:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60705945/usa_today_10301367.0.jpg)
Yes, Sam Jones is part of the Denver Broncos after being selected by John Elway’s team in the sixth round this past April. Yes, A.J. McCollum has graduated. No, the Manny Wilkins’ protection unit won’t be fill with inexperience.
At Pac-12 Media Day, Wilkins noted that the new group will need to get acclimated with each other quickly.
“I just want these guys to be comfortable with each other. If we’re all on the same page, the rest will take care of itself. Every year I think we’ve gotten better, since I started at least. I’m really just anxious for these guys to have an opportunity and make the most of it.”
Left Tackle
Graduate Transfer Casey Tucker — After playing 27 games for the Stanford Cardinal, Tucker announced that he’d be coming home to Arizona to play for the Sun Devils. From Chandler’s Hamilton High School, ESPN rated 39th overall recruit in 2014. During his time in Palo Alto, he spent time at each tackle positions, but will cover Manny Wilkins’ blind slide in the fall.
Left Guard
Redshirt Junior Alex Losoya — The only one of the group to have never started a game in the Pac-12, Losoya was part of ASU’s top rated JUCO class in 2016. The 6-foot-3, 294 pound, Losoya will attempt to use his experience from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif. to fill in the shoe’s of Jones
Graduate Transfer Roy Hemsley - Much like Tucker, the Sun Devils get a transfer from a Pac-12 foe in USC. Hemsley was a three star recruit by ESPN, coming out of the 2015 class. He should compete with Losoya for the starting gig at left guard.
Center
Junior Cohl Cabral — Last year, Cabral started for the Sun Devils at left tackle, appearing in every game. This year for Herm Edwards, the Rancho Cucamongo, Calif.-native will be snapping the ball to Wilkins. When coming out of high school in 2016, ESPN rated Cabral as the second best center recruit in the country. He also earned a spot on the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list earlier in July.
Right Guard and Right Tackle
Redshirt Junior Steven Miller and Redshirt Senior Quinn Bailey
Miller and Quinn return to the right side of the Sun Devils’ line. Each products of Gilbert, Arizona, Miller attended Gilbert high school, Quinn went to Higley, both started in the same positions last season.
Even with the experience of Tucker, Miller and Quinn may be relied on to create paths for running back Eno Benjamin early in the season. That way Tucker and Losoya gain a bit of chemistry, while the combined 656 pounds of Miller and Quinn look to improve on last year.