Arizona State lands 6 players on first day of football early signing period

The Arizona State football program might have had some early pledges back out, but those that did stick with their commitments had no doubt where they wanted to spend their college years.

Wednesday marked the first day of the early signing period and ASU landed six prospects — five high school players one community college transfer. Most will fill significant voids.

Among the additions from the high school ranks is placekicker Carter Brown out of Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas, the top-ranked kicker in the country.

It is the smallest signing class ever, with ASU's recruiting efforts slowed by the ongoing NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations, including having prospects on campus during a dead period. In wake of that investigation, which was launched in June, ASU lost four pledges, three of them four-star prospects

"At the end of the day ASU is still ASU and that's where I wanted to be," said Brown, who made his official visit the weekend the Sun Devils hosted USC.

Brown said the vote of confidence head coach Herm Edwards got from athletic director Ray Anderson after the season finale against Arizona definitely helped.

"It's nice to know the coaches that recruited you are going to be there," he said. "I just kind of felt all along everything was going to be OK and I never questioned my decision."

Brown will fill a definite need as ASU struggled in the kicking game. Logan Tyler and Cristian Zendejas were just a combined 6-for-11 on field goal tries with a long of 40 yards.

Brown says he is looking forward to competing for a starting job right away. He was recruited by ASU special teams coach Shawn Slocum, with whom he was in constant touch three to four times a week.

Among the others who signed as expected were four-star running back Tevin White from Stafford, Virginia; tight end Jacob Newell out of Springfield, Oregon; and defensive lineman Robby Harrison out of Greenwood, South Carolina.

White, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, is the highest ranked recruit in the group, a four-star prospect ranked by 247Sports as the No. 214 prospect nationally, 18th at his position and 10th in the state.

He is also needed with ASU only having one scholarship player remaining on the roster at that crucial position. Leading rusher Rachaad White is departing, already having declared for the NFL draft and the second running back DeaMonte "Chip" Trayanum entered the transfer portal, leaving sophomore Daniyel Ngata as the only scholarship running back.

White, primarily recruited by running backs coach Shaun Aguano, took his official visit to Tempe on June 11. His final six college choices were Penn State, Georgia, South Carolina, Duke and Tennessee along with Arizona State.

He is among the many expected to enroll in January.

The unexpected addition to the class is pro-style quarterback Bennett Meredith out of Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder visited ASU and was in attendance for the 38-15 Territorial Cup win over Arizona. He chose the Sun Devils over Maryland, a school he visited on Dec. 10. He was at one time committed to Northwestern.

Meredith, who was recruited by offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Zak Hill, threw for 2,212 yards and 23 touchdowns with six interceptions, completing 144 of 233 tries. He totaled 5,318 yards and 47 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in his high school career.

That will leave ASU with four quarterbacks for 2022 with current starter Jayden Daniels playing out his last season in 2022.

Also on the roster are redshirt freshman Trenton Bourguet and true freshmen Finn Collins and Daylin McLemore. The only athlete in that trio who has seen playing time is Bourguet who has entered in relief of Daniels in four games.

Meredith also had offers from Appalachian State, Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Monroe, Toledo and Troy and interest from Duke, Mississippi State, Tulane, West Virginia and South Alabama.

According to the 247Sports composite, he is the 67th ranked signal-caller in the nation from the 2022 class.

Also joining the ranks at ASU is tight end Bryce Pierre out of Mt. San Antonio Community College in Southern California, the same community college that turned out Rachaad White.

Pierre played in nine games with 20 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns.

The two left who had committed but have not yet signed are safety Tristan Dunn of Sumner, Washington and a second community college prospect in defensive lineman Dylan Hall out of Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California.

Head coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday he will be looking to fill the roster with at least 10 transfers from the NCAA transfer portal. ASU currently has pledges from three of those — safety Derrick Smith (Illinois), tight end Messiah Swinson (MIssouri) and linebacker Rodney Groce Jr. (Mississippi State).

Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State lands 6 players as football signing period starts