No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils

Editor’s Note: Beginning every May 1, Athlon Sports counts toward the release of its College Football Annuals by releasing one spot in its Top 25 every weekday for five weeks. The No. 1 team will be revealed June 4. Check AthlonSports.com every day to see who’s next in the countdown. The 2008 College Football Annuals hit newsstands June 3rd.

The Sun Devils enjoyed a three-game turnaround, from 7–6 and losing three of their last five games in 2006, to 10–3 in Dennis Erickson’s first season. For 2008, six starters are back on offense and seven on defense. Quarterback Rudy Carpenter has been characterized as tough more than anything else, but he is also remarkably skilled. Last year he completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,202 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Carpenter’s supporting cast looks generally familiar, with his top two receivers — Chris McGaha and Michael Jones — and leading rusher Keegan Herring also back for ’08. McGaha and Jones combined for 107 receptions at 15 yards per catch. McGaha led the team with 61 catches; Jones posted team highs with a 16.7-yard average and 10 touchdowns. Herring and Dmitri Nance ran for more yards than any other teammate duo in the Pac-10 coming back for 2008. Together they rushed for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in ’07. Their differing styles — Herring is explosive and fast; Nance is a 220-pound power back — complement each other beautifully. The offensive line will be rebuilt around gargantuan (6’6“, 336) guard Paul Fanaika, with Shawn Lauvao back at the other guard.

Linebacker Travis Goethel is the top returning tackler, though safety Troy Nolan is the most dynamic defender, having totaled 64 tackles and six interceptions last fall. He returned two of his picks for scores. The front four is a veteran unit featuring returning starters Dexter Davis, Luis Vasquez and David Smith. Ends Davis and Vasquez collected 25 tackles behind the line and 15 sacks between them a year ago. Smith picked off a pass from his tackle position and rumbled 18 yards with the return.

The Sun Devils and the Georgia Bulldogs will meet this year for the first time, at Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 20. The month of October features trips to California and USC and a home date with Oregon.

Iron man Carpenter has started more consecutive games (31) than any other active quarterback in the nation.

Possessive The 2007 Sun Devils held onto the football for an average of 33:08 per game, ranking third nationally.

Trifecta Erickson is the only coach to have been named Pac-10 Coach of the Year at three different schools — Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona State.

Arizona State superlatives:

K Thomas Weber is named First-Team All-America and First-Team All-Pac-10.

RB Keegan Herring, DL Dexter Davis and PR Kyle Williams are named First-Team All-Pac-10.

QB Rudy Carpenter, OL Paul Fanaika, DL Luis Vasquez, CB Omar Bolden and S Troy Nolan are named Second-Team All-Pac-10.

WR Michael Jones and LB Travis Goethel join the All-Pac-10 Third Team.

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You can read the entire Arizona State preview in the 2008 Athlon Sports College Football magazine, available for purchase now at the Athlon Sports store.

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
— Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
— Live chats with Athlon editors
— Conference-preview videocasts
— Launch of the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100
— Athlon's college fantasy football draft kit

Other in-season offerings:
— Previews for every college football game
— Fantasy games
— Sideline Spirit voting
— Scenes From Saturday
— Updated Athlon 119
— Much more

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