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February 12, 2020 13 mins
On the Arizona State edition of the 2020 Inside Pac-12 Football Signing Day Special, Pac-12 Networks’ Mike Yam & Yogi Roth interview Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards on the highlights of the Sun Devils recruiting class.
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(00:10):
Well, I think it's pretty clearthe arrow pointing up and there's a lot
of buzz down in the desert forwhat ASU has been able to accomplish.
National Siding Day. Welcome inside ourSan Francisco studios. Mike Am and Yogi
Roth with you. I feel likethe last couple of years now we just
continue to talk about is the jobthat herm is doing and people jumping on
this train and this squad taken off. Yeah, and he got an extension,
right Frock. So I mean,this thing's rolling. We've talked about

(00:32):
it in December, we talked aboutit in the season, and I just
love the foundation that was set whenit was Merlin Robertson and Darian Butler,
and last year they got the quarterbackin Jade Daniels and now they continue to
add some really key pieces of thisteam, including depth at the quarterback position
today. So yeah, man,this is a team, true contender,
legit in the Pac twelve South nextyear. I'd also argue depth on the

(00:53):
coaching staff as well, losing TonyWhite, who's not going to be this
team's defensive coordinator. It's all goodand for good reason. Her Mead where
it joins us right now on thetelephone line. HERM, what kind of
luxury is it? Everyone knows MarvinLewis and what he was able to do
as the head coach with Cincinnati.I think people forget how great of a
coordinator he was Baltimore Ravens. Theywin the Super Bowl. We don't have
to talk about too much of thatbecause I'm a Giants fan, but they

(01:15):
beat the Giants and what was historicallymaybe the best defense the NFL has ever
seen. He's now co defensive coordinatorwith one of my guys, another York
Giant as well, and Antonio appears. But you got these NFL guys on
the staff, you're able to slotthem right in. What's it like for
you knowing, you know what,we're not going to skip a beat on
that side. Well, I thinkit's important when you when obviously you hire
a coaching staff, to understand thatthere's always going to be the movement and

(01:38):
that's just college football. And withthat being said, I mean Marvin came
on last year, was a consultant, kind of sat around help coaches,
helped me obviously with another pair ofeyes. And then when this took place,
WHI Tony had a chance to gocloser to where his mom resides in
New York and his wife's mom inFlorida. Marvin walked in my offices,

(02:01):
I got you back, and Iwent, okay, great. So with
that being said, Marvin and AntonioPierce co coordinators, and then we move
on Wow, okay, so coach, Just to be clear, he approached
you. You weren't like, hey, do you want to do you want
this job? Do you want torun the defense? Before I could even
get it out of my mouth,he said I got you and I said,

(02:22):
okay. You know, Marvin andmyself we go back thirty years and
thirty plus years, and hey,when Marvin first started coaching at when not
first starticles when he was at theUniversity of pitt and I was a scout
my first year with Ken City Chiefs, I visited them to work out a
couple of players, and that's whenI first met Marvin. And then the
previous year after that, yes,he came to Kansas City and did an
internship. So we've been friends fora long time. It was great to

(02:45):
get him involved with our football programlast year. Take big dividends for coaches,
especially and myself, and then justhappened to say, coach, I
got you, so we'll see,Well we'll go from there. Because he
used the term code defensive coordinator.I mentioned Antonio's just done a remarkable job
on your staff in terms of therecruiting as well. What does what does
that mean in terms of the codefensive defensive coordinator title? On game day?

(03:09):
Well, then you know, we'lldecide what to do game day.
I mean, the first thing wehave to do is structure how we're going
to practice and how we meet andall those things. I mean, we've
got a young secondary coach now thatwe just brought into the mix. We're
looking for a defensive line coach.We're going to do some interviewing here the
next couple of days and then fromthere, guys, as you know,

(03:30):
we start spring ball here at thein the month, so that's going to
be in the rest of though.We're jugging a lot of balls. But
but it's fun, I mean,it really is. And I think we
don't panic, and you just dothings, you know, in a manner
that you try to interview quality people. Then you got to make a tough
decision to hire one of them.But but I think we'll get that sold

(03:53):
up here pretty quickly, coach lastone. On the defense, you guys
are synonymous with Rocky Long, thethree, three, five, that tree.
But you played some four man frontobviously in your bowl game you played
like two man fronts against Washington State. What are you gonna be on that
side of the ball. Well,first of all, I'm not gonna tell
anybody that, right, I know, because every coach in the FACT twelve

(04:15):
was listening. I'm just kidding.But but but here again, I think
we're going to vascilate and you know, and do some things that that really
highlight our players. And at theend, regardless of what you are,
it's all always about the players.I mean, what are you going to
be? Eventually the players would dictatewhat we do. Now, we're pretty
versatile because we, like you mentioned, we've been in a lot of different

(04:38):
fronts. I think that's helped theseplayers. And we'll just decide on that
goals ball with Okay, So Iwant to ask you about a guy on
the other side of the ball.Now. You know, we talked to
you in December and everybody wasn't atleast saying that they had signed with you.
We had to wait to watch someAll Star games. But Alvie Bunkley
Shelton at wide receiver coach to me, he's one of the most complete guys
in the country. What drew tohim? How do you think of impact

(05:00):
your team when he gets there?Well, really a quality player and the
moments in games are never too bigfor him. Uh. You know,
he has been with us for quitesome time. Um. We knew that
we were going to get him.It was just a matter of when he
wanted to announce it. Um.But when you think about if you look
at the receiving core we're bringing in, um, it's it's pretty impressive.

(05:21):
With the talent. I mean youmentioned him. They don't forget Badger.
He's another one that we're bringing inas well, so along with the guys
we signed earlier. So we're excited. I think Zach Hill, our new
offensive coordinator, is excited. Thething that he keeps pressing upon me he's
the coach. We gotta get somemore tight end so leave it or not.

(05:43):
Time screen ball works this way andtime to get the summer camp.
We'll probably have six seven tight endson the roster, which is a good
thing. I like that. Iknow I'm a kind of a tight end
guy too, So that's gonna befun to watch his offense develop with some
of these pieces her on the offensiveside in terms of some of these weapons
that you're b and then what arethe conversations with Jaden like knowing that he's
going to have some pretty special toyson the football field with them, Well,

(06:06):
it's really the offense is built aroundJade, and I told him he
earned my trust last year with hisability not to give the ball to the
opponent. He only turns it overtwice. I'm knocking on wood with that
one was a hell merit pass.But I think he has shown everyone that
he is very, very careful withthe ball. Not saying he's not a

(06:27):
guy that will take some chances,but I think he's He's well aware the
only way the opponents should get theballs if you kick it to him.
That's important. But I think themost significant, you know, signs that
we had the fact that we wentout and got two senior offensive lineman.
That was important. And you know, as you continue to build a program,

(06:48):
especially offensively, you understand the importanceof offensive lineman. We were very
young last year. We will continueto be young. We will have nine
seniors on football team. But yougo out and get two graduate guys that
have played a lot of football.That's going to help our offensive line.
Yeah, it's gonna be huge.Can't wait to see them compete and can't
wait to see the guys compete inthe backfield. And another guy who announced

(07:10):
it late, Daniel Nagata, Ibelieve he's midyear. Along with Chip training
the amounted training from Ohio. Howhave these two guys acclimated a college life.
Oh, they've been great. They'rein the weight room. Uh,
you know, we live. Wewere off today, but the day and
there four days a week. Andyou two different styles of backs. I
mean, Daniel reminds me a lotif you watch him, and I think

(07:31):
fansm status too of El his abilityto make people miss U. And then
as you mentioned Chip, now he'sa whole different guy. No fair dodging
right, strong young man, verypowerful. It's gonna be fun to watch
these guys compete and play in ourbackfield. Coach, you dropped a change

(07:51):
at the offensive coordinator spot, andI know we spent a lot of time
talking about some of the changes onthe defensive side, but with the new
OC. How different do you expectthis and anticipate this offense looking Well,
I think it will be different inthe sense that formation wise and personnels will
will vary, and that's important.But but I still think this, uh

(08:13):
and this is a great thing aboutZach and he understands it, and and
we've talked about numerous times, isthat it's always about the personnel putting the
players in position so they can havesuccess. And he understands that and that
that's important. You know, youalways want to put players on the field
feeling like we've put them in thebest position to be successful. Coach,
it was mckill, Harry Brandon Iyuk, is it Frank Darby? Now you've

(08:37):
got someone's talent there. Have youfelt like a shift in the building from
that young man, Well, youknow, Frank Field, like he's the
next guy up. I mean thatthat's the spot they all want to play,
you know, And and I thinkFrank will do a great job for
us. But we've got a numberof young guys as well that that played
last or a bunch of freshman guys. You got young players that that that

(08:58):
that has some special qualities along withthe guys we're bringing in. This is
going to be a very very competitivegroup when you look at it, don't
forget Johnny Wilson. All of asudden, you know we're gonna come,
don't They're still loose side of thatguy. I mean, there's a bunch
of you know, Chad Johnson junior. Don't forget about that guy. Right,
So, all of a sudden,you look at all these guys and

(09:18):
you go, this is gonna bea pretty competitive offensive wide receiver up.
I think everyone is checked up tosee these guys on the football field.
And as you made reference to andcoach, we're looking at some of the
film right now on Wilson, theexcitement around this program, just knowing how
young you guys are, and yetthe expectation level still fairly high. Can't
wait to see the product on thefootball field. As you made reference to

(09:41):
spring game right around the corner,HERM. Can't wait to see it in
person real soon. Good to bewith you guys, my men, and
I can't wait to get you guyson campus. And you got to evaluated
when you got to get here's youguys are great advice. Still let me
know what we're doing all right,Yeah, I'll let Yogi handle that.
Just make sure that there's another smoothieready for me when I get down there.
We got you always do. Coach, congrat again on the class.

(10:03):
Thank you guys. All right.You know, I think one thing that
he just brought up, which isreally significant. We were down there for
the opener and all the questions onthe offensive line, injuries, youth.
All of a sudden, a coupleof mid year guys that they now insert
into this lineup. I would imaginethat's a huge boost to an offensive line
that didn't have a whole lot ofexperience. Yeah. Well they don't think
they had one junior offensive lineman onthe roster last year, right, which

(10:26):
would mean that this year would bethe senior. So he referenced the two
that they're going to bring in.They can come in and start right now.
And it's going to continue to allowLadarius Henderson, who will be the
face of left tackles in this conferenceonce Penna Sewel leaves. Right, You've
got a variety of players on thatfront that got some experience. So I'm
really high on this program. Mike, coaches want to go coach there,

(10:48):
start with that there's stability there,you get the contract extension. There's youth
there, and the pipeline continues fromsouthern California. We talked about some of
their talented receivers. Johnny Wilson sixfoot six, our boy, Curtis Hanaway
coach him up in high school.Me. They're not slowing down. They
flipped him from Oregon late. SoI really, I really believe in this
group. I think Marvin Lewis isgoing to be great because what a players

(11:11):
want to do in college now wherethey want to go, well, they
want to go to the league.They want to go to where he's been.
He's got an interview for the DallasCowboys. You know, like think
about it for a second, likebe seventeen. Yeah, he knows how
to get me there. It's notjust herm anymore. It's this entire body
of work. So I'm buying.I think this is a team that can
get to double digit wins next year. You know you saw them. You

(11:31):
went to campt in the summer andyou texted me when you got cell reception
after you he left the football fieldand you said, hey, Brandon Ayuk,
like I know there's nik Kill,Harry and I was like, oh,
okay, cool, you know,and then all of a sudden we
see him on the football field andhe was ridiculous this season ago. You
and I were talking the other night. We were going throw all the quarterbacks.
James probably the best returning QB inthis conference. There's no more Brendan

(11:52):
Ayuk. Is there is that thatnext wave. There's non to kill Harry,
There's no Ayuk. Who's that nextguy? Is it gonna be Derby
or one of these freshmen? He'sgot a chance. I mean I think
for a freshman, you know,they'll find a role. Johnny Wilson,
Jad Johnson Junior. These guys aregonna get on the field. We saw
LV Bunkley Shelton. He's gonna getsome burn. But let's not forget they
played a lot of young guys ayear ago. I mean, think about

(12:13):
it. We're talking about Jordan Curley, Ricky Piersau, Brandon Pierce, you
know, and Nolan Matthews to meis a star at tight end. So
they're building this thing. There's agreat foundation there. Mike like, don't
sleep and everybody says as he's asleeping giant and saying for thirty years,
but it's real in my eyes rightnow, I just can't get over how
many programs there's probably none in theentire country that would lose their defensive coordinator

(12:37):
after he takes a job, andthen they just plug in a former NFL
two defensive coordinator. Yeah, it'sactually a good point as well, and
they got two guys that have hadmassive amounts of success at the NFL level
that just kind of slide in there. Saturday at March twenty eighth, seven
pm Pacific time, PAC twelve Network, the PAC twelve Now app, we
got covered on the Maroon and Goldspring practice
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