si
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host a Thursday Night Football matchup on Nov. 12 between the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants, but the game carries a distinct Tempe flavor. A long list of former Arizona State Sun Devils is expected to feature prominently on both sides.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, a former Heisman vote-getter at ASU, has been cleared to play after battling injuries throughout the season. His return sets the stage for a reunion with two fellow Sun Devils on the Commanders: quarterback Jayden Daniels and running back Rachaad White, both products of the Herm Edwards era in Tempe.
Although their college careers did not overlap, White and Skattebo share a notable connection. Both eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in a season at Arizona State while being mentored by the same running backs coach, Shaun Aguano. Aguano joined the Sun Devils staff in 2019 and has since established a pipeline to the NFL, with a running back tree that also includes Eno Benjamin and Xazavian Valladay.
Key Analysis
Jayden Daniels’ path from Arizona State to the NFL was anything but straightforward. As a freshman in 2019, he won the starting quarterback job in fall camp and led the Sun Devils to a stunning upset over No. 6 Oregon. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 season to just five games, and in 2021, ASU fell short of Rose Bowl aspirations, finishing 8-5 after a loss in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Following the 2021 season, an NCAA investigation into COVID guideline violations—specifically involving the hosting of recruits and off-campus travel for staff—led to the resignation or dismissal of several coaches. Daniels’ mother was also implicated, and the quarterback entered the transfer portal in the winter of 2022, just months before head coach Herm Edwards was fired. Daniels then spent two seasons at LSU, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2023 and becoming the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by Washington.
Daniels’ professional career has been eventful: he led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie, but has since faced struggles, largely due to injuries. Whether he looks back on his Tempe days with fondness remains uncertain, but his time there was undoubtedly memorable for ASU football.
Skattebo’s return comes at a crucial juncture, as he looks to rebound not only from a middling sophomore season but also from a costly fumble in overtime against Washington in their first meeting this year—a game that ended in a tie. The former Sun Devil will aim to make amends against the Commanders.
Elsewhere in the NFL, former ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, now a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, made his debut last week after recovering from an August hamstring injury. The Saints defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-22 in overtime, giving Tyson his first NFL win. He will need to be at his best this Saturday when New Orleans hosts the Carolina Panthers in a key divisional matchup.
In Ohio, former ASU offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a first-round draft pick, is preparing for a Sunday Night primetime clash as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Cincinnati Bengals. Iheanachor has impressed in his first season in Pennsylvania and is ready for the divisional showdown.
Back in college, ASU football will face UCF in a critical Big 12 conference game on Nov. 14 at 1:30 PM MST, adding to a busy week for Sun Devil talent across all levels.