Xavion Alford expecting big improvement from Sun Devils’ defense

FRISCO, Texas — Although the Sun Devils led the Big 12 in rushing and scoring defense last season, none of it was good enough to satisfy their star safety.

Xavion Alford is the general of Arizona State’s secondary, who prides himself on leadership. He’s also physical, athletic and a ballhawk. The first-team, All-Big 12 performer believes this year’s defense will be the best under Coach Kenny Dillingham. After all, the Sun Devils return 10 starters on that side of the ball, including an All-Big 12 caliber defender at every level of the defense.

Which is why Alford is pushing all of his teammates in practice, and they’re improving each day.

“I feel like it starts with me on defense, everybody knows I’m a vocal guy and things of that nature, but it’s really just coming out and setting the standard,” Alford said. “I feel like we played good defense last year, but we want to play elite defense this year.”

Alford set the bar pretty high for the defense with his 2024 campaign. He made nine tackles apiece against Utah and UCF. His 10 stops at Cincinnati were a season-high. The former four-star prospect even hauled in an interception in road victories over Texas State, and Kansas State.

Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward is making sure everyone is attacking the ball, and wants his unit to cause more turnovers. Alford believes that speaks volumes, considering the Sun Devils were one of the nation’s best at forcing turnovers.

“We feel like if we can steal two or three possessions, that we’ll have a pretty good chance to win games,” the redshirt senior said. “It’s literally that simple, get turnovers, get the ball back to the offense, that’s what the defense does, so that’s our mentality everytime we step out there.”

Arizona State’s defense was leaky against the pass, and that turned out to be a liability in the Playoffs. Alford feels a better pass rush will help take some of the pressure off the defensive backs out in coverage. The pieces are in the right place to make strides in that area too.

C.J. Fite is an animal along the interior, and will anchor the defensive line up front. Linebackers Keyshaun Elliott, and Jordan Crook can fly from sideline to sideline, and combined for 122 stops last year. As long as everyone does their job, it will give the secondary the flexibility to make plays all over the field. There’s too much returning experience, leadership and production for the Sun Devils to take a step back in Alford’s mind.

“We only lost one person, so when you get 10 guys back strides are expected to be made,” he said. “We definitely pushing each other each and everyday, holding each other accountable.”

With fall camp starting in less than four weeks, Alford wants everyone on the same page. The Texas native is putting all of last year’s success in the rearview mirror, and focusing on the present. The Sun Devils are still a work in progress on defense, but Alford promises they’ll be among the nation’s elite.

“We’re really investing into detail, the small things, just playing fast and physical and we’ll be where we want to be.”