Arizona State assistant coach Charlie Ragle will be taking some time off following reports of health struggles. Ragle informed head coach Kenny Dillingham of his decision on Sunday, which was later conveyed to the media. Following this, he was flooded with warmth and messages from Sun Devil Nation. Now, the stand-in replacement has also shared his feelings on Coach Ragle’s condition.

Ragle has taken an immediate leave of absence as a longstanding health issue has worsened in recent weeks. According to Sun Devil Source and Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, ASU’s assistant special teams coordinator Jack Nudo will be stepping in for Charlie Ragle.

Speaking during media availability on Thursday, Nudo added how Ragle’s debilitating health has also impacted him. “My immediate reaction was sadness and shock. I’ve known Coach Ragle since I was a kid… Not the way I wanted to get this role by any means, but it’s not about me, it’s about these players… I’m always gonna be myself, I’m not gonna try and be Coach Ragle, because nobody can do that other than Coach Ragle.”

By and large, Nudo is undertaking a big responsibility and, by his own admission, will have some big boots to fill.

Previously, Jack Nudo has worked as a Special Teams Assistant Coach at UCLA, a linebackers coach at Austin Peay State University and
Senior Special Teams Analyst at East Carolina. He brings a wealth of experience and promises to be an adequate replacement while Ragle recovers. Nudo joined ASU as an Assistant Special Teams Coordinator in January. Since then, he has been working under the watchful eye of Charlie Ragle.

Following ASU’s loss to the Houston Cougars last week, it is clear the Sun Devils are out of playoff contention. However, winning out their remaining games could still help improve their seeding and build momentum for next season. A good place to start would be the special teams, where Jack Nudo has his work cut out for him.

How can Jack Nudo improve Arizona State’s special teams?

Jack Nudo will be working directly alongside Kenny Dillingham, helping him with Arizona State’s remaining games this season. Up first is a showdown against Iowa State, followed by games against West Virginia, Colorado and Arizona.

By now, Nudo is well familiar with the special teams’ struggles this season. Take their 24-16 loss against Houston as an example, which included two missed field goal attempts and four costly special teams penalties.

Before moving to what hasn’t worked, let’s try to note some of the positives. Place kicker Jesus Gomez has bagged game-winning field goals against Baylor and TCU. Similarly, punter Kanyon Floyd has also been solid when fit. When talking about what needs to be improved, the solutions lie more so in the fundamentals and reducing unforced errors than anything else. An example is Zech Sample, fair catching punts at ASU’s five-yard line before the final drive of the game.

While eliminating these mental lapses and working on tackling and spacing will definitely benefit the special teams, ASU has more problems to contend with in the coming weeks. Star quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson will miss the game against Iowa State. While Leavitt’s injury is likely a long-term one, there is hope that Tyson can soon recover from his hamstring injury.