TEMPE — ASU is handling its running back room without an ideal situation in mind for carry distribution, Kenny Dillingham said this week.
The Sun Devils could be headed for more of a committee-type situation in 2025 after Cam Skattebo was the featured bell cow in 2024. The room now includes four holdovers from behind him on the depth chart along with two new faces in productive transfer Kanye Udoh (Army) and high-upside freshman Demarius Robinson.
Kyson Brown got the bulk of the 2024 touches among the holdovers, with his 351 yards on 73 carries dwarfing the 92 yards on 20 carries combined from Raleek Brown, Alton McCaskill and Jason Brown Jr.
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It’s why quarterback Sam Leavitt said at this point, Kyson Brown is the one he’s the most comfortable with.
“I’ve played the most with (Brown) so far. So we’ve had the most experience and that’s who you’re going to feel the most comfortable with as of now,” Leavitt said on Tuesday. “It doesn’t say that’s not gonna change or anything like that, but that’s my guy. And I’m just excited to work with these other backs and see what they can bring.”
“Sam takes control of the offense,” the running back told Arizona Sports when asked for his response. “You could tell he’s poised, he knows what he’s doing. He gets us to the right formations, gets us into the right checks. And you can tell that guy’s a pro.”
Ask Dillingham how he prefers to sort out the room, and it’s a similarly open answer.
“I don’t really have an ideal situation there,” Dillingham said of if he prefers having a featured back over a committee. “Obviously, if you can get multiple guys involved and keep guys fresh, that’s a strength. But what if the one guy’s so good that he doesn’t get tired? Well, then you’re not trying to keep him fresh.”
So far through the start of spring camp with just several practices in the books, Brown has continued to get a bulk of the top reps.
How Kyson Brown views ASU’s RB pecking order
“I’d say I kind of take that leader initiative just, you know, leading by example just because we have such a new running back room. … Like I’ve been at ASU the longest out of everybody in the room,” Brown said on Tuesday. “I take that pride in being here the longest and just showing people the ropes.”
On numerous occasions in camp, Brown has taken the reins when it comes to taking the first rep in a drill or pulling Robinson aside on something he might not have as good a handle on in his first collegiate spring periods, like when he did so after some blocking work in the first week.
running backs getting physical pic.twitter.com/in2AXN1Tox
— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) March 30, 2025
Brown said the freshman, who made the tutelage pay off Thursday, is going to develop into a “great athlete” and “great person” as he gets up to speed on the higher level of competition.
Udoh has also been acclimating to the new offense, where he’s put in a situation he was almost never put in at Army.
“You got to be able to catch in this system. You got to be versatile,” Brown said of the toughest part of playing running back at ASU. “I think that’s where a lot of people kind of recognize with (Skattebo) last year that we catch the ball. I think that’s probably the toughest part ’cause as running backs people don’t expect us to catch the ball (as much as we do).”
Udoh comes in with just two career catches in two seasons for three yards, and that’s not a fault of his own. It’s just how Army plays, with about quadruple the yards of rushing (4,207) as receiving (1,128) in its offense. It’s likely the biggest adjustment Udoh is having to make.
Raleek Brown, who missed much of the 2024 season with injuries, is positioned to thrive in a hybrid type of role if Kyson Brown and Udoh take the bulk of carries.
offensive coordinator marcus arroyo on the status of the asu running back room as it enters 2025 trying to keep up the success following cam skattebo’s departure.
“there’s not a ton of mental errors, but we’ve got a long way to go,” he said after day 2 of spring camp. pic.twitter.com/Kua0Ih6N5p
— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) March 27, 2025
Raleek Brown’s speed can be utilized in the screen game out of the backfield or as a wide receiver, and his route running is likely the best among running backs, should they ever be put in those situations.
Jason Brown Jr. is visibly improved from his true freshman season in 2024, and McCaskill, who boasts a self-described all-around game, has reminded observers of his presence with some big plays in team settings.
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