ASU football coaches trust QB Jeff Sims to get past Cincinnati without Sam Leavitt

TEMPE — Although ASU football will miss its starting quarterback in Sam Leavitt on Saturday at Cincinnati, the coaches have said it’s business as usual with experienced backup Jeff Sims leading the offense.

Arizona State offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Wednesday after practice this situation is unique because of how close Leavitt and Sims are in skill level and play style.

“We haven’t had to change any of the offense, which is great,” Arroyo said. “That’s a tribute to him [Sims] and the unit and everyone around him. Because at the end of the day there’s a new quarterback, but we’ve got 10 other guys on the field. … You get a bunch of guys that need to surround themselves around him, not just somebody that has to go out there on the stage by himself.”

Sims has familiarity with that stage, as the 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior has more than 6,000 total yards across 30 games between Georgia Tech and Nebraska. Though he has appeared in two games in limited fashion for ASU, this will be his first start since he transferred over the summer.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham said the game-plan was geared to both quarterbacks because he was unsure of which would get the start early in the week.

“They’re both athletes, they both can make all the throws you need to make,” Dillingham said Wednesday. “The knock on Jeff is turnovers, but if you look at stats, sometimes turnovers can lie to you.”

Sims had 29 interceptions during his college career, nearly matching his 31 passing touchdowns. He also lost 12 of the 21 fumbles credited to him compared to 12 rushing touchdowns.

Dillingham pointed to examples such as bad snaps, dropped tosses and Hail Mary throws as some of the turnovers that lied in his eyes.

During the open portion of practice on Wednesday, Sims’ passing game was honed in to short passes to the flats or running backs, as well as a post to wide receiver Jordyn Tyson the two connected on a few times. It was often out of rollouts that utilized the threat of his run game.

Running back Cam Skattebo is likely to shoulder a lot of the load. His season high for touches (36) came in the Week 2 win over Mississippi State, and he had 25 and 22 carries in the last two games.

Dillingham said there’s no guarantee Leavitt will be back on Nov. 2 at Oklahoma State after the Sun Devils’ second bye week.

ASU TE Chamon Metayer, DL Justin Wodtly get Cincinnati homecomings

Tight end Chamon Metayer and defensive lineman Justin Wodtly have each made immediate impacts in their first season at ASU after transferring from Cincinnati.

Metayer has 13 catches for 140 yards and two scores after two seasons as a Bearcat while Wodtly, who spent four seasons there, has two tackles for loss and two fumbles recovered, one of which he took for a touchdown.

“Couldn’t be happier with both those guys on our football team,” Dillingham said Monday. “Both those kids have been unbelievable workers, unbelievable people, super intelligent, joy to have in the building, impact players on game day.

“I couldn’t be more fired up that both those guys are on our team and are representing ASU football.”

Dillingham said because Cincinnati has a first-year defensive coordinator in Tyson Veidt, there’s no conversation to be had about Metayer and Wodtly’s perspective from a schematic approach. Instead, he’s looking for them to come in ready to play despite the possible distractions.

“Can you emotionally handle going back home to play?” Dillingham said. “Just do your job. … This isn’t about you, this is about us. And I’ll eventually have that conversation if I think it’s needed.”

Wodtly did not play in last week’s win over Utah due to an injury, but Dillingham said Monday it’s possible he’d be back this week. He was seen practicing Wednesday.

The former Bearcats were also featured in ASU’s uniform reveal for the week.

🔴⚪️⚪️#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/jbFCQa6lp1

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) October 17, 2024

How has ASU handled the logistics of an early kickoff in Cincinnati?

The Sun Devils have done everything early this week in preparation for what will be a noon kickoff three time zones over.

Dillingham said Monday two practices would start at 6 a.m., the earliest start time allowed by the NCAA, before the team left for Cincinnati a day earlier than usual.

“We leave today … after our walkthrough to try to get an extra day to get accustomed,” Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “We’re obviously trying to do everything we can to get our body clocks adjusted.”

Dillingham said his usual approach would be to show up last minute and just play, but that wasn’t an option with the early time slot.

Catch the game starting at 9 a.m. MST on Saturday with play-by-play coverage on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 or online. ESPN+ has exclusive broadcasting rights for TV coverage.

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