Kenny Dillingham Discusses Running Backs, Substitutions, More

TEMPE -- Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham spoke to the media for a second time this week ahead of a major road battle with the Utah Utes on Saturday.

To watch the entire availability, view below.

Below is the full transcript of the exchange between Dillingham and media.

On Derek Eusebio

“Yeah, I mean, to be honest, we'll find out. You know, we have a lot of confidence in Derek out there right now that spot. So definitely add some depth for us. So that's been a good part is the depth.”

On Weather Potentially Impacting Game

Nov 22, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona State Sun Devils logo on the end zone pylon during the game against the Washington State Cougars at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils defeats the Cougars 52-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“Yeah, I really don't care about the weather. Like obviously we got to prepare for it. We got to spray, you know, footballs down as much as we can. We got to do stuff like that. But at the end of the day, you know, football is won by one person moving the other person the other direction, and then not giving the other team the ball at the end of the day."

ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward works with his team during a spring practice at the Kajikawa practice fields in Tempe on March 14, 2023. Football Asu Spring | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

"Like weather can affect how you get that accomplished. But you still have to take care of the football and you still have to move the person in front of you the other direction, right? So I think you know whether there's rain, whether there's not rain, yeah, right. No, we can't prepare for it. We live in a desert. We don't get much of it naturally. We have to play some wet ball drills. But we're not focused on that. We're focused on, you know, the task at hand, which is Utah.”

On Running Back Situation

“No, I think it's just part of where we're at. You know, I think you got to adapt every year. You think you have a plan, but really you have no plan. You're in a constant state of preparation. You know, pastor Warren Stewart said that to me six months ago at something."

"He said, they said, Well, how do you prepare for moments? He goes, I'm in a conflict. How do you plan for things? He goes, Well, I'm constantly in a state of preparation. And I think that's football. That's the season here. You have a plan, but your plans get thrown out the window every day. You're in a constant state of preparation.”

On Keeping Players Fresh In Games

“Yeah, it's good. I mean, they rotate guys. They're always been a good defensive line. They've been deep. Their linebackers are really good players as well. So the linebackers play the way they play, because they play a lot of man, so they trigger. It gets the double teams off the down lineman faster because the faster backers trigger, the faster single blocks are, which then take really good the alignment to make them better. So I think they just have a really good defensive scheme. They know who they are. They don't bust they don't leave you plays. They make you work for it.”

Sep 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) celebrates quarterback Sam Leavitt’s (not pictured) touchdown against TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images | Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images

Read more about Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley speaking directly to fans ahead of the start of the 2025 season here, and on previewing key individual Utah players ahead of the Sun Devil football game on Saturday here.

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