It's often not easy to piece together a recruiting class after a coaching change, and new Arizona State coach Todd Graham had only six weeks on the job. But he retained 12 players who had been committed to ASU under former coach Dennis Erickson, added a local star in running back D.J. Foster of Scottsdale Saguaro and ended up with a 23-player class ranked as high as 33rd nationally by 247Sports.
What could end up making or breaking the class is the high number of junior-college transfers -- nine of them. Included among them are running back Marion Grice (considered the top JC prospect in the country at his position), linebacker Steffon Martin and safety Chris Young.
"It doesn't matter to me whether they're high school or junior college,'' Graham told the Arizona Republic. "We're looking for the best and brightest, guys with the best character, so we'll take them from all walks. But obviously, if we're going to take guys from junior college, they got to be ready to come in and play."
The class did not include a quarterback, but ASU has three on the roster who will compete to take over for early draft entrant Brock Osweiler.
"This class is one that exceeded my expectations, and we're well on our way to 2013," Graham said. "I want to let those recruits out there know that if you're a young man who has great character and you're a guy that's a great football player ... we're going to come find you."
TOP OF THE CLASS
-- RB D.J. Foster (Scottsdale Saguaro) -- Graham hopes Foster's signing is a statement in terms of the in-state recruiting battles that are already heating up between ASU and the new coaching staff at Arizona.
"That's a giant leap forward," Graham said of signing Foster. "That's knocking a block out, instead of a chip."
Foster, ranked as the fifth-best all-purpose athlete nationally by Rivals.com, rushed 234 times for 3,058 yards and 54 touchdowns as a senior. He and JC transfer Marion Grice could take time away from incumbent Cameron Marshall.
-- LB Steffon Martin (Arizona Western College, Yuma) -- He could replace Vontaze Burfict at middle linebacker after being ranked the No. 3 junior-college linebacker nationally by Rivals.com. Martin made 108 tackles, including 17 for loss, and should find ample playing time in a decimated linebacker corps.
-- DT Mike Pennel (Scottsdale Community College) -- He could be the big man in the middle of a new three-man front. Pennel is 6-5, 340 pounds, and he made 13 tackles for loss last season. "He absolutely epitomizes power," Graham said. "You build your defense from the inside out, so we're really excited about what his potential is."
NOTES, QUOTES
-- It was somewhat of a surprise that junior QB Brock Osweiler left for the NFL draft after only one season as the starter, but his stock has been on the rise leading up to the NFL Combine in late February. Osweiler completed 326 of 516 passes for a school-record 4,036 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season. He has good athleticism for a 6-8 quarterback, and he could end up being among the first five quarterbacks drafted.
-- Five players from powerhouse Long Beach (Calif.) Poly had committed to ASU when Dennis Erickson was the coach. Four of them ended up signing with Todd Graham. "We were honest -- that's how I approached it," Graham told the Arizona Republic. "We told them, 'Hey, this is what we're about. Here is how we see you fitting or not fitting.' There was a lot of work that needed to be done, I can tell you that. Any time there's a change like that there's a lot of unrest."
QUOTE TO NOTE: He's the so-called 'jewel' of our class. I don't know that I've ever met a more dynamic player ... that was so impressive to talk to. This guy's character is unbelievable, and I'm more excited about that, to be honest with you." -- Todd Graham on recruit D.J. Foster.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
-- The quarterback position will get the most focus, but losses also were extensive along the offensive line, at linebacker and at receiver with the loss of Gerell Robinson, Mike Willie and Aaron Pflugrad. ASU has young in-house options at quarterback, but coach Todd Graham is hoping for junior-college fixes at the other spots. At 6-4, WR Alonzo Agwuenu is in the mold of Robinson and Willie. ASU no longer has mercurial Vontaze Burfict at linebacker, but there is one school of thought that his departure could be addition by subtraction, as the new coaches won't have to deal with his attitude problems. And he wasn't very productive last season anyway.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012
-- WR Jamal Miles was one of the most dangerous return men in the country, finishing with one score on a punt return and two on kick returns. The speedy senior-to-be was also a threat on quick, lateral passes (with 29 rushes for 237 yards) and finished with 60 receptions for 361 yards.
-- RB Cameron Marshall is a hard runner who has some speed once he gets into open space. He battled through an ankle injury much of the season, finishing with 230 carries for 1,050 yards and a tying a school record with 18 rushing touchdowns. He might see a change in his role, though, as sophomore Deantre Lewis will be back from a gunshot injury and recruits D.J. Foster and Marion Grice will be added to the mix. Coach Todd Graham said he can utilize a lot of two-back sets.
-- CB Osahon Irabor started 13 games in 2011, breaking up seven passes. He should help set the foundation in a secondary that is expected to use a five-man look in 2012.
-- LB Brandon Magee had 73 tackles in 2010, ranking second on the team, and was the team's most dependable linebacker. He will be back after missing last season because of a torn Achilles' in fall camp.
PLAYER NOTES
-- DE Junior Onyeali -- The 2010 Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year had a disappointing sophomore season, missing four games because of torn meniscus in his left knee, getting suspended for the bowl game after an argument with Dennis Erickson and then getting suspended indefinitely by new coach Todd Graham. His status is uncertain.
-- Senior WR T.J. Simpson, who missed the 2011 season because of injury, was denied a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA.
-- CB Rashad Wadood, a freshman, suffered a torn ACL at Washington State on Nov. 12.
-- RB Deantre Lewis, who suffered a hamstring/buttocks injury in a random shooting last February, redshirted in 2011. He should be available for spring ball. Lewis rushed for 539 yards in 2010 as a true freshman.
-- S Ezekiel Bishop, a second-stringer, suffered an ACL tear against UC-Davis on Sept. 1 and missed the rest of the season.
-- CB Devan Spann missed last season because of shoulder problems.
-- Walk-on WR Kevin Ozier was given a scholarship by new coach Todd Graham. Ozier had 11 catches for 169 yards last season.
