With UCLA facing Arizona State Thursday, here is the scouting report on Arizona State’s top offense and defense players:
OFFENSE: RB D.J. Foster (No. 8, Jr.)
It’s as simple as this: If ASU is to beat UCLA without redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly, it will be on the legs of D.J. Foster, who was third in the nation in rushing yards (510), with five rushing touchdowns through the first three weeks of the season, before Arizona State had a bye last week.
Conversely, if UCLA can limit Foster, Arizona State’s offense could struggle mightily with its backup quarterback Mike Bercovici in his first start.
Foster’s style of play falls on both ends of the running back spectrum: He can break you down in the open field and blow by you, but he can also absorb contact and break tackles for more yards.
Mixed with his breakthrough speed and acceleration, Foster can short-circuit shorter runs into the secondary, if not deeper.
The Bruins will be without junior safety Randall Goforth and coach Jim Mora said redshirt senior safety Anthony Jefferson will be a gametime decision. So that means safeties sophomore Tahaan Goodman and freshman Jaleel Wadood will need to make their tackles to keep Foster from breaking long runs. Wadood did notch eight tackles against Texas, good enough for UCLA’s second-most.
What makes Foster more intriguing though is his pass-catching and play-making ability as a running back. Last year, even though he wasn’t a starter, Foster led the nation in receiving yards for running backs.
So in Thursday’s game, expect for him to line up in the backfield or out alongside the receivers, or motion in between the two spots.
Sophomore linebacker Myles Jack appears to be primarily responsible for containing Foster, and it should make for one of the game’s most pivotal matchups.
DEFENSE: FS Damarious Randall (No. 3, RS Sr.)
From his free safety position, Randall leads his team in tackles (27), which isn’t very common, though it is early in the season.
He also has four tackles for loss and a forced fumble – all in just three games of play.
Last year, he was third on the team in tackles (71) , and had 48 solo tackles in 12 games. So Randall doesn’t appear to be as much of a ball-hawking safety, but more a sure-fire tackling safety.
That said, if Randall can help ASU force some turnovers against UCLA, it could be game-changing for an ASU defense that lost nine starters from its Pac-12 South division championship team a year ago.
Compiled by Chris Kalra, Bruin Sports senior staff.