A larger role than the starting count suggests
Jessiah McGrew made his first start in Arizona State’s fifth game. His coverage workload had already become substantial: the Sun Devils’ October 14 preview credits him with 148 coverage snaps, most among their safeties. A player can become important well before the starting lineup makes the importance obvious.
The same preview reports three receptions allowed for 21 yards and one first down. It also cites Pro Football Focus tracking that credits McGrew with no missed tackles and an 88.1 tackling grade. Those are evaluation figures from the school’s matchup report, not conventional box-score statistics. They describe a defender whose smaller responsibilities have been adding up.
A tackle is also a coverage result
Against Texas Tech, a safety’s work may begin with a read far from the eventual collision. Recognizing a route and arriving under control can limit the yards available after a catch. Overrunning the ball in pursuit of a dramatic hit can turn a completed pass into an explosive play.
That makes McGrew’s combination of coverage experience and tackling reliability useful to Arizona State. The Sun Devils do not have to erase every completion to make a possession difficult. They do have to prevent an ordinary completion from repeatedly carrying the offense past another set of downs. His season to date provides a reason for confidence in that assignment, not permission to assume it will look the same against a different passing game.
The hardest work may come after halftime
Arizona State, 3–2 overall and 1–1 in the Big 12, visits No. 10 Texas Tech on October 17. The unbeaten Red Raiders have outscored opponents by 72 points after halftime, according to their game notes. A close opening half does not settle the defensive examination.
The Sun Devils need the secondary to preserve its tackling and spacing as the game develops. Watch McGrew’s positioning on the next snap after Texas Tech completes a pass: whether the response stays organized or becomes an anxious attempt to recover every yard immediately. His useful contribution may be a secure tackle that attracts little attention. In Lubbock, that kind of quiet play could be one of Arizona State’s most important answers.
Sources & reporting
- Arizona State Athletics: Texas Tech preview, October 14 ↗
- Texas Tech Athletics: Arizona State preview, October 12 ↗
This article adds independent analysis to publicly available reporting. We did not conduct the interviews or report the game firsthand. Report a factual error.