Major Update: “ASU Gears Up For Big 12 Showdown With Welcome Injury Resurgence!”

The eagerly awaited debut of ASU football in the Big 12 is approaching, with a matchup against Texas Tech on Saturday. The early afternoon game may feature several Sun Devils making their return from injuries.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham announced that defensive end Prince Dorbah (leg) will return for the game against the Red Raiders. He also mentioned that linebacker Jordan Crook (undisclosed) and offensive lineman Sean Na’a (leg) have a realistic chance of being back on the field.

Defensive tackles Jacob Kongaika and Zac Swanson, along with running back DeCarlos Brooks, are listed as questionable. Meanwhile, cornerback LT Welch (undisclosed) and linebacker Tate Romney (broken arm) will remain sidelined.

“Getting Prince back is a big boost for us. We’re optimistic about Sean Na’a returning, and Jordan Crook should be back as well,” Dillingham said at a press conference on Monday. “The two defensive tackles who missed last week are still questionable, so it’s a toss-up on whether we’ll get one of them back. LT will still be out, and Brooks is also questionable depending on how he progresses this week. Tate Romney is still out; arms don’t heal quickly,” he added.

Dorbah, a Dallas native and Texas transfer, is set to make his season debut back in his home state. In his first year with ASU in 2023, the redshirt senior played in 10 games, recording 30 tackles, six sacks, and defending one pass.

Crook, hailing from Duncanville, Texas, is also expected to make his first appearance for ASU, after transferring from Arkansas, where he tallied 40 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble over 25 games.

Na’a, now a sophomore after a strong freshman campaign where he started in seven of nine games, looks to continue his growth on the offensive line. He was one of only 20 true freshman offensive linemen to log over 400 snaps last season.

Running back Raleek Brown, who returned from a hamstring injury to play against Texas State, is still being monitored by Dillingham, who noted he isn’t quite at full strength yet.

“Raleek is still in a questionable state; he’s cleared but not fully back yet. We want to wait until he’s 100% before putting him in,” Dillingham said. “If he’s only in the mid-90s, we won’t risk it.”

Brown had limited action in the previous game, with two carries and a reception for two yards. He joined ASU after two seasons at USC.

With a perfect 3-0 record heading into Big 12 play after leaving the Pac-12, ASU’s injury returns will be crucial as they gear up for a tougher schedule ahead.

Arizona State will take on Texas Tech this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT.