For ‘how to’ course on use of transfer portal, new Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham can look to past 2 bosses

New Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is 32, making him the youngest active Power 5 coach in the nation. His age is appropriate, in a way, because he’s going to be able to rebuild the Sun Devils’ roster in the contemporary style, via the transfer portal.

Dillingham should know the formula: His past two bosses, Dan Lanning at Oregon and, especially, Mike Norvell at Florida State, used it well. Dillingham was FSU’s offensive coordinator in 2020 and ’21, and served in the same role at Oregon this season.

Lanning took over a solid program in December 2021 whose roster needed just a few tweaks. He still got his starting quarterback (Bo Nix), his top two rushers (Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington), two starting defensive linemen (Jordon Riley and Casey Rogers) and his best defensive back (Christian Gonzalez) via the portal in the offseason.

Norvell took over a struggling program after the 2019 season whose roster needed a churn. FSU had 12 transfers in its starting lineup in the regular-season finale against Florida. Quarterback Jordan Travis, a transfer from Louisville, already was on the roster when Norvell became coach. But the other 11 transfer starters against the Gators were Norvell acquisitions, including the leading rusher (Trey Benson), the top two receivers (Mycah Pittman and Johnny Wilson), three-fifths of the starting offensive line (Gs D’Mitri Emmanuel and Dillan Gibbons and T Jazston Turnetine) and the top two tacklers (S Jammie Robinson and LB Tatum Bethune).

Kenny Dillingham’s highest priority: Find a QB

The roster Dillingham inherits at Arizona State doesn’t truly fit either of those scenarios, but there are ample holes that need to be filled, especially on offense. (Arizona State fans don’t need to be reminded that the best two receivers in the Florida-Florida State game were former Sun Devils: Wilson and Florida’s Ricky Pearsall.)

Most specifically, Arizona State needs a quarterback. Former walk-on Trenton Bourguet performed admirably when pressed into duty this fall, but Dillingham can find a more talented player in the portal. A big selling point for Dillingham to a potential newcomer will be that he played a key role in developing Travis while at FSU and Nix in his one season at Oregon. Dillingham figures to prefer a dual-threat guy, which is what he had with Travis and Nix.

Arizona State also needs a feature back – and a reserve running back, too. Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay had a productive season for the Sun Devils (1,192 rushing yards, second in the Pac-12), but he was a one-season rental. Again, Dillingham has something to sell: The offenses he oversaw at FSU and Oregon were run-first units, and those offenses spread the carries around.

This season, Oregon had two backs with at least 128 carries and the quarterback had 84. Florida State in 2020 (a truncated season because of COVID) had two backs with at least 69 carries and the quarterback had a team-high 97. In 2021, FSU had two backs with at least 81 carries and the quarterback had 134. In short, even backup running backs will be used extensively.

Arizona State has two sophomores who produced as pass-catchers this season: wide receiver Elijhah Badger and tight end Jalin Conyers. They combined for 108 receptions and 12 TDs. But while the portal giveth, it also can taketh away. Dillingham will need to sell both on staying with the Sun Devils and remaining key cogs in the passing attack. He also will need to bring in a receiver or two.

The offensive line needs help, too, with three seniors out of eligibility. But rebuilding up front is a tougher task. First, there aren’t that many high-level linemen in the portal to begin with; you also figure that the ones who are in there don’t necessarily want to play for a team in rebuilding mode. Still, playing time is a big selling point, and Dillingham can point to ample playing time being available along the line for Arizona State.

The Sun Devils have defensive issues, too, but there’s no reason to discuss that side of the ball until Dillingham hires a defensive coordinator. Anyway, he has enough to worry about on offense. But he also looks to have first-hand knowledge of how to make good things happen in the portal.