Arizona Football Playoffs Offer Last Chance to See Top ASU Prospects

The Arizona high school football playoffs are here. So you’re running out of time to see these future Sun Devils – and potential future Arizona State stars – while they’re still big fish in small ponds.

(Photo courtesy East Valley Tribune.)

We figure most Echo from the Buttes readers plan to spend this Friday evening with James Harden, Jeff Pendergraph and Herb Sendek at Wells Fargo Arena.

But some among you may be interested to note that Arizona’s high school football playoffs begin that same night. At least four future Sun Devils will be participating, as will the consensus top three recruits in the state.

Here’s a quick look at where you can get a quick look at the state’s top college football prospects.

1. DE Devon Kennard, 5A-1 No. 3 Ahwatukee Desert Vista. The top-ranked defensive end in the country, Kennard suffered a controversial knee injury back in September and is out for the season. Kennard still lists ASU among his top five along with Texas, Cal, USC and UCLA. His Desert Vista teammates will host Gilbert Highland on Friday.
2. DT Corey Adams, 4A-I No. 1 Scottsdale Saguaro. The nation’s seventh-ranked defensive tackle, lists ASU among his final four along with Nebraska, Ohio State and USC. Two of his Saguaro teammates have already committed to play at ASU next year. The trio will continue their march toward a third straight state title when they host Lake Havasu on Friday.
3. DE Craig Roh, 4A-I No. 2 Scottsdale Chaparral. ASU was interested in Roh, but the nation’s eighth-ranked defensive end long ago committed to the rebuilding project at Michigan. Chaparral will host Avondale Agua Fria this Friday.

As for the four Arizonans who’ve already committed to play for Dennis Erickson and the Sun Devils, here’s what they’ll be up to this Friday.

• LB Anthony Rose, 5A-II No. 3 Tempe Marcos de Niza. Rose has over 100 tackles including a season high 16 against Davonte “Highlight Reel” Neal and Laveen Cesar Chavez. Marcos hosts Glendale Deer Valley on Friday.
• RB Shane McCullen, 4A-I No. 10 Apache Junction. McCullen’s averaging over eight yards per touch for Apache Junction, which visits Vail Cienega on Friday.
• OT Koby Koebensky, Scottsdale Saguaro. Considering our struggles on the offensive line, this 6-foot-3 292-pounder can’t get to campus soon enough.
• TE Max Smith, Scottsdale Saguaro. Erickson offered a scholarship after personally watching Smith score two touchdowns against Chaparral.

We’ll keep an eye on these guys as the playoffs progress. It looks like most of them will be sticking around the tournament for a while.

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