Alo-Tupuola has stabilized ASU’s offensive line from center after a year of inconsistency

PAYSON — Snapping inconsistency and the impact of a revolving door at center on the line around them were among the biggest concerns facing Arizona State football last preseason.

This year is a different story, despite plenty of new faces on the offensive line. ASU went the first week of fall camp without a single false start or operational miscue, and Georgia Tech transfer center Tana Alo-Tupuola has been the head of the snake in why the group has been so effective to this point.

“He was a huge piece of what we wanted to do in the offseason,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo told Arizona Sports. “A guy who’s played at that position, a quarterback of the front. Does a lot of things. The centers are unsung heroes in so many ways, especially in a system like ours where you ask them to do so much.”

The quality of snaps has not been a storyline, an indicator that things have gone smoothly.

Alo-Tupuola was Georgia Tech’s primary center as the Yellow Jackets featured a prolific rushing attack behind quarterback Haynes King that ranked second in the ACC in yards per game (197.5). He also did not allow a sack across 225 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

Even while who’s taking the snaps behind him has shifted throughout camp amid a quarterback battle, the quality he’s bringing as a snapper, blocker and leader of the group has been as steady as a rock.

“He’s got a good influence, he’s got a good demeanor,” Arroyo said of Alo-Tupuola’s leadership. “Knows how to work, knows how to treat people, goes about his craft every day with a good attitude. Smart guy, he’s disciplined and tough. I mean, it’s exactly what you want up front.”

Following a season where Ben Coleman was learning a new position and had to fend off then-redshirt freshman Wade Helton to win the starting center job — all for an injury to prematurely end his college career six games into the year — the steadiness with Alo-Tupuola may remind ASU fans of the All-Big 12 performance of Leif Fautanu in 2024.

Having coached Fautanu at UNLV before their move to ASU, Arroyo said the two centers have “similar attributes, similar type of personality (and a) similar demeanor in that way,” but time will tell if Alo-Tupuola can execute to the level that Fautanu did.

The rest of the line has seen heated competition for the two tackle spots, as top JUCO transfer Jarmaine Mitchell and Champ Westbrooks have shown the highest upside over Jalen Klemm and Luke Baklenko, respectively.

Expect to see all four in some capacity, as ASU likes to rotate through about eight linemen.

With Maki Stewart a mainstay at left guard — he may be the team’s surest bet to be an early entrant in the 2028 NFL Draft — it appears Helton is settling into the right guard role, having played 133 snaps at guard last season in addition to his 422 snaps at center.

Possible starting offensive line for ASU

– Left tackle: Jarmaine Mitchell; 6-foot-8, 320-pound junior

– Left guard: Maki Stewart; 6-foot-4, 340-pound sophomore

– Center: Tana Alo-Tupuola; 6-foot-1, 335-pound junior

– Right guard: Wade Helton; 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior

– Right tackle: Champ Westbrooks; 6-foot-5, 300-pound junior

ASU fans will have a chance to see the group against the Sun Devils’ veteran-laden defensive front on Saturday in the open scrimmage at Camp Tontozona, which will begin around 9 a.m. MST.

The regular season opener is on Sept. 5 against Morgan State at Mountain America Stadium.

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