ASU’s Cutter Boley can’t be properly evaluated with offensive line playing the way it has

TEMPE — Cutter Boley hasn’t blown people away by any means through four games as Arizona State’s starting quarterback, but it hasn’t been completely his fault either.

While he’s had his fair share of missed throws, especially in ASU’s last two games against Kansas and Baylor, the offensive line responsible for giving Boley time to read the field has not done so on a consistent basis.

The Sun Devils have allowed 8.75 pressures per game, which is tied for the third most in the Big 12. Only TCU and Kansas are allowing more pressures per game.

Three of Boley’s four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) can be directly attributed to pressure breaking through the line:

• Missed blindside block that led to a strip sack against Morgan State
• Right tackle getting bull-rushed directly into Boley against Texas A&M that forced a pick-6
• All-out jailbreak for the line against Baylor where Boley didn’t get his throwaway out of harm’s way

That hasn’t stopped many fans from calling for a change, whether that’s to veteran backup Mikey Keene or high-upside freshman Jake Fette.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham, however, said following the 55-19 loss to Baylor there’s “absolutely not” a possibility of that happening as ASU prepares to face Hawaii on Saturday.

“Ninety percent of the snaps have been really, really good,” Dillingham said Wednesday when assessing Boley’s start to the season. “I think we’re trying to harness what those moments are where maybe he’s not playing to how good I know he is because those other moments, you see him throw the ball all over the yard.

“If we fix those little things, and part of that’s on me … I think he’s going to be more comfortable, and I think you’re going to see a better player. And I think he’s already playing at a pretty good level.”

The loss to Baylor was a chaotic game for the offensive line to say the least, as ASU allowed a season-high 11 pressures, 10 of which came from the linemen.

Perhaps the group’s lone bright spot in the contest was left tackle Champ Westbrooks, who has played 62.8% of the left tackle snaps and has allowed five pressures across 98 pass-blocking snaps (5.1% pressure rate) this season, per PFF.

“Champ’s been in the program for a long time. Champ’s an unbelievable kid and person,” Dillingham said Monday. “I think he did a nice job getting a start in there. I was pleased with how he played.”

asu offensive linemen combined to allow 10 pressures by baylor, but none were credited to champ westbrooks (#76).

had one penalty, but a lot of good moments in his 58 left tackle snaps to earn his best career overall blocking grade (67.0) and pass-blocking grade (79.1) on pff: pic.twitter.com/00RaOL3R6r

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) October 5, 2026

The junior has earned the right to hold down that spot over Luke Baklenko, who was responsible for the blindside strip sack. Baklenko has allowed eight pressures across 75 pass-blocking snaps (10.7% pressure rate).

Right tackle Jalen Klemm, who was the victim on the bull rush against Texas A&M, has given up 10 pressures across 138 pass-blocking snaps (7.2% pressure rate). He has played 85.3% of the right tackle snaps.

In part because of the high volume of pressures Boley has faced, he has the fifth-fastest average time to throw among the 19 Big 12 quarterbacks who have taken at least 60 dropbacks (2.67 seconds).

Where does ASU’s offensive line go from here?

Starting right guard Wade Helton has been dealing with a lower body injury he suffered in the loss at Texas A&M and could be nearing a return. Dillingham told reporters in London on Sept. 15 that he would be out for “a few weeks.”

Fellow guard Rob Lapuaho also dealt with an injury in the Texas A&M game, but he has not had to miss any games because of it. The further removed he gets from the injury scare, he should continue to round into better form.

Lapuaho has given up three pressures across 98 pass-blocking snaps (3.1% pressure rate), while Helton has not allowed any in 35 pass-blocking snaps.

ASU began to get freshman Filiva’a “Suka” Lokotui in the mix as a sixth lineman during the Baylor game, and he did not allow a pressure in 12 pass-blocking snaps. If his and Klemm’s play continue the way they have so far, Lokotui could emerge as an option at right tackle.

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