ASU Football Recruiting: Top in-state targets for the class of 2017

Now that the Arizona State Sun Devils are finished with the class of 2016, it is time to look forward to the class of 2017. Who will sign their National Letter of Intent in approximately 358 days (but who is really counting).

For the first time since 2008, the Sun Devils signed the top prospect from the state of Arizona in wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Add ATH Chase Lucas, offensive guard Marshal Nathe and JUCO defensive End Christian Hill and ASU hauled in a solid group from its own backyard.

Now let's take a look at the top in-state targets for the class of 2017.

OT Austin Jackson - 6'5, 260 pounds (North Canyon High School, Phoenix)

Jackson is the highest rated player in the state for the class of 2017 and it isn't really that close. He holds a 5-star rating from 247 Sports and Scout and a 4-star rating from ESPN and Rivals. Scout ranks Jackson as the No. 8 player in the nation and he is a consensus top-10 offensive tackle in his class.

He holds 15 offers including USC, Texas A&M, Oregon, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan and Auburn as well as Arizona State. He has the size and frame to stay at left tackle in college and he would be a huge addition who could see playing time early if ASU is able to get him

Below are highlights from his junior season, where he played both offensive and defensive tackle for North Canyon.

TE Tyler Johnson - 6'4, 245 pounds (Highland High School, Gilbert)

Another top prospect from a non-traditional Arizona powerhouse. Johnson has been opening eyes at Highland since his sophomore year and since then he has racked up offers from Arizona, ASU, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska and UCLA.

Johnson is rated a four-star prospect by each of the major recruiting services and would give ASU a legit pass catching option at tight end that they have been missing since Chris Coyle left. Johnson plays a lot of out wide for Highland and has a good burst after the catch.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao - 6'4, 190 pounds (Mountain Pointe High School, Ahwatukee)

A relative of former Pittsburgh Steels safety Troy Polamalu, the 6-foot-4 Pola-Mao has been making plays since he was called up to varsity as a freshman. He holds offers from Arizona, ASU, Nebraska, Utah, Washington and Washington State.

Pola-Mao plays for Arizona HS powerhouse Mountain Pointe and should receive even more attention this summer and next fall.

WR Kolby Taylor - 5'10, 175 pounds (Chandler High School, Chandler)

The last name and the school he attends should sound familiar to ASU fans. He is the younger brother of former ASU and NFL wide receiver Kerry Taylor and his brother Kendyl signed with Washington in 2013 before transferring to Northern Arizona.

He attends the same high school as N'Keal Harry, Chase Lucas and Bryce Perkins as Chandler, the 2014 Arizona Division I State Champions, has developed a nice pipeline to ASU in recent years. The youngest Taylor holds offers from ASU, Louisville, Nevada and Oregon State.

DB K.J. Jarrell - 6'3, 175 pounds (Saguaro High School, Scottsdale)

In 2015 it was Christian Kirk, in 2016 it was Byron Murphy and it 2017 it is K.J. Jarrell. The 6-foot-3 safety had a breakout junior season and now holds offers ASU, Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Jarrell told Rivals last month that he is very close to Murphy and that decision may impact his (Murphy chose Washington over ASU) so the Sun Devils are fighting an uphill battle.

Other Targets

The Sun Devils have offered two local tight ends in Jared Poplawski from Saguaro and Bryce Gilbert from Higley HS in Gilbert.

One interesting name to watch is Sunrise Mountain (Peoria) quarterback Chase Cord. The 6-foot-3 Cord is rated as the No. 25 pocket passer in the nation by Rivals and holds offers from Colorado, Indiana and Iowa State after a junior season in which he threw for over 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns on a team that finished the regular season undefeated in Division III.