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You've got to be a hawk to play in the secondary of a college football program, especially one with as much history as Arizona State. The Pac-12 has historically turned some great wide receivers to the NFL and only the best can defend them. So who were the best cornerbacks to wear the maroon and gold?
Mike Martinez: Step into your DeLorean time machine and set the dial for 1975. It was that year that Arizona State went 12-0, won the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2 in the national rankings. One of the defensive stars was Martinez.
His seven interceptions helped a defense that allowed a mere 10.6 points per game, and he was one of seven All-Americans on the squad. He started three years at Sun Devil Stadium, and ranks eighth on the all-time interceptions list for the school.
Brett Hudson: Not all stars are highly touted high school recruits. He was a transfer from Grossmont Junior College in 2002, and instantly showed everyone why he came to the Sun Devils. He led the team with four picks, which was also seventh in the Pac-12. He also recovered a fumble. He added two more interceptions in 2003.
He only played two years at Arizona State, but he made them count. It makes Sun Devil fans think "what-if?" As in, what if Hudson had a full four years in the system? Would he have hauled in more interceptions? Would he have heard his name called in the NFL draft? Unfortunately, we will never know.
Omar Bolden: Bolden is the most recent Arizona State player to make the "All-Sun Devils" team, as he wore maroon and gold as recently as 2010. In his four years in those colors, he played in 51 games, and hawked seven interceptions.
He averaged 16.3 yards on each interception return, and touched down in the endzone twice. He had 138 tackles, four of which registering for negative yards. Even when he wasn't intercepting the ball, he was doing his job in the secondary. He defended 28 passes in his career and even forced a fumble.
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, the same year and team as former Arizona State teammate and current Denver teammate, quarterback Brock Osweiler.