ASU receivers have ‘answered the bell’ in Jordyn Tyson’s absence
Dec 18, 2024, 7:30 PM
TEMPE — Jordyn Tyson’s play over ASU’s final eight games this season is a big reason why the Sun Devils are in the College Football Playoff with a first-round bye.
The play of those who have stepped up since Tyson went down in the Territorial Cup was what sealed it.
“These guys have to answer the bell,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said on Wednesday of the approach entering the Big 12 title game. “They gotta carry the flag. … Everybody collectively took their piece in that game and did it with intent. It was a physical game of, ‘We’re gonna hammer down and go’ and that’s what you saw.”
ASU only had 17 pass attempts in the game, but there was no reason to force throws when Cam Skattebo and Sam Leavitt averaged 8.2 yards per carry on 23 rushes.
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When the offense did look downfield, it took advantage of how Iowa State packed the box in an effort to contain Skattebo, and as a result, four of Leavitt’s 12 completions (219 yards, three touchdowns) went for at least 20 yards.
The passing game got its kickstart with a 63-yard completion to Melquan Stovall on a gutsy fourth-and-1 call in its own territory on the Sun Devils’ second drive. Stovall also had a 22-yard completion on the prior scoring drive.
Malik McClain also stepped up to make his first catch of the season, a contested 43-yarder, after the plan was for him to redshirt this year.
Arroyo said the time he spent on the scout team has made ASU’s defense better, in addition to getting him more reps and keeping him ready for an opportunity.
Then there’s Xavier Guillory, who has four touchdowns on five catches over the last three games, including a miraculous scoring grab in Dallas.
Xavier Guillory catch of the year???
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 7, 2024
Entering the game, Tyson had accounted for 45% of the team’s passing yards (1,101) and 42% of its completions (75). Skattebo was the next-leading receiver in terms of yards (now at 506 on the season).
“It was really cool to see those guys step up, and they have that capability. Jordyn was just going so crazy that, you know, nobody really recognized it,” Leavitt said on Wednesday. “So I was really happy to see that they got that, and they’re just going to continue getting better.”
How have Jordyn Tyson, ASU’s other receivers spent this week in practice?
During Wednesday’s practice, Tyson was present and engaged with his arm in a sling, and he ended the day with a headset on.
The Sun Devils have ended several sessions this season by letting players on the lower end of the depth chart scrimmage with other players making the calls. Tyson called plays on Wednesday, with Trenton Bourguet among others who have done so in the past.
“He definitely wants to be out there, but yeah … he’s calling the plays right now, so we better be moving the ball because I’m gonna watch the film and make sure we’re critiquing this too for a play caller,” Arroyo remarked as the scrimmage took place.
Derek Eusebio, a redshirt freshman who took a screen pass the distance at Arizona after Tyson came out, caught a couple touchdowns in the scrimmage and dominated the competition.
Prior to the scrimmage, tight end Chamon Metayer put an exclamation point on the regular portion of practice with a one-handed catch in the end zone despite having two defenders draped all over him. It rivaled even Guillory’s difficult grab.
“Jordyn’s all in. I mean, he’s super bummed. He’s super competitive,” Arroyo said. “Anybody (who) gets hurt in this time right now is, you know, down, but I think as soon as the team rallied that week … and the team rallied behind him, then we went and played the game and guys stepped up.
“I think that said a lot about the team surrounding him. … He’s been awesome. I’m sure he’s bummed, but he’s our guy, man. He’s a star and will be for a long time.”
