On Monday, Arizona State University (ASU) resumed practice in preparation for their upcoming College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Among the participants were several players who have already entered the transfer portal, signaling their intent to move on after the season.
One such player is tight end Markeston Douglas, who has already committed to transferring to Florida State once he completes his current season with the Sun Devils. Despite his future plans, he remained on the field for practice ahead of the Peach Bowl.
“Markeston’s out here practicing,” said ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham after the session. “He’s going to be an important part of our team for the Peach Bowl.” Dillingham also highlighted the return of defensive back Kamari Wilson, who has been a key player in several defensive packages for ASU. “Kamari’s back on the field too, and that’s significant for us,” he added.
Dillingham emphasized that despite the players’ decisions to enter the portal, they still have a role to play on the team for the remainder of the season. “We have a blend of guys who are helping on the scout team and others who will be involved on game day,” he explained.
The coach stressed that his responsibility is to support these players, regardless of their future plans. “Just because they’ve entered the portal doesn’t mean they should be excluded from continuing to contribute to the team,” Dillingham stated.
He further added that some players who are still part of the squad want to continue being involved with the team during the bowl season, showing their commitment to finish the year strong.
ASU’s coaching staff is focused on keeping morale high and making the most of the talent available, regardless of the transfer portal situation. “It’s about giving these guys the chance to finish out the year the way they want to,” Dillingham noted.
Ultimately, the decision to remain involved with the team, even after entering the portal, is viewed as an opportunity for these players to contribute one last time in a significant postseason game, with the Peach Bowl on the horizon.