Under the Radar Sun Devils That Could Break out

Arizona State football is in a state of transition going into the 2012 season. The team lost its final five games last season and saw a lot of change following its disappointing campaign.

The school decided to part ways with head coach Dennis Erickson after last season and brought in Todd Graham, who faces a very difficult challenge in turning around this program.

The team lost more than 10 starters from last season's roster and will be looking for contributions from unlikely places.

If the team is going to have early success in Graham's tenure, relatively unknown players are going to need to step up and help right away. 

Here are a few unlikely players that could help this team in several areas of need.

Jarrid Bryant

Bryant has been on the Sun Devils roster for the past three seasons as a wide receiver and managed to make just one catch for 11 yards.

Brad Denny recently reported that during spring practice, the team has been giving Bryant time at cornerback. This positional change could work due to Bryant's size and athleticism. He is listed at 6'3" and weighs almost 180 pounds.

This is a position of need for ASU. If Bryant proves he can make this transition, he could see a lot of playing time and help a secondary that was much maligned for most of last season.

Carl Bradford

Last season, the Sun Devils ranked 59th in the nation in sacks and 57th in tackles for loss. Those numbers simply aren't good enough to compete with teams like USC and Oregon.

Bradford didn't see the field a lot in 2011, but he made the most of his opportunities. He saw action in 13 games for the Sun Devils last season and made one start. His athleticism makes him capable of playing both outside linebacker and defensive end.

He made 3.5 tackles for loss and had 1.5 sacks last season. He is listed at 6"0" and weighs 240 pounds. Bradford was a fullback in high school and has a reputation for being nasty, something the ASU defense has lacked in recent years.

He started in the 2011 MAACO Bowl against Boise State and was only a freshman. That momentum could lead to becoming a full-time starter in 2012. Linebacker is a desperate need for the Sun Devils following the loss of Vontaze Burfict to the NFL.

Brice Schwab

According to Ted Miller of ESPN.com, Schwab has looked great this spring. He was a junior college standout who turned bust, then turned into the team's starting right tackle.

Miller reports that Schwab is in great shape. Once listed at 340 pounds, he is now down to 295. This could make him a very intricate part of the offensive line.

Whoever the starting quarterback ends up being, he's going to need his line to play well. Schwab is a key player in making this a solid unit.

Jamal Miles

Miles plays the role of Darren Sproles for the Sun Devils. He is listed as a running back, but he is basically a wide receiver.

He led the team is receptions last year with 60. He kind of lacks a true position due to his size—he is listed at 5"10"—and for the fact the he struggles to run between the tackles.

He will be a player to watch this season considering the Sun Devils will be playing an inexperienced quarterback. He is likely to make a lot of catches out of the backfield again. 

Jake Sheffield

Sheffield is a former corporal in the Marine Corps. He is now a defensive tackle of the Sun Devils.

He is the kind of player that Todd Graham loves and will help make his transition an easier one. Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com reports that he has "a real yes sir, no sir type of attitude."

Sheffield is another Sun Devil and veteran of the United States Armed Forces, and he will be remembered alongside Pat Tillman.

Sheffield is likely to see the field quite often this season. He is listed second on the depth chart at defensive tackle, but is going to be a fixture in the rotation. He could make a serious impact.

Final Analysis

The Sun Devils are going to need contributions from unlikely sources this season. It's essential to make Graham's transition smooth.

If they cannot get these contributions from some unlikely players, it could be a very long season for ASU and the Sun Devil faithful in Tempe.