ASU Football Recruiting: Sun Devil early enrollees roundup

Wednesday marked the first day mid-year and early enrollees could officially sign letters of intent and agreements with their respective schools.

The Arizona State Sun Devils announced two mid-year signees in Alabama transfer quarterback Blake Barnett, who recently committed to ASU, and JUCO defensive end Dougladson Subtyl, who was originally a part of the school’s 2016 signing class, however was not ruled academically eligible ahead of the 2016 season.

Barnett will have three years of eligibility left, but will have to sit out until at least Sept. 28 due to NCAA transfer rules, while Subtyl will have two full years of eligibility remaining. Both players are enrolling in January.

Along with their transfer signings, the Sun Devils also had a pair of incoming freshmen defenders sign on as early enrollees in safety Ty Thomas and linebacker Loren Mondy.

In accordance with NCAA rules, ASU isn’t permitted to announce either signing yet since the players’ agreements aren’t binding, unlike national letters of intent. Instead, Thomas and Mondy’s agreements are acceptances of financial aid offered by the school.

But the Sun Devils’ good day of news didn’t end there.

Wide receivers John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome—who spent the 2016 season as members of ASU’s practice squad due to transfer rules requiring them to sit out a year—are now clear to see the field in 2017.

Newsome, a listed sophomore who last saw the field as a member of the Texas Longhorns, was recently named the Sun Devils’ Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year, suggesting he could make an immediate impact in 2017.

Humphrey’s influence shouldn’t be understated either, as the Oklahoma transfer possesses elite speed. The redshirt freshman clocked 40-yard dash times reportedly ranging between 4.25 and 4.27 at peak.

Off the field, both have been proactive in working to lure potential commits to ASU.

This offseason, Humphrey, Newsome and Barnett have made it clear—they’re looking to change the culture at ASU.

There’s reason for optimism in Tempe amidst a strong run of recruiting news now spanning the course of two weeks.