Sun Devil football picks up energy on Day 2 of spring practices

The Sun Devil football team brought the energy during the team’s second day of spring practices. ASU’s coaching staff got their personnel plugged into the right spots throughout the media viewing period.

Notably, redshirt defensive back Jordan Clark was flying around the field Thursday. Clark worked with the starting defense as the team’s slot cornerback. 

ASU fans can exhale after seeing Clark get early reps this spring, given his lack of production the last few seasons. Special advisor to the head coach Marvin Lewis assisted Clark in lining up correctly early in practice. 

Even with the early correction, Clark practiced with a high energy and enthusiasm. 

Other standouts from Thursday’s practice included redshirt senior linebacker Kyle Soelle and senior linebacker Merlin Robertson. 

Soelle and Robertson led the charge in Sun Devil football’s 11-on-11 period. The duo showed promising flashes on Thursday by disrupting run plays and sinking in their zones in pass coverage. 

The linebacking corps also included sophomore Eric Gentry. Gentry recorded 45 total tackles and a sack last season for the Sun Devils. However, the sophomore is only listed at 200 pounds, which is rather underweight for a linebacker at this level.

Gentry’s weight appears to keep him moving well with wideouts and tight ends in coverage. Even so, if he was able to put on 15-20 pounds, it’d certainly make an impact in his run defense. 

While the ASU defense continued to look like the strong point of this Sun Devil football roster, the offense needs work.

Offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas is still only a couple days into spring ball, but it’s evident with the offense’s lack of synergy that this is a real work in progress. 

The ASU offense featured much of the same from day one. Redshirt junior quarterback Trenton Bourguet ran with the first team offense. Redshirt junior quarterback and Alabama transfer Paul Tyson continued to work with the second team. 

Through the media’s viewing period the last few days, it’s been clear Bourguet is more comfortable throwing the football. Tyson has missed several passes in both 11-on-11 periods and in drills without a defense. 

It’s worth noting redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chad Johnson Jr. and redshirt junior wide receiver Andre Johnson worked primarily with the second team offense.