Stanford’s T.J. Rushing expected to be new assistant in secondary for ASU

Stanford defensive assistant T.J. Rushing is expected to be a new assistant coach in the secondary for Arizona State coach Todd Graham, according to sources.

It’s a reuniting of Rushing and Graham. The cerebral Rushing was a graduate assistant under Graham from 2012–13 and worked with the Sun Devils’ secondary.

This past season was Rushing’s first in his position at Stanford, his alma mater. A rising assistant, the 32-year-old spent last year as Northern Arizona’s cornerbacks coach.

A seventh-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft by Indianapolis, Rushing was a cornerback and return specialist for the Colts for four seasons, earning a Super Bowl ring his rookie year. He had a short stint with the Detroit Lions prior to the 2010 season and spent a couple of months in the CFL with Saskatchewan before the 2012 season.

One of the top kick returners in Stanford history, Rushing was a cornerback and return specialist for the Cardinal from 2003–06. A Pauls Valley, Okla., native, he was also a sprinter for Stanford from 2003–04.

Arizona State had a 6–7 record this season, the first losing campaign of Graham’s four-year tenure after back-to-back 10-win seasons. He has a 34–19 record with the Sun Devils.