Sun Devils DB will move on
Arizona State has taken another blow, courtesy of the transfer portal, with Defensive Back Ed Woods entering his name into the mix.
Wood’s decision to leave ASU comes on the heels of a wild week for the Sun Devils where quarterback Jaden Rashada and wide receiver Elijah Badger, both of whom also decided to enter the portal. ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham was caught off guard, describing the move by Woods a “Curveball”.
“Obviously Ed’s a good player,” Dillingham said Monday. “I really want Ed to succeed in life. Hopefully that’s here and I think I can help him get to where he wants to go. But if that’s not here, then that is a loss for us. That is a position that we got to go get a guy. That wasn’t one, to be honest, that I expected.”
The junior defensive back was expected to be in line to start at cornerback for the Sun Devils this fall as he had been taking first team reps all spring. Woods had featured in 32 games for ASU, including 13 starts, four of which came last season. In 2023, he tallied 33 tackles, three of which for loss, an interception against No.6 Oregon, two forced fumbles and four pass break-ups.
Dillingham and his staff will now be tasked with filling Wood’s role in the squad. Headlining the contenders in house to take over the job are Keith Abney II, Xavion Alford, Cole Martin, Javan Robinson or Montana Warren.
The Sun Devils will likely bring in a defensive back via the portal, whether the starting role is filled in house or not. According to 247Sports, two of the best five players currently in the transfer portal are cornerbacks, those being Colorado’s Cormani McClain at No.2 overall and Arizona’s Tacario Davis at No.5 overall.
On Monday, Dillingham described the type of players he’s looking to bring to Tempe.
“We’re gonna sign people here that this is their plan,” Dillingham said. “That’s what we’re going to be filled with. A roster of people that are one hundred percent committed to this, to getting this city, behind this program, to get where I think this place can go.”