ASU football's 10 most important players in 2015
Arizona State's depth has improved each season under coach Todd Graham. Even so, the Sun Devils, like every team, still have players who are irreplaceable.
Here are 10 this season's team cannot afford to lose:
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10. Demario Richard, running back. The decision to move D.J. Foster to receiver was made in part because of the confidence the Sun Devils had in Richard. The sophomore is quick and powerful, and he has good enough hands to blossom into a receiving threat as well. ASU has depth here with sophomore Kalen Ballage, but Richard has star potential.
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9. Kweishi Brown, cornerback. The Sun Devils are thin at corner, which means they cannot afford an injury. In his first year out of junior college, Brown last season started 10 games, but he didn't always feel comfortable. This year he looks like one of the team's most improved players.
ASU football depth chart - 2015
8. Christian Westerman, left guard. The Sun Devils want to run the ball this season. That requires attitude and toughness. Westerman -- an all-conference candidate -- provides both.
7. Antonio Longino, Devilbacker. ASU's Devil position is the engine in Graham's aggressive scheme. The more effective he is, the more effective the Sun Devils will be. Graham has searched for more than a year to find someone explosive enough to play the hybrid position. He thinks he's found his guy in Longino.
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6. Nick Kelly, center. Kelly -- a 2014 second-team All-Pac-12 selection -- is the heartbeat of an ASU offensive line that returns three starters. His voice carries weight in the locker room. Graham thinks the center is the Sun Devils' most overlooked player. This season that should change.
5. Lloyd Carrington, cornerback. Carrington is a technician at boundary corner, someone who seeks perfection on every play. Although Graham would like the senior to take more chances, he admits Carrington is among the best he's coached.
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4. Jordan Simone, bandit safety. To see Simone's worth, all you have to do is spend a day at practice. He's the first defensive player on the field, the one sprinting from one drill to the next. His voice is the soundtrack of ASU's defense. His energy is irreplaceable.
3. Laiu Moeakiola, spur linebacker. At one point before last season, defensive coordinator Keith Patterson wasn't sure Moeakiola was an every-down player. It didn't take long for Patterson to see he was mistaken. ASU last season played its best when Moeakiola was healthy. When he struggled with injuries, the Sun Devils struggled. That's not a coincidence. At a position where communication is vital, Moeakiola is ASU's glue.
RANKINGS:Top 25 Pac-12 football players for 2015
2. D.J. Foster, receiver. The Sun Devils have several offensive playmakers, but everything revolves around Foster. He is their go-to man, someone who can line up at every offensive skill position. Opponents' game plans will start with No. 8, and the more attention they pay to him, the more it will benefit others.
1. Mike Bercovici, quarterback. After a long wait, Bercovici gets his chance. All signs point to a breakout season. This is his team. His moment. The Sun Devils need him at a high level.
A closer look at ASU football's 2015 schedule:
