Edmond Boateng taking reins at ASU football's hybrid LB spot

When Arizona State preseason camp began, Paul Randolph had no idea who would emerge as the Devil-backer replacing Carl Bradford.

Now with the move of Edmond Boateng to the hybrid defensive-end/linebacker position, Randolph can barely contain his enthusiasm. The ASU defensive-ends coach even believes that a combination of Boateng, De'Marieya Nelson and Antonio Longino can be as productive as Bradford was in each of his last two seasons (combined 20 sacks, 39.5 tackles for a loss).

Coach Todd Graham went so far Wednesday as to say the coaches are making a positive example of Boateng by promoting him to starting Devil-backer just a week before the season opener, Aug. 28 against Weber State.

"Coming into camp, I thought he'll be a rotation guy (at defensive end)," Graham said. "This guy has an unbelievable spirit every day. He's playing with a passion, and we found a place for him to play. We are better today because of it."

Boateng, 6 feet 4 and 267 pounds, was a hot recruiting property coming out of his only playing season at New Mexico Military Institute after redshirting in 2012 (wrist injury).

He transferred to ASU in January but during spring practice did not turn any heads.

"I came in here really out of shape," Boateng said. "When I came back for summer workouts, I just had it in my head that I have to give it all I've got and it's going to show once the season comes. I'm proving myself right, I guess."

His name increasingly came up as camp progressed, but his promotion to first team at ASU's highest-profile defensive position still was something of a surprise.

Boateng is 3 inches taller than Bradford — a fourth-round NFL draft pick by Green Bay — and to use Randolph's baseball analogy is a hard slider coming at the quarterback compared with the 6-3 Nelson as a fastball and 6-2 Longino as a curve.

"It makes it tough on tight ends and offensive tackles to protect when you have three guys you can throw at them," Randolph said. "We'll rotate more (than with Bradford) and keep them fresher, so at the end of the game guys are ready to go."

Being deeper at Devil-backer also will help to keep Nelson, who also plays H-back on offense and on some special teams, from being overworked.

"It's not too different from playing true defensive end," said Boateng, who began playing football seriously only as a junior at Wiregrass Ranch (Fla.) High.

"You obviously need some reps to be good at something. I'm just giving it as much effort as I can. It's having good practice after good practice after good practice."

Graham said Boateng has been the best pass rusher during camp and added that defensive coordinator Keith Patterson rates him the most improved player since spring.

"He's running better, faster, more explosive," Randolph said. "All the things we look for in a Devil position, and he's just been getting progressively better every single day. That's why right now he's operating as one of our best 11, so you've got to find a place for him to play."