PHNX Daily: Sun Devils, Wildcats Building Portal Classes

👋 GOOD MORNING – We’re inching closer to the end of the week. With how slow and disappointing the Cardinals’ coaching search has been, these last few days have seemed quite agonizing — especially with John Harbaugh seemingly headed to New York.

Luckily, we do have a couple of competent (fingers crossed) football programs in this state — at the NCAA level. The season may be over, but the Sun Devils and Wildcats have been hard at work recruiting the Transfer Portal, and there may be some future studs in there.

Let’s take a look at the classes!

— Alex D’Agostino, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

Sun Devils Engineering Top Portal Class

With Kenny Dillingham locked in for the foreseeable future, ASU football remains in good hands. The Sun Devils have gone to work quickly this portal cycle, and it’s paid off.

According to 247sports’ rankings, ASU owns the 11th-best incoming portal class in the country, with three 4-star recruits and 16 3-stars. Below are the names:

• QB Cutter Boley (Kentucky)
• WR Omarion Miller (Colorado)
• WR Raiden Vines-Bright (Washington)
• RB David Avit (Villanova) DB Caleb Chester (Texas)
• P Nick McLarty (Ohio State)
• CB Ashton Stamps (LSU)
• RB Marquis Gillis (Delaware State)
• WR Reed Harris (Boston College) K Carson Smith (Austin Peay)
• QB Mikey Keene (Michigan)
• S Lyrik Rawls (Kansas)
• DT Hyrum Vaeono (Butler Community College)
• C Tana Alo-Tupuola (Georgia Tech)
• LS Grayson Curtis (New Mexico State)
• LB Owen Long (Colorado State) LB Ramere Davis (NAU)
• TE Anthony Miller (Tulane)
• EDGE Emar’rion Winston (Baylor)
• TE Kristian Ingman (Portland State)
• DL Jeffrey Manns II (Hutchinson Community College)
• OT Luke Baklenko (Oklahoma)
• S Jessiah McGrew (Florida International)
• S Antoine Belgrave–Shorter (Penn State)
• EDGE Jalen Thompson (Michigan)

Obviously, there have also been some notable departures. We won’t get too into the weeds there, but let’s just say Sam Leavitt and Lane Kiffin appear to be a pretty solid match… and leave it at that.

Wildcats Looking To Maintain Momentum

The Wildcats outperformed expectations by a wide margin in 2025, and are looking to keep that momentum going. These names don’t quite rank as high as ASU as a whole, but some quality additions have been made. Arizona’s class includes one 4-star and 16 3-stars.

Here they are:

• TE Arthur Ban (San Diego State)
• LB Cooper Blomstrom (Georgetown)
• CB Dwight Bootle II (Charlotte)
• CB Tyrese Boss (Wyoming)
• S Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado)
• WR Rodney Gallagher III (West Virginia)
• OL Jake Griffin (BYU)
• OL Nate Hale (San Jose State)
• P Ryan Harris (Washington State)
• S Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska)
• OL Zachary Henning (Washington)
• C DJ Jordan (USC)
• TE Shane King (Southern Miss)
• S Lee Molette III (UConn)
• LS Drew Nicolson (Arkansas State)
• RB Antwan Roberts (Marshall)
• LB Everett Roussaw Jr. (Memphis)
• WR Jordan Ross (Colorado State)
• TE Cole Rusk (Illinois)
• LB Matai Tagoa’i (USC)

Arizona has had some departures as well, but most of the significant roster attrition is coming in the form of players declaring for the draft. 2026 will say a lot about Brent Brennan and his staff.

If you want to follow along live with every Wildcats portal update, check out our Counting Cats portal tracker here.

Wildcat Hoops Grit out Territorial Cup

Despite the talent difference, last night’s Territorial matchup was a tough, ugly, gritty basketball game — as it so often is. The No. 1-ranked Wildcats ultimately held on by a score of 89-82, but the Sun Devils managed to put forward one of their best efforts of the season.

Ultimately, Arizona will improve to 17-0, while ASU will stare down a quality loss. The Wildcats got a stunning 25 points out of Tobe Awaka off the bench, and 24 from Koa Peat (with 10 rebounds on the side). It’s tough to combat that.

The Devils got 23 out of Moe Odum, held a 39-38 lead at halftime and trailed by just four with just under 1:30 to play, but a late run from Jaden Bradley and the Cats sealed the deal. ASU will get another chance at an upset at home in two weeks.

Art-ful: The Cardinals’ coaching search took a less-than-ideal turn yesterday, as it was announced the team had requested an interview with Steelers OC Arthur Smith. Meanwhile, John Harbaugh is working on finalizing a deal to become the next coach of the Giants. Ouch.

If you’re looking to keep a close eye on every name, interview request and rumor, follow along with PHNX Cardinals’ coaching tracker at the link below — updated daily by yours truly.

Arizona Cardinals 2026 Coaching Search Tracker

Undermanned: The Suns face off against the 28-10 Detroit Pistons tonight at 5:00 p.m., and may be missing their star for the matchup. Devin Booker — who rolled his ankle and briefly exited the game against the Heat on Tuesday — is officially questionable, although Jalen Green appears to be getting closer and closer to a return. One can only hope.