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The Arizona State football team has been resilient this season, and safety Xavion Alford is a good example of that. Alford had to sit out last season as a two-time Division I transfer, so he coudn’t wait to hit the field in 2024.
His addition was crucial for a team looking to bounce back from a miserable 3-9 showing in 2023.
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Alford and the Sun Devils have both rebounded nicely. They sit at 11-2 and have remarkably launched themselves into the College Football Playoff picture. ASU captured the Big 12 title, beating Iowa State 45-19 in the championship game in Arlington, Texas, to earn a spot in the postseason.
ASU, seeded fourth, has earned a berth in the Jan. 1 Peach Bowl and will face Texas (12-2) with a spot in the CFP semifinal on the line.
Let’s take a closer look at the player who has emerged as the “quarterback” of the defense.
Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Xavion Alford (2) during workouts at Kajikawa Practice fields on Dec. 20, 2024.
Career at ASU
Alford, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Pearland, Texas, has started all 13 games at safety and has registered 82 tackles, second on the team to only Myles Rowser. Alford also has two interceptions, one coming against Texas State and the other against Kansas State. He has four pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. His season-best of 10 tackles came in the 24-14 loss at Cincinnati.
Alford earned first-team All-Big 12 honors on the team voted on by coaches as well as the AP team voted on by the media.
He arrived at ASU in 2023 but had to sit out after having a waiver denied by the NCAA as a two-time Division I transfer but served a pivotal role on the scout team. Because he had to sit out last season and the NCAA later changed that rule, Alford has another year of eligibility should he choose to use it.
Career…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/xavion-alford-know-arizona-state-184502324.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-12-26 18:45:00
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