TEMPE — Kenny Dillingham developed a list of mantras for his team through the first two spring practices of the 2024 season.
One on Thursday was very simple: “Attack the ball.”
“The key to the game is the ball,” Dillingham said. “In practice one, we played something like brother ball, and he said, “You know, the ball is close to you, so we're going to tag each other.'' “Hey, good job. T-Aibo!” High five! '
“You've got to practice. Even if you're just wearing a helmet, you've got to attack the football. And the only way you can attack the football is by chasing the football.”
One position group that stood out to Dillingham and defensive coordinator Brian Ward Thursday was the defensive line.
According to Dillingham, a “attack the ball” mentality emerged and the energy increased after the first day.
The defensive line needed to be retooled during the offseason after losing B.J. Green to Colorado. Green tied for the team-high with six sacks last season.
Dillingham emphasized the importance of having enough depth on the defensive line to sustain throughout the college football season, a goal he believes has been achieved.
“We have more depth than last year,” Dillingham said. “Last season, we slumped in the fourth quarter of the game, in the third quarter, late in the season.”
Prince Dova, Clayton Smith, and Dashawn Mallory all returned from last season and are expected to be active this season. ASU also solidified its depth with Jacob Kongaika (Arizona) and Jeff Clark (Louisville) competing for the starting spot.
Brazen Lono-Wong is a standout defensive line returner. Ward believes if the sophomore continues this way, he could earn a starting spot at some point this season.
Ward said Lono Wong bulked up during the offseason along with Doba and Smith. Smith gained 15 pounds and Doba gained 10 pounds.
“He's muscular all over,” Ward said. “They look a lot different and it’s shown on the field so far so it’s fun. I can’t wait to see them in some pads on Saturday and see what happens. ”
Cole Martin made an immediate impact in the secondary, making multiple highlight plays during practice despite not being familiar with Ward's defensive philosophy.
Martin, a four-star recruit out of Basha High School in Chandler, spent one season with the Oregon Ducks before transferring to Tempe. In 2023, he played in every game as a true freshman, recording 21 tackles, two passes defensed, and one interception.
“He's great,” Ward said. “He's a lot of fun to coach and he really wants to get better. He has a high soccer IQ. And obviously he's blessed with a lot of ability.”
On Saturday, ASU will open its field outside the Verde Dickey Dome in Tempe to the public and practice in full pads for the first time this spring.
