Since Kenny Dillingham took over after a wild 2022 season, ASU has gone from chaos to clockwork. From luring DC Brian Ward to swapping out Ra’Shaad Samples, Dillingham has shown an eye for coaching gold. But the real hidden gem? Hiring Bryan Carrington as the CBs coach. He brought the experience of recruiting high-profile players at an impressive rate. And now, ASU’s 2026 class is starting to feel the impact, as Carrington fulfills the promise he made to the HC.

Standing 7th in the Big 12 with 18 commits, ASU’s 2026 class may not feature a 5-star recruit yet, but Carrington’s promise to bring talent from Texas is already fulfilled. With eight Texas commits, including QB Jake Fette, RB Cardae Mack, CB DaQuwan Dunn, and more, Carrington’s pledge has become a headline. On Wednesday, ASU reporter Gabriella Chernoff shared a video clip highlighting his words to HC Kenny Dillingham.

“I mean, I texted him early on,” said Bryan, referring to the pre-Big 12 days when ASU was still in the Pac-12 and Dillingham had just been hired. “Hey, if the stars align, look out for me.” There, he made a promise that if ASU joined the Big 12 and he was brought onto the staff, he would help bring top recruits from Texas. “I was like, ‘Kenny… if ASU gets a bid in the Big 12, you’re gonna need Texas to win at a high level, and I’m your guy.'”

And when he officially joined the staff, Carrington added, “Hey man, thank you for this opportunity. Each day, I’m just trying to make sure we continue to build on this mission and bring it to life.” Now, while Carrington has kept his promise to some extent, even hiring local talent like a three-star safety Zeth Thues, a big question remains: why did Dillingham choose him, or how has ASU fared in Texas under Carrington’s guidance?

The CBs coach’s experience at 3 Texas schools before ASU helped him land the job with Dillingham. “Bryan Carrington is someone that already has resounding success in his ability to identify and attract quality talent across the nation,” stated Dillingham after hiring him. “His name carries weight in the recruiting circles, and he has experience at some of the elite program. We are excited to welcome him to Tempe.”

While he had already built an impressive career serving in roles at programs like Houston and Texas Christian as a recruiter, his time in Texas is especially noteworthy. In 2018 and 2019, Carrington made waves as Texas’ director of recruiting, helping produce back-to-back Top-3 classes in the nation. To cap it off, in 2018 alone, he played a key role in signing 11 of the state’s top 15 players. And now, that experience has enabled him to bring Texas talent to the Sun Devils.

But while the Houston native brings in Texas talent, it could put Jerry McGuire and company on alert.

Can Kenny Dillingham’s CBs coach be a difference maker?

Jerry McGuire’s Texas Tech is being put on alert. But why such an alert despite Tech having landed 17 Texas commits, including players like OT Felix Ojo, WR Chase Campbell, CB S’Vioarean Martin, and more? Okay, while Texas Tech sits at No. 1 in the Big 12 with 21 total commits, ASU has nearly half of its commits from Texas. And with Carrington’s ability to attract top talent, it could double down on the competition for McGuire’s program in stacking Texas talent.

Similar to his situation at ASU, in 2023 Carrington took on dual roles at TCU as an offensive analyst and recruiting coordinator. On the recruiting trail, his work paid off big. TCU’s 2023 class ranked third in the Big 12, trailing only powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma. It proves that Carrington has a sharp eye for talent. And now he’s changing the game wherever he goes.

But on a side note, even the Longhorns have 10 commits from the state. That’s why Carrington needs to be aggressive with ASU’s recruitment in Texas. As the 2026 recruitment continues, we will see how many more Texas prospects are added to Dillingham’s roster for future class builds.