ESPN’s Tucker lists ASU’s Omarion Miller, Reed Harris, Arizona’s Cole Rusk as top newcomers

Arizona State wide receivers Omarion Miller and Reed Harris and Arizona tight end Cole Rusk were listed by ESPN’s Billy Tucker as some of the top newcomers in the Big 12 ahead of the 2026 college football season.

Tucker said Miller and Harris fill a big need for the Sun Devils with the departures of Jordyn Tyson and Malik McClain. He noted Miller has potential as an explosive-play receiver, while Harris gives ASU a valuable red-zone option in the offense under offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

The Sun Devils lose Jordyn Tyson and return just 45 combined receptions, so Miller and Harris are immediate needs. Together they have 84 catches and 13 touchdowns in their careers. Miller is a long, explosive playmaker who tracks the deep ball, creates separation downfield and threatens after the catch, while Harris (6-foot-5, 217 pounds) is a big‑frame boundary target who averaged 17.3 yards per catch and is valuable as a contested‑catch and red zone weapon. Cutter Boley, Mikey Keene, Cameron Dyer and freshman Jake Fette are all battling for the quarterback job. Whoever wins will determine how quickly this duo acclimates in the offense.

Miller is coming off a 2025 season with Colorado where he caught 45 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, while Harris caught 39 passes for 673 yards and five touchdowns with Boston College. Miller’s numbers would have ranked first on ASU last season as Tyson led the Sun Devils’ receiving room with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns.

Miller was the No. 2 wide receiver and No. 9 ranked player in the transfer portal this offseason, while Harris was ranked as the No. 4 wideout and No. 18 overall transfer by 247Sports.

Meanwhile, Tucker said Rusk, who transferred from Illinois this offseason, fills a big need for a thin Arizona tight end room that saw the departures of three players this offseason.

Arizona’s tight end room is suddenly thin — seniors Cameron Barmore and Sam Olson graduated, starter Tyler Powell has missed time with a season‑ending leg injury, and Keyan Burnett redshirted before entering the portal. That leaves the Wildcats light at a position that finished the year producing just 36 catches, 324 yards and four scores from its top two tight ends.

In two seasons between Murray State and Illinois, Rusk caught 58 passes for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. Rusk is coming off a 2025 campaign with Illinois where he returned to the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury prior to the 2024 season. In eight games with the Fighting Illini, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end caught 19 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown.

Rusk was the No. 5 tight end in the transfer portal this offseason by 247 Sports.

How does ASU’s wide receiving room look like ahead of season?

Miller and Harris look to elevate a wide receiving room that struggled to create production last season. Outside of Tyson, ASU’s receivers combined for 76 catches, 1,224 yards and four touchdowns.

With Tyson declaring for the NFL draft and McClain out of eligibility, Miller and Harris look to potentially slot in as the No. 1 and No. 2 wideouts in the offense. The rest of the receiving room is rounded out by transfer receiver Raiden Vines-Bright and returning receivers Derek Eusebio, Jalen Moss and Jaren Hamilton.

Miller and Harris headline a transfer portal class that saw ASU make several additions on offense, including Vines-Bright, quarterbacks Cutter Boley and Mikey Keene, and running backs David Avit and Marquis Gillis.

Tucker added that the additions of Miller and Harris could elevate ASU’s receiving room near the top of the conference and give whoever wins the Sun Devils’ starting quarterback job a chance to spread the ball around and score more points.

Expect ASU’s passing offense to progress from middle of the pack to near the top of the Big 12. The Sun Devils fill the underneath void with two complementary outside threats and a game plan that will test defenses downfield more often, which is much different than the Tyson-centric slot heavy look in 2025. This duo provides more options to spread the ball around and attack defenses from multiple alignments and create more explosive plays and points. The ceiling is materially higher than in 2025, but the floor hinges on the quarterback job and early chemistry. Boley, with his downfield arm strength, could have Tempe rocking again with these new weapons and improved efficiency under offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

How much of a fit is Rusk in Arizona’s offense?

Tucker projects Rusk to give the Wildcats another red-zone option in the offense that can create matchup problems for opposing defenses. He adds that Rusk also gives Arizona a reliable blocker in the offense that will help the offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Seth Doege.

We project he’ll beat the combined tight end production from 2025 and schematically open up the Wildcats’ offense. Expect Arizona to run more 11‑personnel and for the athletic Rusk to create matchup problems for safeties and linebackers in the seam and red zone. He brings more reliable blocking than the current depth, as well, and should fit nicely on H-back lead and kick out blocks. Rusk will turn the tight end position from a weakness into a functional weapon and improve Arizona’s passing efficiency and schematic flexibility in 2026.

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