Arizona State is heading into its opener with a roster that looks a lot different from the one Kenny Dillingham inherited, and that change is exactly the point.
On Tuesday morning at the Kajikawa Practice fields, the Sun Devils worked for about two and a half hours in helmets and pads, and the vibe around the program was hard to miss. Fifth-year defensive lineman Blazen Lono-Wong is the lone player left from the group that arrived before Dillingham, and he’s watched the program climb from a brutal two-year stretch into a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance.
“It’s exciting to see how this program grew from when I first came," Lono-Wong said while reflecting ahead of what will very likely be his final college season. "A lot of new things, new motives, a lot of energy.
That's what I noticed from my first year to now. A lot of people love to be here.
They love what they're doing and they're not forced to be here. They want to be here."
That sense of buy-in has become a theme for the Sun Devils, especially among players who have stuck around long enough to watch the culture take shape. Fifth-year defensive end Romar Pitre called this group the closest he’s been around since high school.
“This is the closest, tight-knit team I've been on since high school," fifth-year defensive end Romar Pitre said. "It's very important because whenever the going gets tough in the game, you know that you've got your guy right next to you to perform for. It makes it easier to fight for them."
Pitre’s comments fit the way ASU’s defense has been operating through camp. The defensive line has leaned into a “four equals one” mindset, with the idea that if one player makes the play, the whole unit gets the credit. That message has shown up in the pass rush, which kept disrupting plays throughout preseason camp.
“It’s really emphasized in the defensive line room," Pitre said. "You got (senior defensive tackle) C.J.
Fite next to me taking a double team trying to hold that off for me or a linebacker to make a play. It's kind of the same thing if I get a puller; we all just kind of have to take it for the team, and I'm cool with that."
The connection isn’t just internal. Dillingham’s push to build something lasting has been matched by support around the program, and that has been part of the momentum too.
After going undefeated at home in 2024, the Sun Devils sold out every game at Mountain America Stadium for the first time in a season. With Saturday night approaching, the players sound ready for the setting.
“It definitely gives us an extra edge," Pitre said. "Whenever teams walk through the tunnel and it says, 'Abandon all hope ye who enter here' with all of our fans there, I feel like that plays a crucial part in our games."
There were also some important personnel updates from practice. Senior defensive lineman MyKeil Gardner will miss the 2026 season after season-ending surgery on his Achilles, while sophomore cornerback Nigel Pringle suffered a season-ending core injury in the team’s Camp Tontozona scrimmage. A few other players were out or limited, though the team’s injury-reporting policy prevented additional details from being disclosed.
Khamari Anderson was among the more encouraging developments. The senior tight end took first-team reps in 11-on-11 work as he continued to ramp up after breaking his leg in an April scrimmage. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo indicated Anderson appears on track to play against Morgan State.
Special teams also got plenty of work. Junior punters Nick McLarty and Kanyon Floyd both had multiple chances, with McLarty working with the first team and generally landing around 40 yards per kick.
He pinned one punt inside the 20 and another inside the five. Floyd, with the second unit, had a rougher session, with only one of his four punts going beyond 40 yards.
Kicker Carson Smith finished two team periods by drilling field goals from 45 and 32 yards. He was perfect on his four kicks from inside 50 yards, though he narrowly missed from 50 and 52 yards, apparently against a breeze. Senior kicker Carston Kieffer made one of three attempts, connecting from 37 yards while missing wide on tries from 32 and 45 yards.
In Other News...
Arizona State's Opener Suddenly Looks Less Comfortable Than Fans Expected
Arizona States 2026 season opener at Mountain America Stadium was supposed to be a straightforward tune-up, but Morgan State has already shown it plans to arrive with something more than a ceremonial checkbook trip. The Bears, an FCS program with a history of conference championships and notable alumni, have traveled a long way for the chance at exposure and a measuring-stick game against a Power Four opponent, and they are carrying both new faces and returning players who want their opportunity to matter.
For the Sun Devils, that changes the feel of the matchup before it even gets here. Morgan State has a game under its belt and some early momentum, which makes this less of a sleepy September opening than fans might have expected. Arizona State will still be favored, but the setup now asks for a sharper start and a more serious edge from a team that does not want to give a visitor from the FCS any reason to think it can hang around. [Read more 🡒]