There's a new offensive coordinator in Tempe, and Arizona State football's offensive players are searching for their place in Glenn Thomas' plans.
Arizona State redshirt junior Messiah Swinson doesn't mind blocking, but like other tight ends, he wants to get his hands on a football occasionally. He has played just one game in a Sun Devil uniform, but it is looking like he'll get the ball in his hands — and that could be a good thing for head coach Herm Edwards and his crew.40-3 victory over Northern Arizona
"It felt good. It felt natural," he said, after practice earlier this week." I feel like pass catching is something that comes natural to me in terms of coming here I'd say the transition is more about route running, not necessarily pass catching but just being able to get out there and catch passes again, move in space. I'm excited to keep doing it."
ASU tight ends coach Juston Wood has been working with Swinson on the fines point of the position, most notably route running and catching the ball since his primary role there at his previous school was as a blocker.“It’s great for me. The guy, he’s standing — I mean he’s 6-foot-7 in the middle of the field, it’s hard to miss him," Jones laughed."That’s somebody anybody would love to have so he’s real quarterback-friendly.
Swinson landing at ASU is proof that is good for coaches to keep an open dialogue with a recruit even if that athlete doesn't originally pick their school. Swinson, a native of Bay Shore New York, was the No. 6 recruit out of the state in 2019 according to Rivals and dubbed a three-star prospect by all services. He took an official visit to Tempe before deciding on Missouri, He sustained a torn ACL his first year there.Now he's found an offense in which he thinks he can excel.