Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown should lead ASU football back to downhill identity

TEMPE — Although the contest left plenty to be desired almost across the board, Arizona State’s run game showed up in a big way when called upon in its season opener.

As a team, ASU rushed for 203 yards on 21 rushes (9.7 yards per carry) with three touchdowns.

Raleek Brown, who could’ve tacked on an additional 75 all-purpose yards if not for a penalty negating a swing pass he took to the house, showed his year-over-year improvements early and often, with added weight to run between the tackles and a sense for contact on highlight plays like his hurdle.

Raleek Brown's hurdle helped jump start the ASU offense in a season opening win against NAU. pic.twitter.com/gxkoxTmln2

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 31, 2025

Brown was posting highlights early and often, as the first time the Sun Devils touched the ball, he returned a punt 28 yards before stumbling to keep it from becoming a potential house trip.

Starting running back Kyson Brown also performed well with a big pickup on a fake punt accounting for 34 of his 145 all-purpose yards. He finished with 33 snaps to Raleek’s 20, per PFF.

One of the major issues for ASU in the contest, however, was how infrequently the rushing attack was utilized. With nearly a 2:1 pass-to-run ratio (39 pass attempts), the Sun Devils were far from their identity.

“I think both of them played really well,” Dillingham said Monday of how the two backs played off each other. “I think (Kanye Udoh) when he got a few of his moments played well. I think we’re going to try to get those three guys and continue to get them involved in the game plan because I thought they did play really well, all three of them.

“For the most part, they ran hard, they ran through tackles, positive runs. … Probably should have run more direct runs in the game plan to just get downhill and more of an identity.”

The coach compared straying away from the downhill rushing attack on Saturday to when ASU also did so at Texas State last year.

“We kind of lost our way a little bit with not being direct. At the end of the day, that’s going to be our identity is downhill running the football, so we got to make sure we can establish that,” he said.

Kyson Brown has high confidence in what the group is capable of.

“I think we were explosive. We made some plays, and that was just a little taste of what we can do,” he said Tuesday. “I think we got one of the best backfields if not the best backfield in the country, and I think we’re going to be able to show that.

“We got a lot of guys that can do a lot of things, and I’m very confident in us and in myself.”

Kyson was one of two FBS players with a game of at least 70 rushing and receiving yards after the first full week, per Sun Devil Athletics.

Arizona State’s pass, run balance uncharacteristic vs. NAU

The 21 total carries — including some heroic scrambles by Sam Leavitt — is jarring for what’s expected in the Dillingham era.

The total was well below last season’s low of 30, and only one other game (32 vs. UCF, which Cam Skattebo missed due to injury) was below 37 rushing attempts.

It was only three higher than the lowest total in Dillingham’s tenure, 18 carries in a blowout loss to Oregon in 2023.

For Sam Leavitt’s part, the only time he has attempted more passes in a game than Saturday (39) was in the Peach Bowl (46).

“We go into the game plan with the balance really being what’s going to make us efficient in (each) down and distance and what can make us explosive,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Wednesday. “We felt like we had some things in the pass game that were really getting us moving and getting some explosive plays down the field with the box count they had and some of the stuff they’re producing up front.

“Sam was getting a little rhythm down the field on some big plays, and so if that’s hot, we’re doing it. … Each game plan’s going to be a little bit different, but if we can be aggressive and put Sam and JT and our skill guys down the field or in space, that’s something we definitely are excited about doing.”

While the point about feeding Tyson in opportune situations is a valid one — and one Dillingham made postgame — it’s still jarring to see the star receiver with as many targets (14) as the running backs had carries as a group.

It’s also necessary to point out, in terms of taking what a defense presents, that Mississippi State is a lot lighter up front than NAU. That may be the avenue to more rushing attempts by itself.

Mississippi native Kyson Brown never offered by Bulldogs

Kyson Brown left Mississippi for Texas’ higher levels of football during prep ball, and he said he’ll have an extra element of motivation returning to his home state on Saturday.

“I was kind of recruited by Mississippi State when I went to high school, but I wasn’t officially offered,” Brown said Tuesday. “So yeah, that’s a little chip on my shoulder for sure.”

arizona state running backs drilling some contact rushing with cowbells clanging pic.twitter.com/h0nZ6tNvWp

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 2, 2025

He joked he’d have the whole city of Tupelo — population: 37,775 —  in attendance at a stadium where he used to watch his idols.

“Those memories just of being a little kid wanting to play football, looking up to those other guys that went to Mississippi State,” Brown said. “Chad Bumphis [led SEC in receiving touchdowns in 2012] is one of the guys that, I don’t know, I was just mesmerized as a kid watching him play.

“It’s just an awesome feeling going back home and being able to play there.”

He compared his Mississippi childhood to Camp T with a lot of time spent outdoors.

“Growing up and just learning things the hard way, getting cuts and bruises here and there, those types of things,” he said.

And for those who know Tupelo more as the home of Elvis Presley, Brown said his favorite track is “Blue Suede Shoes.”

“It means a little bit extra just ’cause I know after the game I’ll probably see more family, but I think ultimately it’s just getting back to the process and treating it just like any other game,” Brown said.

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