UCLA 2016 schedule preview: Arizona State

Arizona State linebacker Antonio Longino (32) pressures UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen (3) in the second half of a NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Arizona State won 38-23. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

Arizona State linebacker Antonio Longino (32) pressures UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen (3) in the second half of a NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Arizona State won 38-23. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

Continuing the look at UCLA’s 2016 schedule, here is a breakdown of the Bruins’ fifth opponent, Arizona State.

UCLA at Arizona State

Saturday, Oct. 8 | Sun Devil Stadium

2015 in review

Arizona State fell well short of head coach Todd Graham’s preseason championship talk, finishing the year at 6-7 overall (4-5 Pac-12). The Sun Devils knocked off then-No. 7 UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 3 in likely Arizona State’s best win of the season. UCLA’s defensive injuries finally caught up with the team and the offense didn’t click. The Bruins were held to just 62 rushing yards.


Storylines

— New kid leading the huddle Many teams in the Pac-12 are searching for new quarterbacks this season, Arizona State included. ASU has three options at quarterback, but none have ever thrown a collegiate pass. Of the three options — Manny Wilkins, Brady White and Bryce Perkins — Wilkins, a redshirt sophomore, is the only one to even appear in a game. He played in four games in 2015 and rushing for 55 total yards. The other two are redshirt freshmen.

— Pocket protectors Arizona State lost four starting offensive linemen. It’s already hard enough with a quarterback who hasn’t thrown a pass, but when that quarterback has to play behind a brand new group of blockers, it definitely makes for tough sledding.

— Walk the talk In a radio interview on July 5, Ray Anderson, ASU’s vice president of athletics, said he would prefer a “talk less and deliver more” approach around Tempe. Graham has not always done well with the talking less part. The head coach is not shy about making his championship goals known, but when the Sun Devils finished with a losing record overall last year, the head coach’s line that 2015’s squad as the best he’s had at ASU backfired.


Arizona State players to watch

— WR Tim White The junior college transfer is the top returning receiver for the Sun Devils with 53 catches for 633 yards and eight touchdowns last year. His eight receiving touchdowns tied him for the team lead with former UCLA Bruin Devin Lucien, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Patriots in April. White, who also returned punts and kickoffs, was an Olympic hopeful in the triple jump but fell just short of making the cut.

— LB Salamo Fiso He led the team in tackles (99) and tackles for loss (20) last year. He added 4.5 sacks and one interception. Fiso is the most experienced defensive player the Sun Devils have. With 12 starts this year, he would match the school record for most starts in a career and with 11 he’ll tie the record for a defensive player.

— RB Demario Richard ASU’s leading rusher last year, Richard gained 1,050 yards on the ground and had seven touchdowns. Richard leads an experienced running back group for the Sun Devils as Kalen Ballage also returns. The pair was No. 1 and No. 2 in rushing last year.


Statistical comparison


Arizona State in GIF form

via GIPHY


2016 UCLA schedule

Sat., Sept. 3: UCLA at Texas A&M — 12:30 p.m., CBS
Sat., Sept. 10: UNLV at UCLA — 5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks
Sat., Sept. 17: UCLA at BYU — 7:15 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Sat., Sept. 24: Stanford at UCLA
Sat., Oct. 1: Arizona at UCLA
Sat., Oct. 8: UCLA at Arizona State
Sat., Oct. 15: UCLA at Washington State
Sat., Oct 22: Utah at UCLA
Sat., Oct. 28: BYE
Thurs., Nov. 3: UCLA at Colorado — 6 p.m., FOX Sports 1
Sat., Nov. 12: Oregon State at UCLA
Sat., Nov. 19: USC at UCLA
Sat., Nov. 26: UCLA at California

Home games in bold, all times in Pacific Time