3 newcomers to ASU’s defense you should know entering the season

While the Arizona State football program had more than a few important pieces to replace, the defense is stacked with experience at every starting spot.

Brian Ward has been ASU’s defensive coordinator for the entire Kenny Dillingham era so far, as they enter their fourth year together. Defensive lineman C.J. Fite has been in Tempe with them the whole time, which is where the group’s effectiveness against the run (first in Big 12 in 2024, third in 2025) starts.

But several of the biggest contributors from those defenses, like 2026 NFL Draft picks Keyshaun Elliott and Keith Abney II, have now moved on, and there’s a new wave ready to pick up the production.

Here’s one new face on each level of the starting defense you should know about as the season kicks off Saturday.

EDGE Jalen Thompson, senior

Thompson is coming off career-best marks of 30 tackles, 6.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks last year at Michigan State, but his freshman year with the Spartans may have been more impressive as he had two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, two passes defensed and one fumble forced in three fewer games (eight).

The freshman campaign was while he was being coached by ASU defensive line coach Diron Reynolds, who also tried to recruit Thompson to Stanford before the coach made his way to East Lansing.

The experience of Thompson and the other starters on the defensive line — all of whom are also seniors, fifth- or sixth-year players — should allow each to thrive in their roles behind the “four rushing as one” mentality they preach.

The proof of concept has been there as the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Thompson notably had a “sack” in the Camp T scrimmage that ended a drive.

LB Owen Long, junior

Long led FBS tacklers with 151 last season at Colorado State, nine more than second place. We could leave it there if we wanted.

His ability to sniff out plays and be around the ball showed up from Day 1 of spring camp, and it quickly erased doubt that he could thrive at a slightly undersized listing of 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds.

Long leads all players nationwide entering 2026 in a “ball magnet” stat that compares tackles with total defensive snaps, clocking in at 20.4%.

There may be a bit more on his plate this season following the season-ending injury to Zyrus Fiaseu, a sixth-year linebacker who was third on the depth chart (first off the bench). Martell Hughes remains a formidable starter next to Long.

S Lyrik Rawls, sixth-year

Up until Camp T, Rawls was the only newcomer on the team’s Tillman Leadership Council. Long and quarterbacks Cutter Boley and Mikey Keene were added while the team was up north.

Rawls enters with a pedigree about as strong as any of ASU’s new defenders, collecting 73 tackles and seven passes defensed (both career highs) last season at Kansas. He has an interception in each of the last three seasons, including his two years at Oklahoma State.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound DB has an understated leadership style, but one that gets people to follow his example.

The secondary has a lot of experience on an individual basis but not a ton of experience playing with each other, Montana Warren and Adrian “Boogie” Wilson being the lone returners who saw hefty snap counts in 2025.

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