Kansas State opponent preview: Arizona State players to watch

After the second bye week of the season, KSO‘s Drew Galloway takes a look at Arizona State players to watch.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has had one of the more underrated seasons in the Big 12 this season. He takes care of the ball and has been pretty accurate. The Sun Devils lost to Cincinnati in the one game he has not played this season.

The redshirt freshman has thrown for 1,631 yards and 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Leavitt has also been on a roll recently, throwing six touchdowns in the last two games. He is a capable runner and averaging 4.2 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He also has 73 carries so far this season.

Though a little banged up as a team, Arizona State will have a healthy Leavitt for the K-State contest.

Running back Cam Skattebo

Cam Skattebo may be the best running back in the Big 12. He is definitely in the mix for first team All-Big 12 honors. Skattebo is a workhorse and an every down back. The least amount of carries he has in a game this season has been 11 in week one. He was even given the ball 33 times versus Mississippi State.

Skattebo’s best game statistically this season came in his last outing where he was available, versus Oklahoma State. The senior rushed for 153 yards while adding 121 receiving yards and totaling three total touchdowns.

However, the running back did not play last Saturday versus UCF, and his status is up in the air for the game against Kansas State.

Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson

Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is one of the best wideouts K-State has played against this season.

He is the leading receiver for the Sun Devils, and he will be a tough cover for the Kansas State cornerbacks. Tyson has 46 catches for 657 yards and seven touchdowns thus far. Last time out, the redshirt sophomore recorded seven catches for 99 yards and two scores versus UCF.

DB Myles Rowser

Defensive back Myles Rowser has been everywhere this season for Arizona State.

He is their leading tackler this season with 71 tackles, including three tackles for a loss and a sack. Rowser has also totaled five pass break-ups and has been good in pass coverage. The junior totaled 13 tackles in the Texas State game earlier this season.

Defensive end Clayton Smith

Arizona State doesn’t get after the quarterback much, which is probably good news for K-State.

However, Clayton Smith is probably their beset option when needing to apply pressure. He is the leader on the team in sacks with four and quarterback hits with 10. Smith recorded 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack against Kansas earlier this season. He has also recorded a quarterback hit in all but two games.

DB Keith Abney

Keith Abney may be the best Sun Devil in pass coverage. The defensive back is the team leader in interceptions with two and pass break-ups with six. He has also recorded 36 tackles this season. Abney recorded an interception in back-to-back games versus Utah and Cincinnati earlier this year.