Arizona State coach Todd Graham announced the Sun Devils' 2013 spring practice schedule in a release Wednesday, highlighted by the annual spring game April 13.
ASU, coming off an 8-5 season that included a Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl win in Graham's first year, will open spring practice the morning of March 19 and practice three times per week through April 18.
Practices will be held at the Bill Kajikawa Practice Facility from 8:30 a.m. to roughly 11 a.m. on weekdays and a to-be-determined time on Saturdays. The practices are open to the public, as is the free spring game to be held at Sun Devil Stadium. The Pac-12 Network will provide coverage of the game.
The Sun Devils will enter spring camp with a few intriguing storylines. Quarterback Taylor Kelly will be preparing for his second season as the starter while trying to find off challengers Michael Eubank and Mike Bercovici. The returning receivers will also begin their efforts to impress coaches in hopes of leading a unit that lacked significant production in 2012.
Defensive intrigue includes returning consensus All-American defensive tackle Will Sutton, who surprised many with his decision last week to pass on the NFL for one more season in Tempe. The defensive backs will be battling for starting jobs vacated by seniors Deveron Carr and Keelan Johnson. And thanks to his early graduation from high school, top linebacker recruit Chans Cox, the No. 2 prospect in Arizona according to Scout.com, will be eligible to practice.
The 2013 season doesn't arrive until Sept. 7, but in an interview last week, Graham said he can already tell that his players are eager to get going on another season.
"They're excited," Graham said. "I can sense the energy, like at Will's press conference the other day with his teammates. These guys know we were very, very close. We were knocking on the door to being in the (Pac-12) championship game this year."
ASU's full 2013 spring practice schedule:
Tuesday, March 19 -- 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 20 -- 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 21 -- 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 23 -- time TBA (Sun Devil Youth Experience Clinic)
Tuesday, March 26 -- 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 28 -- 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 30 -- time TBA
Tuesday, April 2 -- 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 4 -- 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 6 -- time TBA
Tuesday, April 9 -- 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 11 -- 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 13 -- Spring game (Sun Devil Stadium), time TBA
Tuesday, April 16 -- 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 18 -- 8:30 a.m.
NOTES
-- Rashad Ross, a senior receiver this past season, was originally expected to be a part of the ASU track and field team for the 2013 season. However, a school spokesman said Wednesday he has left the team to focus on training in hopes of landing a job with an NFL team. Ross finished the season with 37 receptions for 610 yards and six touchdowns.
-- With the apparent departure of defensive line graduate assistant Brian Michalowski, ASU made a pair of staff moves this week. Former Sun Devil receiver Rudy Burgess, who was an offensive graduate assistant this season, has moved to the same position on the defensive side. Aaron Pflugrad, also a former ASU receiver, has taken Burgess' place on offense.
