We analyzed last week how new coaches Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez are
navigating
the Arizona recruiting landscape, but it seems that
Graham has himself on the board first by securing an out-of-state
commitment for ASU.
Actually, make that an
out-of-country commitment. According to multiple reports, Graham landed
running back Terrell Davis over the weekend from Mount Senior Secondary
in Victoria, British Columbia. The Canadian back had previously
committed to Washington State but opened things up when the Cougars
fired Paul Wulff. He would be the 20th verbal commitment in ASU's
class.
Scout.com ranks the 6-foot, 215-pound Davis a
three-star recruit and the No. 101 running back in the country. Landing
Davis isn't necessarily a home run for Graham's staff, but it's their
first high school commitment and an indication that something's working
for them on the recruiting trail.
Getting Davis'
commitment also further shows just how hard Graham and company are
hitting the recruiting scene -- they're going as far as they need to and
leaving few stones unturned. It's a solid first get for Graham and one
that should inspire increased confidence in a still-uncertain fan
base.
But what can Graham do to really win over the
Sun Devil faithful? Land Scottsdale Saguaro running back D.J. Foster,
one of the top recruits in Arizona. It would prove that he's got an
attractive (to recruits) plan in place for the program and can recruit
the state -- and that doesn't even relate to what Foster could
potentially do on the field for ASU.
It looks like
Graham is pushing hard for Foster, too, as ASUDevils.com reported over
the weekend that Graham had a positive meeting with Foster's high school
coach, John Sanders, who was fired from Saguaro last week. It's not
far-fetched to think the standing relationship between Sanders and
Foster could help bring Foster to Tempe should Sanders end up working
for Graham in some capacity.
National signing day is
just a little more than three weeks away, and Graham getting on the
board is a good sign. With the first one out of the way, we'll almost
certainly start seeing more chips falling.
