When Kenny Dillingham took over the head coach position at Arizona State in 2022, nobody expected the first-time HC to deliver goods at a struggling program. His first year went along the expected lines. A 3-9 record in their last year in the Pac-12. The move to the Big 12 was going to bring a fresh set of challenges. The team was projected to finish last in pre-season polls. What transpired was something even a diehard ASU fan wouldn’t have dreamt of. An 11-3 finish, a Big 12 Championship, and a game to remember against Texas in the playoffs. The Sun Devils were ultimately knocked out, but not without a fight. Now, with Cam Skattebo off to the NFL, the head coach is in uncharted waters. And it’s not just the offense that the head coach must look at. The other side of the ball requires even greater attention.

Well, there is still some fishy air prevailing in that particular area. After a challenging start to his tenure, Dillingham set foot strongly on the recruiting trail. After stockpiling the 2025 card, he is gearing up for 2026, marking a strategic and sustainable shift in the approach. The Sun Devils have already bagged verbal commitments from several top-tier 2026 prospects, showing the staff’s unique command over the young talents inside and outside the state. They have jumped to No. 2 in the Big 12 in the 2026 class ranking. Thanks to the string of key commitments like Cardae Mack and Julian Hugo.

Read the name again. Julian Hugo. Yes, you read it right. The 6 ft 4 in player from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas, embraced the Sun Devils’ phenomenal team culture. But the Sun Devils’ edge rusher position seems to be too vulnerable to be fixed this easily by a kid who won’t even get any snaps this season.

“You’re going to be losing basically your entire edge rushing room,” insider Richie Bradshaw dished an early reality check of the 2026 rusher room. “The vast majority of your defensive line or no defensive tackle spot is actually good. It’s the edge rushers. Clayton Smith’s gone. Prince Dorbah’s gone. Elijah O’Neal is gone. Anthony Cooper is gone. Justin Wodtly is gone, and there’s not a lot that’s currently being developed on this team.”

The team has suffered significant setbacks in pressuring the opposing quarterbacks. The pass rush grades for defensive tackles and edge defenders seem to be at their lowest. Call it the biggest blemish for a defense that ranked sixth in the conference in run defense (81.4), allowed only 22.6 points, standing third overall, and racked up 23 forced turnovers, making it the fourth-best overall.

Missing out on several sacks throughout the season, they need to hone their finishing skills. But losing their three top-rated EDGE rushers of the year (Wodtly, Smith, and Dorbah) can make them as desperate as a zombie to swoop in on anyone they have access to.

“They’re going to have to add some guys through this recruiting class,” Richie doubled down on the streamlining fear. “But I also think there’s a very realistic possibility that for the winter window for the transfer portal, they go heavy for whatever is out there. Three stars, five-star edge rushers, whatever is there.”

However, other than the pointed fragility, the Sun Devils are doing well in their defense.

Arizona State popped up in the spring defense 

Looking at the offense, they are still juggling to fix the Cam Skattebo woes. But it’s safe to say that they have stacked their options pretty well. Be it the former Army RB Kanye Udoh or the O-line weapons Wade Helton and Brent Helton, Dillingham is trying his best not to let the Skattebo absence take a toll. But he is pretty optimistic about the defensive output this spring.

When asked which group in the defense has stood out to him the most so far in spring practices, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham has an intriguing response, shedding the spotlight on the defensive line. “Defensive line. Our defensive line is super, super competitive right now,” Dillingham said. “A lot of these guys are playing at the best level they’ve played at since I’ve been here. I think they’re going to be absolutely better this year because of the strength and the work ethic, and the mindset they’ve.”

Reading the mind of Dillingham behind his vision is easy. For 2025, they have a returning safety net in the defense. Except for Jeff Clark, they will have each player coming back stronger with more experience and grit. They are already at the helm of the rushing defenses. This year, it will certainly grow more. However, tighten your belt for the upcoming year if Dillingham doesn’t craft an early plan to sustain the losses.