Arizona State recruiting: How the NCAA investigation has factored in recent decisions, and other notes (2024)

TEMPE, Ariz. — On his announcement day, Deshawn Woods walked around the North Omaha Boys and Girls Club, broadcasting live to more than 200 Instagram followers who awaited his big decision.

A four-star prospect from Omaha Central High in Nebraska, Woods was down to two schools: Arizona State and Missouri. But the secret seemed to be out. At least one recruiting expert had switched his prediction from Arizona State to Missouri within the previous days. More telling: As Woods, wearing dark shades and a blue mask, broadcasted from the boys and girls club, black and gold balloons could be seen in the background.

The offensive lineman soon made it official. After thanking family, coaches and supporters, Woods simply said, “I will be committing to Missouri.”

For Arizona State, this has become a common fade-to-black moment. Shortly after his hire in 2017, coach Herm Edwards realized a significant recruiting hurdle. The Sun Devils could land elite quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, linebackers and defensive backs, but the boys up front were the program’s white whale, the area in which the program needed to improve. Had he committed to Arizona State, Woods, the nation’s No. 149 overall prospect with a 0.9414 rating per 247 Sports, would have become the program’s highest-rated lineman in the recruiting service era.

What’s not as clear: The role the NCAA’s investigation into Arizona State might have had on Woods’ decision. The football program faces allegations of hosting recruits on campus during the non-contact COVID-19 period and possibly other infractions. With a dark cloud hovering over the program, recruiting during this cycle could be tricky.

On June 3, 2020, Arizona State became the 12th school to offer Woods a scholarship. The No. 6 interior lineman in the 2022 class, Woods took an official visit to Tempe on June 4. He visited Missouri on June 11. Five days later news of the NCAA investigation was public.

“Unfortunately, that happened,” Omaha Central coach Jay Landstrom said. “The timing of it wasn’t the best.”

In a conversation a few days before Woods announced his decision, Landstrom described the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Woods as a strong lineman with good feet and a mean streak. “Pass blocking comes pretty natural to him, but he’s a good run blocker as well,” he said. “He picks up our system and very rarely has a mental mistake. And he gets after it. He has a little nasty in him.”

Despite the distance from Omaha, Arizona State had a connection. Graduate assistant Shaun Prater, a former Iowa defensive back who played four seasons in the NFL, attended Omaha Central, winning a state championship. Plus, friend Devon Jackson, a four-star linebacker from Omaha Burke High, had Arizona State among his final schools as well. Throughout his recruitment, Woods bonded with Arizona State coaches. He liked the staff’s diversity, experience and energy. After his official visit, the lineman raved to a Rivals reporter about communication within the program. Plus, the weather was great.

As for the investigation, Landstrom said, “I think it’s a little bit of a concern for them. But I don’t think it’s going to make or break it.”

It may not have mattered. Shortly after his commitment, Woods told a Rivals reporter that he decided on Missouri within minutes after his official visit. They had an academic plan in place. Per Landstrom, Woods also liked the idea of playing in the SEC, considered college football’s toughest conference. And although Omaha has direct flights to Phoenix, the lineman’s friends and family could drive to Missouri in one afternoon. “That doesn’t hurt,” Landstrom said. It was a tough loss for the Sun Devils.

Idaho TE chooses Michigan

A day after Woods’ announcement, three-star tight end Colston Loveland of Gooding, Idaho, committed to Michigan. Loveland had taken an official visit to Arizona State on June 11.

In a text message Monday, Gooding High coach Cameron Andersen said the Arizona State investigation “obviously gave (Loveland) some questions,” but Loveland’s official visit to Michigan, and how he fit in the Wolverines’ offense, ultimately were the biggest factors in the tight end’s decision.

Texas defensive tackle on board

Arizona State has captured two commitments since the investigation became public. The first came from four-star running back Tevin White on June 24. The second came last Friday from three-star prospect Syncere Massey of Cedar Hill, Texas. Per 247Sports, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Massey ranks as the No. 152 defensive lineman in the 2022 class.

According to Cedar Hill coach Carlos Lynn, Massey once was a basketball player at heart, but he knew “where his bread was being buttered.”

“You’re 6-5, 6-6, you know you at least got a chance,” Lynn said. “Now you just have to back it up with your play, and that’s what he did last season. He came in, learned what we did and excelled. He’s a football player. He has everything he needs to be successful.”

Asked about the NCAA investigation, Lynn said he didn’t think it was a factor in Massey’s decision. “He just felt like those guys treated him right in the recruiting process, and that’s where he wanted to be,” he said.

Where Arizona State stands

Entering Tuesday, Arizona State has six public commitments in its 2022 class. Per 247Sports Composite, the Sun Devils rank ninth in the Pac-12 and 52nd nationally. That is misleading.

While they lack quantity, the Sun Devils have quality. Their four four-star prospects trail only Oregon’s six within the conference (UCLA also has four). Arizona State’s 88.96 prospect average ranks third behind USC (92.37) and Oregon (89.8), so the foundation for a strong class is in place. The challenge will be keeping it together and building off it. (Per Yahoo Sports, some of those committed to Arizona State’s class are alleged to have visited during the non-contact COVID-19 period.)

Last year at this time, Arizona State had eight public commitments for its 2021 class, but six ended up decommitting.

(Top photo: Kevin Abele / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Doug Haller is a senior writer based in Arizona. He previously worked 13 years at The Arizona Republic, where he covered three Final Fours and four football national championship games. He is a five-time winner of the Arizona Sportswriter of the Year award. Follow Doug on Twitter @DougHaller