles with long distanced field goals.

He finished his three seasons 78-of-80 on extra points and 33-for-42 on field goals.

OL Spencer Lovell — undecided

Lovell played in 16 of 17 games from 2019-20 as a reserve lineman and special teams player.

OL Sione Veikoso — undecided

Originally a 2018 two-star recruit, Veikoso played in two games last season as a deep reserve — meaning his redshirt was preserved.

One of those contests featured ASU’s Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Wisconsin as a defensive lineman, as the Sun Devils were without numerous starters on both sides of the ball.

Arizona State Football

Arizona State president Michael Crow...

Jesse Morrison

State of the Sun Devils Podcast: Does anyone want the Arizona State athletic director job?

On the latest edition of State of the Sun Devils, the guys discussed the latest news surrounding ASU's search for an athletic director.

2 days ago

Arizona State head football coach Kenny Dillingham in studio...

David Veenstra

Arizona State football adds 2025 3-star cornerback Dajon Hinton

Recruit Dajon Hinton from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale announced Sunday that he is committed to Arizona State.

3 days ago

J'Mond Tapp, who spent the past two seasons at Texas, announced his commitment to ASU on Sunday. (@...

David Veenstra

Arizona State football lands DE J’Mond Tapp from Texas

Arizona State football landed a versatile defensive threat in defensive end J'Mond Tapp, who spent the past two seasons at Texas.

3 days ago

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Ricky Pearsall #WO23 of the Florida Gators speaks to the media du...

David Veenstra

Where did former Arizona high school players land in the NFL Draft?

Eight former Arizona high school football players were taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here is where they landed:

3 days ago

Tight end Tanner McLachlan #84 of the Arizona Wildcats makes a reception against defensive back Ro ...

Damon Allred

Where did former ASU Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats land in the NFL Draft?

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and several players who played collegiately in Arizona are now slated to play on Sundays.

3 days ago

ASU spring game schedule...

Jesse Morrison

Arizona State football spring game a mixed bag

There were some exciting positives and some glaring negatives in Arizona State football's 2024 spring game on Friday in Tempe.

4 days ago

A look at Arizona State football’s transfer portal exodus