ASU reveals depth chart for 2026 season opener vs. Morgan State

The first Arizona State football depth chart of the season was released Wednesday morning ahead of the season opener against Morgan State on Saturday.

It provided a clearer picture of the offensive line and running back pecking order but no definitive answer at starting punter or kicker.

asu's depth chart for morgan state is here.

not really any surprises maybe aside from seeing grayson rigdon so high on the rb order, which has been a recent trend in practice.

some "or" listings on specialists, but would expect nick mclarty and carson smith to get first cracks. pic.twitter.com/qSkI4SF9ja

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 2, 2026

Khamari Anderson was notably slotted in as the starting tight end, indicating he could make his season debut on time. He suffered a lower-body injury at the end of spring camp and has been working back into regular activity.

Teams are not required to release depth charts for nonconference matchups, and many are choosing to abstain for the first full week of the college football season.

ASU football depth for season opener vs. Morgan State

Offense

There were no surprises at quarterback, where starter Cutter Boley is backed up by veteran Mikey Keene with highly touted freshman Jake Fette third in the order.

jake fette and cutter boley reps on a tuesday morning ahead of asu’s season opener🌅 pic.twitter.com/WOa6kUG9KX

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 1, 2026

Kyson Brown is the starter at running back, a position that head coach Kenny Dillingham said he “could see a tier” of players splitting the top snaps. Delaware State transfer Marquis Gillis and freshman Cardae Mack join Brown at the top of the group.

Grayson Rigdon has flown under the radar in the RB room but has seen his first- and second-team reps tick up since a scrimmage on Aug. 22.

Perhaps most notably on the depth chart is Oklahoma transfer Luke Baklenko slotting in at left tackle, where he has gotten most of the first-team reps over Champ Westbrooks since Camp T despite the “OR” listing. Jalen Klemm held off top JUCO transfer Jarmaine Mitchell for the right tackle spot.

Wade Helton and Rob Lapuaho share an “OR” listing as the starting right guards, but Lapuaho has taken more of the first-team reps down the stretch.

ASU will look to sophomore A.J. Ia for a bigger role if Anderson can’t go. Dillingham has targeted sometime in the first three weeks as when Anderson would be cleared.

Defense

ASU has its biggest and perhaps most experienced defensive line in years, led by C.J. Fite inside. He’s paired with Blazen Lono-Wong and Zac Swanson on the interior while Roman Pitre, Emar’rion Winston and Jalen Thompson will start at EDGE.

Linebacker depth was a key area to watch following the season-ending injury to Zyrus Fiaseu, and the first depth chart has Tristan Bacon, Ramere Davis and Prayer Young-Blackgoat as the second line behind starters Owen Long and Martell Hughes.

There were no surprises in the secondary, which projects as one of the strengths of the team with starters Ashton Stamps and Rodney Bimage Jr. at cornerback, along with Lyrik Rawls, Adrian “Boogie” Wilson and Montana Warren at the safety and nickel spots.

Sophomore Jessiah McGrew, a 6-foot-2 safety who had four interceptions, five passes defensed and three forced fumbles last year at FIU, will get looks as the sixth defensive back in the rotation.

Special teams

Neither punter nor kicker had a concrete starter listed, with both spots including an “OR.”

Expect 6-foot-7, 245-pound Australian product Nick McLarty to get the first crack on punts over Kanyon Floyd.

a look at asu’s likely starting punter, nick mclarty, while working with specialists coach and 12-year nfl punter mike scifres and special teams coordinator jack nudo. pic.twitter.com/njOEGwAbyQ

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 1, 2026

New specialists coach Mike Scifres has helped to refine both punters’ games, and the area should be in a much better place entering 2026 than when ASU had the worst punting operation in 2025, per PFF.

The first shot at kicker will likely go to Carson Smith, who has worked with special teams coordinator Jack Nudo at two previous stops (Austin Peay and Eastern Carolina).

Smith is close to where Jesus Gomez was entering last season, but a tangible difference at this point is that Smith has less power in his foot by comparison.

Jaren Hamilton will man the kick return duties with fellow wide receiver Cory Butler Jr. handling punts. Speed is a key trait the pair share, as the former is nicknamed “Turbo” while the latter notably has a GPA higher than his 40-yard dash time, according to head coach Kenny Dillingham.

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