Arizona State DL C.J. Fite returning for senior season, expected to play in Sun Bowl

Arizona State defensive lineman C.J. Fite will return for his senior season after 2026 NFL Draft consideration, he announced on social media.

Fite is expected to play in the Sun Bowl against ACC champion Duke on Dec. 31, SunDevilSource.com’s Chris Karpman reported.

In 37 games — all with the Sun Devils — Fite has posted 73 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and two recovered, including one he scored on.

His 6.5 tackles for loss in 2025 were his most in any season, racking up most of them (4.5) between the Texas State, Baylor and TCU games in Weeks 3-5.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound junior has a run-stopping pedigree, anchoring the middle of an ASU defense that was second in the Big 12 against the run in 2025 after it led the conference when Fite was a sophomore.

He was ranked by PFF’s Trevor Sikkema as the No. 8 interior defensive lineman in the 2026 draft class and No. 79 overall. Sikkema writes:

Fite is a young defensive tackle prospect who already has two years of starting experience as a nose and 3-technique (DT) in Arizona State’s even-front defensive line as a true junior. His run-defense reps as an underclassman were incredibly impressive, including against double teams. He is built like an NFL player and now needs to find out who he is as a pass rusher to realize his potential (which could make him a top-100 pick).

Fite, a member of ASU’s Pat Tillman Leadership Council the past two seasons, has only been penalized twice across 1,635 career snaps in his three seasons.

He was one of the first recruits to sign with Kenny Dillingham as ASU head coach, doing so as the No. 144 defensive lineman and No. 1,340 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to 247 Sports.

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