(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)
Prior to ASU’s bout against Oregon State, the defensive unit for the Sun Devils was trending upward at practically every position.
It was with that thought in mind that last week’s edition of “Stock Up, Stock Down” was comprised solely of players on the offensive side of the ball. Frankly, the defense was playing so well and with such uninhibited success that anything other than a “Stock Up” for any given player would have been false.
But, with a new week comes new content, and ASU’s shocking loss to Oregon State provides just that. Specifically, given that Oregon State scored three touchdowns from 60 yards or more and all four of its touchdowns were scored from outside 20 yards, someone has to be held accountable.
Enter this week’s edition of “Stock Up, Stock Down” for eight of the Sun Devils top and most noteworthy defensive players
Following the same theme as last week’s stock analysis of the offense, the criteria for the stock designation will be the player’s contributions in ASU’s last three games (Utah, Notre Dame and Oregon State).
Marcus Hardison (DE), Stock: Up
Stats last three games: 13 total tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass deflected
If the eye test has not sufficed in ASU’s last three games or if the stats above do not paint a clear enough picture, take it from head coach Todd Graham:
“Marcus Hardison is playing at an All-American level right now. His light has turned on,” said Graham at Monday’s press conference.
The fact of the matter is that Graham is completely right.
Though Hardison struggled to acclimate to the speed of Division I college football throughout the 2013 season, he was tabbed by the coaching staff coming into 2014 as one of the few players on defense with lead-by-example capabilities.
If his performance throughout the season, and especially these last three games, has not done the talking, perhaps consider that Graham has showered words like “indispensable” and “most valuable” to describe his senior defensive end.
Jaxon Hood (NT), Stock: Down
Stats last three games: 1 total tackle, 1 pass deflected
Jaxon Hood’s stock has been in a massive nose dive as of late simply because he has not played in the Sun Devils’ last two games, nor has he been in attendance for any of the team’s practices leading up to the respective game. The situation has been characterized as Hood dealing with “personal issues.”
To be frank, Hood had underwhelmed in 2014 (he accumulated only 10 tackles in eight games), and the Sun Devil defense did not miss a beat with him out of the starting lineup against Notre Dame.
At the same time, Oregon State gashed ASU’s edge-blitz defense on a routine basis with runs up the middle. The question remains if the difference between Viliami Latu’s 6-foot-2, 260-pound frame and Hood’s 6-foot, 300-pound frame would have made a significant impact on the outcome.
It is worth discussion, but until he steps on the field again for the Sun Devils, his stock will remain down.
Laiu Moeakiola (SPUR LB), Stock: Even
Stats last three games: 14 total tackles, 1 sack
In conjunction with Marcus Hardison, Laui Moeakiola may be the most talented player on the Sun Devil defense. And he would be labeled with words like “indispensable” like Hardison is, if only he could stay on the field to prove it.
Moeakiola is currently second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, tied for second with five sacks and fifth with 53 total tackles—truly remarkable stats considering he has mustered them with fluctuating playing time because of various different ailments.
Moeakiola remains a vital part to the Sun Devil defense, but with a shoulder injury and other minor concerns, his stock can go no higher than “even” simply because ASU has had to learn to cope without him on the field.
Antonio Longino (WILL LB), Stock: Up
Stats last three games: 21 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass deflected, 1 fumble recovery (returned for TD)
Sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs to find success. Antonio Longino has certainly found success after moving from Devilbacker to WILL linebacker in 2014.
Slightly too undersized to find success at the Devilbacker position, the shift to the linebacker corps has worked wonders for Longino and for the ASU defense as a whole. His latest success came in the form of a 36-yard fumble recovery touchdown in the second quarter against Oregon State. Longino’s status as a redshirt junior with JUCO experience also makes him the ideal candidate to continue to help lead a young ASU defense.
DJ Calhoun (SPUR/WILL LB), Stock: Up
Stats last three games: 5 total tackles
DJ Calhoun being relegated to second string WILL linebacker with the ascent of Longino should have spelled doom for his stock. But instead, it has been a blessing in disguise.
Only a true freshman, Calhoun has shown flashes of dominance at times this season, but he was clearly not ready to assume an every down role as the team’s starting linebacker. The initial ramifications of him moving to the second team were four straight performances (against Stanford, Washington, Utah and Notre Dame) with no counting statistics.
Against Oregon State, however, Calhoun found consistent success (five tackles) in a change-of-pace role on third downs or whenever Laiu Moeakiola needed to be spelled due to lingering injuries.
With no end in sight to the cycle of injuries thrust upon Moeakiola and Graham recognizing that Calhoun will be a vital part of the defense’s success for the next three seasons, anticipate Calhoun’s stock to continue to trend upward.
Edmond Boateng (DE), Stock: Down
Stats last three games: 5 total tackles
Inside Sun Devil Stadium, there is a hall that runs perpendicular to the Tillman Tunnel that has a season-long ranking system of all defensive players who have stepped on the field for ASU in 2014. The rankings are a cumulative assessment of the player’s performance based on tackles, missed tackles, interceptions, critical errors and a myriad of other factors.
Players like Jordan Simone and Damarious Randall have alternated between the first and second spots throughout the year, but defensive end Edmond Boateng has not wavered in his entrenchment at the bottom of the list.
Even though Boateng is blessed with occupying a position that is primed for large amount of tackles in run prevention, he did not record any against Notre Dame and managed only one against Oregon State.
Granted, his potential is immense, as he was a four-star prospect and the No. 3 rated JUCO defensive end, according to ESPN. Combine that potential with the fact that he plays a position of dire need for the ASU defense, and it is clear the coaching staff will continue to plug him out on the field.
Yet as long as his name remains at the bottom of the defensive assessment list inside Sun Devil Stadium, his stock will remain down.
Lloyd Carrington (CB), Stock: Up
Stats last three games: 18 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 passes deflected, 1 INT (returned for TD)
Lloyd Carrington’s three tackles against Oregon State were his lowest since ASU played Stanford a month ago. Still, he earned a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor thanks to eight tackles and a pick-six against Notre Dame, and his stock should take that dominant performance into consideration.
There will be games for Carrington in which his final stat line is not representative of his actual performance, given that he is continuously placed on an island when ASU brings the house at the opposing quarterback. As was the case at the start of the season, he continues to be the Sun Devils most talented and experienced cornerback, and the only one who can handle such lofty assignments on a weekly basis.
Follow Jacob Garcia on Twitter @Jake_M_Garcia or connect with him on LinkedIn.
