Arizona State v. Texas A&M: Players to Watch

Jordan Simone

Nov 22, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington State Cougars running back Jamal Morrow (25) is tackled by Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Jordan Simone (38) at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils defeats the Cougars 52-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Hard-hitting bandit safety Jordan Simone is the key catalyst to how well the Sun Devils defense will perform in 2015.

Simone transferred to Arizona State in 2012 from Washington State and redshirted that season as a sophomore. Simone was a walk-on with the program and after a slow 2013 season he was given a scholarship in August of 2014 and boy-oh-boy did he earn it.

Simone ranked first on the team in tackles per game last season with 8.3 and even racked up a career-high 20 tackles against USC in the “Jael Mary” game.

Alongside Simone in the secondary are corner standouts in Kweishi Brown and Lloyd Carrington. The prior experience at the collegiate level could definitely prove big for the Sun Devils down the stretch, not only in this game against Texas A&M, but in the season as a whole.