Arizona State’s 2025 Season and Transfer Portal Strategy

As the new year begins, the transfer portal is officially open, marking a pivotal moment for college football programs across the nation. Arizona State concluded their 2025 season with a narrow loss in the Sun Bowl to ACC champion Duke, despite missing 35 players, including many starters. This setback has prompted head coach Kenny Dillingham to set his sights on returning to the Big 12 title game in 2026. The transfer portal will play a crucial role in achieving this goal, and the program is actively monitoring every player movement—departing transfers, incoming transfers, and visiting prospects.

Visiting Prospects

WR Kwazi Gilmer

The search to replace Jordyn Tyson has led to Kwazi Gilmer, a former 4-star commit with UCLA. Over the last two seasons, Gilmer recorded 880 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His performance improved significantly this year after UCLA changed its offensive coaching staff. Gilmer is scheduled to visit on January 3 and has also set a visit with Oklahoma State for January 5.

WR Omarion Miller

Omarion Miller, ranked as the second-best wide receiver in the transfer portal, had a strong season at Colorado, tallying 808 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Despite catching passes from three different quarterbacks and a midseason change in play-caller, Miller showed consistent performance. He is set to visit on January 3-4, with a subsequent visit to Texas Tech.

WR Reed Harris

Reed Harris, the fourth-highest rated transfer wideout, was a bright spot at Boston College this year, recording 673 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He has drawn significant interest on the market and is set to visit Arizona State, though the date is not yet known.

WR Nico Brown

Nico Brown, an Ivy League football star, had an impressive year with 1,085 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The Huntington Beach, California native may be eyeing a return to the West Coast, and Arizona State is eager to welcome him.

LB Jojo Hayden

Jojo Hayden, a linebacker from Illinois, has been a reserve player over the past two seasons, recording 26 tackles this past year. He is set to visit on January 6.

CB Jahlil Florence

Jahlil Florence, a former 4-star recruit from California, committed to Oregon but struggled to emerge on the depth chart. He is set to visit on January 6.

CB Ashton Stamps

Ranked as a top 20 prospect in Louisiana, Ashton Stamps stayed close to home by committing to LSU. However, he has struggled to break through in a loaded secondary. He is set to visit on January 5.

CB Nigel Pringle

Nigel Pringle, a tall cornerback from Houston, Texas, committed to the Razorbacks a year ago. After a coaching change, he is now in the portal and looking for a new home. Arizona State has built a pipeline in Texas that should help here. He is set to visit on January 4.

CB Caleb Chester

Caleb Chester, another cornerback in the portal just a year after committing, was an overlooked prospect who played for the Texas Longhorns. With a defensive coordinator change, he is looking for a new school. He is set to visit on January 4.

S Lyrik Rawls

Texas-native Lyrik Rawls had a meteoric rise, transferring to Kansas and becoming a starter. He finished second on the team in tackles. Now, he is looking for a place to finish out his final year of eligibility in style. Rawls is set to visit Arizona State, along with Clemson and Duke, though the date is unknown.

K Mateen Bhaghani

With Jesus Gomez out of eligibility, Arizona State needs a new kicker. They have their sights set on UCLA’s Mateen Bhaghani, who is perfect on extra points and 88.9% on all field goals. Bhaghani is visiting on January 3-4.

Incoming Transfers

QB Cutter Boley

Cutter Boley, a Kentucky native, committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. He appeared in four games as a freshman and started this year, showing elite potential. Although he has issues with turnovers, scouts believe he could become a first-round pick with the right coaching.

WR Raiden Vines-Bright

Raiden Vines-Bright, initially a local product, starred at Corona Del Sol before moving to Florida to play at IMG Academy. He then committed to Washington, where he gradually increased his snaps. A former track star, Vines-Bright is a burner with potential to become an all-around threat in the passing game.

RB David Avit

David Avit, a big, bruising runner, spent the last two seasons at FCS Villanova. As a true freshman, he racked up 923 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He saw fewer carries this year but still finished with 687 yards and eight touchdowns.

Outgoing Transfers

QB Sam Leavitt

Sam Leavitt, who skipped the end-of-the-year team banquet, is in the transfer portal with a “do not contact” label. It suggests he already knows where he’s going, and it’s not Arizona State. Leavitt entered the year with Heisman buzz but had uneven play and a serious leg injury that will limit his availability this offseason.

RB Raleek Brown

A former 5-star commit at USC, Raleek Brown suffered injuries that prevented him from showing his potential. He finally got healthy this season and turned in a stellar year, leading the team in rushing with 1,134 yards. Brown declared for the 2026 NFL Draft but entered the transfer portal on January 2, possibly looking for one last pay day in college.

WR Noble Johnson

Noble Johnson transferred in from Clemson a year ago, hoping to contend for a starting spot alongside Jordyn Tyson, but it never happened. He had a few highlight plays back in spring ball but struggled with consistency.

WR Zechariah Sample

Zechariah Sample, a true speedster, came to Arizona State with high potential as a downfield threat. He emerged late this season as the Sun Devils’ top punt returner but seems to be looking for more on offense.

WR Akim Lanieux

Akim Lanieux, an impressive wide receiver at the junior college level, transferred into Arizona State this past year. He was stuck on the scout team this season and with one year of eligibility remaining, he’s looking for a better opportunity to see the field.

TE Jayden Fortier

Jayden Fortier, the first 4-star commit of the Kenny Dillingham era, was overflowing with promise when he became a Sun Devil. Unfortunately, he was derailed by injuries. Now, he’s looking for a fresh start.

TE Coleson Arends

Coleson Arends, one of a few on this list who went from walk-on to scholarship player, is looking for more playing time elsewhere.

OT Josh Atkins

Josh Atkins, Sam Leavitt’s starting left tackle for the past two seasons, came into the year with high expectations. He didn’t quite live up to the hype and is now looking for a new place to call home before shooting for the NFL.

OG Joey Su’a

Joey Su’a, once a celebrated transfer from Arkansas, was a hulking mass of human that offered Arizona State a fun developmental piece on the offensive line. However, he didn’t progress the way coaches hoped, and a fresh start may be best for all involved.

C Sean Na’a

Sean Na’a, bringing similar potential to Su’a, unexpectedly played significant snaps as a true freshman out of necessity. He highlighted potential in those games, but the staff used his redshirt in 2024 to develop him. Na’a was originally being groomed to play center, but his development stalled and he was surpassed by others at the position.

LB Tate Romney

Tate Romney, one of many players who returned home to play for the Sun Devils in Kenny Dillingham’s first year on the job, finished out 2023 as a starter on defense. A broken arm early in 2024 pushed him down the depth chart, and the emergence of Keyshaun Elliott and Jordan Crook left little playing time for Romney this season.

CB Javan Robinson

Javan Robinson, a key starter for the Sun Devils each of the last two seasons, was a difference maker at cornerback. A bit undersized for the role, Robinson was often picked on by opposing quarterbacks, but his scrappy style of play made up for it and then some. With one year of eligibility left, Robinson seems to be looking for a higher profile program to aid his quest of reaching the NFL.

CB Chris Johnson

Once a highly-touted recruit with NFL bloodlines, Chris Johnson was always a bit of a tweener in the secondary. Listed as a cornerback, Johnson struggled to stand out in a crowded room, and he moved to safety this year but still failed to climb the depth chart.

CB Tony-Louis Nukba

Tony-Louis Nkuba was another big get in that 2024 recruiting class, alongside Chris Johnson, but he had similar issues. More of a true cornerback, Nkuba eventually saw playing time in the Sun Bowl, but it was too little, too late.

CB Joseph McGinnis

Another walk-on turned scholarship player, Joseph McGinnis was unlikely to see the field in 2026 but could find playing time somewhere else.

S Adama Fall

Like McGinnis, Adama Fall went from walk-on to scholarship but his path to seeing the field was extremely slim.

S Nikko Klemm

Brother of tackle Jalen Klemm, Nikko Klemm was another walk-on turned scholarship player who will find playing time somewhere else than Tempe.

S Jack Bal

A walk-on who was promoted to a scholarship player, Jack Bal actually came close to seeing the field. He turned heads in spring ball and worked his way into the cusp of the two-deep while starters ahead of him were injured. But Bal is unlikely to see playing time with the Sun Devils next year.

S Tommy Romano

Much like the names before him, Tommy Romano is a former walk-on whose path to the field no longer exists at Arizona State.