ASU offensive lineman Brandon Lloyd on switching from track and field to football
ASU’s Brandon Lloyd discusses transitioning from shot put and discuss to playing football for the first time in his life.
The Arizona State football team is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12.
It impressed in a 42-21 blowout win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, shining before and after a lengthy weather delay.
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But was it enough for the Sun Devils to be ranked for the first time under coach Kenny Dillingham?
Probably not, but ASU could be getting very close.
Though ASU football received no votes in the AP poll, the Sun Devils were seventh in the “others receiving votes” category of the most recent US LBM Coaches poll, which comes out every Sunday, essentially No. 32 in the country.
More: Arizona State football routs Oklahoma State after weather delay to become bowl eligible
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No. 22 Washington State was off this week, as was No. 23 Missouri.
No. 24 Illinois did lose to Minnesota, 25-17, and No. 25 Memphis fell to UTSA, 44-36.
But Colorado, ahead of ASU in the “receiving votes” category, was also off this week, as was Tulane. Louisiana, also ahead of ASU, beat Texas State. Vanderbilt, also in front of the Sun Devils, topped Auburn.
Navy, one of the other teams near ASU, was losing to Rice, while UNLV was also off.
Some voters are likely to be impressed with ASU’s win over Oklahoma State, but the Sun Devils probably have too many teams to pass this week to break into the Top 25.
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More: Arizona State football vs Oklahoma State delayed by weather
But they should be getting very close after the impressive win over the Cowboys.
Close enough where a win over UCF next week might put them into the Top 25.
Who would have guessed they could be even close to this position after going 3-9 last season and being predicted to finish last in the Big 12?
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Do you think ASU should be ranked after its win over Oklahoma State?
Ejected for spitting: Arizona State football player tossed vs Oklahoma State
Arizona State football bowl projections: ASU vs Alabama among predictions for Sun Devils
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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A self-described Arizona social media “villain” was arrested after he filmed himself allegedly spraying bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart as he boasted to police about his prank videos.
Charles Smith, 27, is accused of grabbing a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer and unleashing the pesticide on a series of perishable items in the Mesa, Ariz. megastore around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
In the now-deleted video, the influencer filmed himself wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana while spraying the toxin on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples and Roma tomatoes at the store — located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.
Police claim the TikTokker, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti, intentionally went to the store to film pranks for his channel.
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Smith identifies as an online “troll,” according to court documents viewed by Az Family. He has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
The troublemaker allegedly told police that he makes between $6,000 – $10,000 per month filming his provocative prank videos.
”I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here,” Walmart shopper Xavier Griego told the outlet. “It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to police on Dec. 21.
He faces charges of introducing poison (a felony) as well as three misdemeanors that include criminal damage, endangerment and theft.
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A spokesperson from Walmart told AZ Family that store employees removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas of the store.
It’s not clear if any customers were injured from eating the contaminated items.
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the Mesa Police Department said in a statement.
Other videos posted online by Smith include the posts of him seemingly mixing in bacon and eggs in a stranger’s load at the laundromat as well as locking people inside a different grocery store.
The spray is “harmful if swallowed” and “prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals” per HotShot’s website.
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Suspects convicted of tampering with consumer products face up to 5 to 20 years in prison.
In 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area.
David Lohr was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.
There were no reported injuries or illnesses associated with the tampered items during the 2018 stunt, prosecutors said.
Lohr was accused of tampering with products at stores in California one year later and sentenced to a 51-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with mental health services.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.
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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.
Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.
Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.
Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.
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After getting hired as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Seth Doege said his scheme is one that can be effective through the air and on the ground. And now he’s added a playmaker who has shown the ability to produce in both areas in a similar system.
Former Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi has committed to Arizona, giving the Wildcats a versatile ball carrier who can also catch passes out of the backfield.
BREAKING: Texas State star transfer RB Ismail Mahdi has Committed to Arizona, he tells @on3sports
The 5’9 187 RB led the nation in All-Purpose Yards in 2023 (2,169)
2x All-Sun Belt 1st Team & 2023 1st Team All-American
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Mahdi ran for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bobcats, adding 44 catches for 470 yards and three TDs as well as a score off a kick return. He has more than 3,500 all-purpose yards the last two seasons, with another 900 and five scores from the 2022 season at FCS Houston Christian.
Texas State runs a spread attack similar to what Doege used at Marshall, one that averaged 37.1 points and almost 475 yards per game this fall.
Ismail is Arizona’s 10th transfer pickup, fifth on offense and third at a skill position along with former New Mexico receiver Luke Wysong and ex-Washington State receiver Kris Hutson.