ASU releases Week 1 depth chart vs. NAU; Timarcus Davis, Jordan Clark out

The Arizona State Sun Devils football team on Monday released the depth chart for its Week 1 matchup against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

With head coach Herm Edwards having already named Florida transfer Emory Jones as the starting quarterback on Aug. 18, the bigger questions for offensive starters were at the wide receiver and tackle positions.

On the defensive side of the ball, Edwards said after practice on Monday that defensive backs Timarcus Davis and Jordan Clark will both be out against NAU due to injuries, but anticipates both of them to be available Week 2 against Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Sept. 10.

ASU football’s depth chart vs. NAU:#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/SR0YSjv1mT

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 29, 2022

Queen Creek High School graduate Isaia Glass has beaten out Northern State transfer Emmit Bohle at left tackle, while Penn State transfer Des Holmes will start at right tackle. The rest of the offensive line was already solidified between the tackles with left guard LaDarius Henderson, center Ben Scott and San Diego State transfer Chris Martinez at right guard. Iowa State transfer and Deer Valley High School alumnus Joey Ramos will serve as the backup at RG and RT, as well as third-string long snapper.

At wide receiver, Elijhah Badger has won the starting Z spot with Virginia Union transfer Charles Hall IV and Chad Johnson Jr. behind him. The jury still appears to be out for the X and H positions, however, as Bryan Thompson or Andre Johnson will be at X and Gio Sanders or Vanderbilt transfer Cam Johnson will play the H.

The tight end and fullback positions, or Y/H on the depth chart, has the trio of Case Hatch, Jalin Conyers and Missouri transfer Messiah Swinson all listed as potential starters. With Hatch standing at only 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds compared to Conyers’ 6-foot-4, 265-pound frame and Swinson’s towering 6-foot-8, 255-pound body, Hatch will likely serve as more of a fullback while Conyers and Swinson play tight end.

At running back, ASU designated Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay or Daniyel Ngata as the starters. The anticipation is that Valladay will be the primary back.

Defensively, Tautala Pesefea Jr. or Miami transfer Nesta Jade Silvera will be the team’s starting nose tackle. The Soelle brothers of Kyle and Connor will start at MIKE and WILL backer, respectively.

With Davis and Clark out, Auburn transfer Ro Torrence and Ed Woods will get their first starts for ASU at cornerback. D.J. Taylor, Macen Williams or Hawaii transfer Khoury Bethley will be the team’s nickel corner, while either Kejuan Markham or Bethley will be at one of the two safety spots. Bethley has the most tackles of any returning player in the country and the second-most defensive snaps of any returner in the nation.

Last but not least is who the place kicker will be, as assistant coach and special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum will “ride the hot hand” (or foot) of true freshman Carter Brown or redshirt freshman Jace Feely, the son of former Arizona Cardinals K Jay Feely.

ASU hosts NAU on Thursday at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM / 98.7 FM HD-2.

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