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ASU FOOTBALL

Safety Elijajuan Houston gives ASU its highest-rated defensive commitment in 2027 class

ASU added a defensive back who was a key cog on a recent state championship team in Texas' top playoff bracket.

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Arizona State football added a safety to its 2027 class with the commitment of Texas three-star Elijajuan Houston on Friday.

Houston is 5-foot-11 out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth. He’s the No. 589 overall player and No. 57 safety in his class, according to 247 Sports’ composite ranking.

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He becomes ASU’s highest-rated defensive commit in 2027, edging out 6-foot-3 linebacker Marshaun Ivy (No. 737 overall). Three offensive commits are rated higher: OT Jake Hildebrand (No. 98), WR Nico Bland (No. 229) and QB Weston Nielsen (No. 415).

Houston was on campus for a mid-April visit as spring camp was wrapping up.

ASU landed his services over UCLA and SMU.

The safety loaded up the stat sheet with 72 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, 14 passes defensed and three forced fumbles as a junior.

He helped North Crowley win the 6A D-1 state championship in Texas as a sophomore with 40 tackles, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 10 passes defensed and one forced fumble in 16 games.

He’s the latest Texas commitment engineered by ASU assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Bryan Carrington, who has made the “Texas 2 Tempe” pipeline a staple under head coach Kenny Dillingham.

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Among the Texas defensive backs to come through ASU in recent history are 2026 NFL Draft pick Keith Abney II, a team leader at safety in Xavion Alford and projected 2026 starter Rodney Bimage Jr.

Damon Allred ASU reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Damon Allred is the Arizona State reporter for Arizona Sports and is a web editor for arizonasports.com and KTAR.com. Born and raised in the Valley, Damon has lived in the metro Phoenix area for most of his life. He began covering ASU in fall 2024… Read more

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