Arizona Republic breaks down ASU football’s Sun Bowl performance
Arizona Republic writer Michelle Gardner analyzes Arizona State football’s performance in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Duke on Dec. 31, 2025.
Michelle Gardner and Diana Payan/The Republic
Arizona State running back Raleek Brown declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. But he has apparently had a change of heart and will enter the transfer portal instead.
Brown, an explosive 5-foot-9, 195-pounder, had a breakout season with 186 carries for 1,141 yards. He had a career-high against Colorado with 22 carries for 255 yards. That broke the ASU single-season record for rushing yards in a road game, and it is the third-highest total in any game behind Eno Benjamin’s 312 against Oregon State in 2018 and Cam Skattebo’s 262 against Mississippi State in 2024.
Brown was also integral in the passing game with 34 receptions for 239 yards. He excelled on special teams early in the season with two punt returns for 31 yards and two kickoff returns for 35 yards.
This was Brown’s second season at ASU after starting his college career at USC. Brown, a four-star prospect out of high school, started for the Trojans as a running back in 2022 but then redshirted the next season, as that school tried to convert him to a slot receiver.
He sat out much of 2024 with a nagging hamstring injury sustained late in fall camp.
Brown was projected as a third-day draft selection in a draft missing a lot of star power at that position. He can likely improve his stock by returning to college since he has played just one full year of college football. He can also make more money at a higher-profile school than he would as an NFL rookie, thus his change of heart.