2006 record: 7-6, 4-5 (5th-tie in Pac-10)
2006 bowl: Lost to Hawaii 41-24 in Hawaii
2006 final AP/coaches' ranking: Unranked
Coach: Dennis Erickson (1st year; 148-65-1 overall, 18 years)
Offensive coordinator: Rich Olson (1st year)
Defensive coordinator: Craig Bray (1st year)
Returning offensive starters: 10
Returning defensive starters: 6
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Stadium: Sun Devil (grass, 71,706)
Last league title: 1996
2007 schedule: [view]
2006 statistics: [view]

Offensive: Coach Dennis Erickson, asked to revive yet another program, might be stepping into a great situation with nine returning starters. The key is junior quarterback Rudy Carpenter, whose training-camp emergence last season sent Sam Keller to Nebraska as a transfer. Erickson has implemented the shotgun for Carpenter, who will be protected by a massive offensive line, which returns intact. There are skill players a plenty, including senior Rudy Burgess, who’s back at receiver after a season at cornerback, and senior running back Ryan Torain (1,229 yards).

Defensive: Isn’t defense usually a rumor with the Sun Devils? That must change. And maybe it will, considering the influx of new faces (impact freshman Omar Bolden at cornerback, superb junior-college transfer Morris Wooten at middle linebacker) along with five holdover starters. Senior defensive tackle Michael Marquardt and sophomore Dexter Davis are the pass-rushing threats, while 231-pound free safety Josh Barrett is an enforcer in the secondary. 

Specialists: If Arizona State can weather the special-teams hat trick — new place-kicker, new center, new holder — freshman Thomas Weber should be able to display his 50-yard range. Senior Jonathan Johnson is a reliable punter, and the Sun Devils have a fleet of possibilities to return kickoffs and punts.

Game of the year Sept. 20 vs. Florida Tennessee’s long-time SEC East rival will roll into Neyland Stadium, with a conference title (if not a national championship) in mind. Tennessee would delight in spoiling the Gators’ plans, along with announcing itself as a player in the SEC East.

Coaching: He’s back. Say what you will about Erickson’s wandering eyes when it comes to coaching jobs, but it’s difficult to deny that he knows something about offensive football and moving the chains. Erickson’s presence could serve as a swift kick in the butt for a program that has taken its share of pratfalls since Jake Plummer was under center.

Heisman Hopefuls: Carpenter is capable of becoming one of the West’s top quarterbacks. It’s probably a stretch to anoint him as a Heisman hopeful — for now.

Overview: Erickson won a national championship in his first season at Miami (1989). Not to suggest that’s going to happen again, but the Sun Devils should be one of the nation’s most improved teams, and also a factor in the Pac-10 race (non-USC division).

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