Edwards, NIL Slammed After Sun Devils Lose Crucial Pieces in Transfer Portal

On Thursday, things went from bad to worse for Arizona State's football program.

The Sun Devils were already teetering on the verge of dropping to the depths of the Pac-12 South. Now, the decisions by Eric Gentry and Ricky Pearsall to enter the transfer portal have sent ASU fans into a frenzy.

Rightfully so, which should be added. Arizona State has produced minimal hope for ASU fans since the NCAA launched its investigation inside the Sun Devils last June.

Losing a freshman All-American and your top offensive weapon minutes removed from each other, for what has been reported as strictly NIL reasons, is enough to push many over the edge.

Judging by the reactions from fans and media members across the country, that's precisely the case as Arizona State scrambles to pick up the pieces and still make something of their 2022 season.

Social Media Reaction

Bottom line: Gap between ASU and Arizona/Colorado is closing, quickly
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) April 21, 2022

This is so disappointing. https://t.co/YPAqF1zoNk
— Jordan Simone (@JordanSimone38) April 21, 2022

To say the Sun Devils are beleaguered at this point under Herm Edwards is an understatement.

NIL or no NIL, you simply can’t lose your starting QB, top WR (who is from Tempe) and a freshman All-American to transfer and think things are OK.

This is rudderless ship territory. https://t.co/jB9dySSZz3
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) April 21, 2022

It's been a really good off-season for Arizona football between all the talent they've added and what is going on with U of A's arch-rival. https://t.co/LZ51PpL1Iz
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) April 21, 2022

Fire Ray Anderson. Fire Herm Edwards.

Burn it all down.
— DevilTukee (@DevilTukee) April 21, 2022

ASU just hemorrhaging talent. It’s embarrassing. How terrible are Ray Anderson and Herm at their jobs to make Tempe such an unappealing place to play? Jfc. https://t.co/8X4ake71cj
— Zach Schwartz (@zachzachzach) April 21, 2022

I truly believe that NIL stuff is messing college sports up…
— Coach Strizz (@JaelenStrong) April 21, 2022

pic.twitter.com/NPDbo2lwvB
— AZ Desert Swarm (@AZDesertSwarm) April 21, 2022

What happened to the love of the game and pride in your school?
It’s #commit2thefork not #commit2thedollar https://t.co/gDW1DWZ4I3
— 🔱Commit 2 the Fork🔱 (@Commit2theFork) April 21, 2022

Diverging paths in the desert. Arizona State seemed so far ahead of Arizona a couple years ago. Wildcats have not only made up ground, they're set to speed well beyond the Sun Devils the next few years. Complete mishandling of the program in Tempe. https://t.co/UGhHwYo4W6
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) April 21, 2022

We ball regardless.
— Jermayne Tauinaola Lole🇦🇸 (@JermayneLole) April 21, 2022

“Show no loyalty receive no loyalty”
— Chris Hawkins (@CHawk_4) April 21, 2022

ASU now looks to pick up the pieces and go from here.

There's plenty of blame to go around, whether it be directed at head coach Herm Edwards, athletics director Ray Anderson or the now sometimes cruel world of NIL football at the college level.

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