The Bobcat Nation

ASU whistling Dixie with two JUCO commitments
Chris Karpman
ASUDevils.com

After landing Shasta College safety Zach Catanese earlier in the week, the Sun Devils received commitments from two additional junior college defensive players, this time from the state of Utah and Dixie State College. Today marks the beginning of the signing period for JUCO players and defensive tackle Will Kofe and linebacker Beau Manutai are expected to ink with the Sun Devils. ASUDevils.com spoke with Dixie State head coach Greg Croshaw about the two prospects.


ASU and coach Dirk Koetter now have seven commitments from 2005 recruits
Kofe is a 6-foot-2, 275-pound tackle originally from Long Beach while Manutai is a 6-3, 240-pound linebacker originally from Rialto, Calif.

"They're great kids, great football players," Croshaw said. "Beau returned off his LDS mission, played for me the last two years, all-conference guy, a linebacker, married kid, got a little daughter. He's just a great football player.

"Will Kofe is a guy who came out of Southern California and played at Montana State as a true freshman. He went on an LDS mission, came home, thought he was a Division I player so he came out here to Dixie and became an All-Western States first-team member. He's just extremely talented.

While Manutai and Kofe were a bit under the radar, they play at a well-known and well-run program which places a high percentage of its players into the Division-I ranks. And ASU had been in the running for quite some time with both.

"On Manutai I think they started recruiting him last year and on Kofe I think they came in the spring," Croshaw said. "Utah State, Michigan State, Oregon, Arizona and others were all involved. They were quite heavily recruited kids.

"Both of the guys are Southern California kids, very familiar with the Pac-10 and so they're very excited to be there and you can't find a better place than Arizona State. In fact, I told the coaches there, I wish they would have brought me in for a recruiting trip and signed me up. We play some of the schools down there and it's just a great place and the program is in good shape and I think it's a good situation.

Making the situation even better for ASU, both Manutai and Kofe are mid-year transfers who will participate in spring drills and have three years to play two at the University.

ASU now has seven known oral commitments in the 2005 class

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I am guessing you were really hoping on his return huh Cardiac? That is bad news but since he committed early, at least Kramer probably has known for a long time it wasn't going to happen and has been going elsewhere to fill the hole(s).

CRIPES!!!!!

Remember do not kill the Messager

WYCAT wrote:I am guessing you were really hoping on his return huh Cardiac? That is bad news but since he committed early, at least Kramer probably has known for a long time it wasn't going to happen and has been going elsewhere to fill the hole(s).

Yeah, I think him and Rogers would have been a force inside for us together. Both big/powerful/agile and 275+ etc. From sound of everyone the previous week he was on campus etc. so I really had my hopes up. But yeah, better to hear about it early than have him go to another school later. Remember, Kramer did get Rogers/O'tool (hoping this guy takes a step up this year) and Matakis late last year in the recruiting process. I think we need AT LEAST 2 IMPACT DL guys and maybe 1-2 mid tier level ones by next fall. To me that is the most important part we have left to fill on this team. Our LB's will be okay, but not quite as deep but we need those horses up front to put some pressure on the QB or it won't matter if our secondary is better this year or not as you can't cover a WR forever and still expect to cover them.

DAMN! That hurts. I think we need a DL drop down or two still, but I have plenty of faith in Pappich. Watching him last spring, I was shocked he didnt get more PT this season - especially with all the injuries they went through.

Someone was asking about moving Birkeland back to the DL. I would like to see that. He's definitely the size/speed/smarts for our prototypical DT at MSU. If we did that, combo with Rogers/OToole/Pappich/Matakis/Birkland all around 270....I like our interior line a lot more. Not that Brant didnt do a great job on the OL this year, but there are so many studs returning next year and upcoming redshirts, I dont see Brant holding on to his starting spot at LG.

Still need a bigger DE anchor though. Maybe that is where the coaches concentrate on now. I think Clive Lowe has huge potential, but we still need someone opposite him.

Starting Lines:
Offense -
RT - Bolton (Jensen)
RG - Figs (Beniger)
C - Zach Wolf
LG - Saucedo (Smith)
LT - Hirst (DeCock)

Defense - maybe shift to the 3-4?
DE - Lowe (???)
DT - Rogers (O'Toole)
DT - Birkeland (Pappich)
DE - Matakis ???

You have to put Cogley (DE) in there. He showed some signs of being a very good player this year. Also, Bobby Daly (DE) looked great this fall.

wbtfg wrote:You have to put Cogley (DE) in there. He showed some signs of being a very good player this year. Also, Bobby Daly (DE) looked great this fall.

Good one on Cogley. I'd figure on seeing Daly at LB, not DE.

Does anybody have any thoughts who the five D1 transfers coach mentioned in either yesterdays or Tuesdays GF Tribune would be?

Cat Grad wrote:Does anybody have any thoughts who the five D1 transfers coach mentioned in either yesterdays or Tuesdays GF Tribune would be?

He said up to five so may not be that many. Right now as far as I know we know for sure on the WSU WR, and there is speculation that the Bass brothers from University of Hawaii are coming here. That would be three of them, haven't heard anything on any others.