Transfer additions are always a thing to celebrate for the receiving HCs. But Kenny Dilingham hit a right double jackpot in the spring portal. He got two offensive linemen in his camp, a department that was key in the success of the Sun Devils advancing to the conference championship game and a playoff spot last year. After a great 2024 season and seeing one of its star players going pro, Kenny Dillingham has all the reasons to be happy.

The Sun Devils HC saw a season that every coach wants to see for themselves. Finishing 3-9 in 2023, Dillingham shot to 11-3 in 2024. The mindset changed at ASU, and its results showed in 2024. That season was solely for redemption, which the HC could check off of his list. He’s produced a top-10 RB from it as well, in Cam Skattebo. The offensive line in particular, was a key element behind that success. Some players, like Ben Coleman, will be coming back to lead the room. Joining him are two new additions, who seem to do everything together.

The fun part about these recruits is that they’re not just brothers; they’re twins. Wade and Brent Helton have left Iowa State and are now with ASU. The two brothers are remarkably similar in physique, with Brent (320 lbs) slightly outweighing Wade (300 lbs). The two will have to compete with each other for a place on the depth chart. The brotherhood between them is strong, as they both enrolled at Iowa State together, left together, and will also enter side-by-side into Arizona State.

Dillingham initially planned to recruit only Wade, but the brothers insisted on their joint recruitment. As high-school players, both Heltons made it to the Top 100 prospects out of California, which is teeming with talent at the moment. So the HC has even more reasons to take a bow, because he got two serious talents when he wanted just one. Meanwhile, Dillingham has only good things to say about Cam Skattebo, who is now officially a part of the NFL, via the Giants.

Kenny Dillingham wishes the very best for Cam Skattebo

Cam Skattebo going to the Giants is just the cherry on top of the cake for Dillingham. His departure leaves a huge void in the team, which was a talking point last year. The Giants picked the No. 2 RB of the class, and were able to catch him that far into the draft. Kenny Dillingham took to X, writing, “Man, so proud of this guy, words can’t describe it!” Experts had sounded alarms and advised Dillingham that 2025 will be his best shot at clearing his repute from 2024. But Dillingham actually did it, and took the team straight into a playoff spot. That wouldn’t have happened without Skattebo.

Skattebo single-handedly changed the face of the program that season, with his 1,711 yards, and 21 touchdowns. His performance, especially in the Texas game, will leave a mark on the program for future talents to look up to. He did not mind barraging through defenses, and always went with an aggressive mindset into the field. Dillingham has every reason to be proud of his star player, now off to the pro league. In fact, at ASU’s Senior Day, Dillingham had tears in his eyes for the star RB. “There’s a lot of people who want to be you, a lot of people who want to be in your shoes whether you’re drafted in second round or fifth round, ninth round. They don’t even have that, right? It doesn’t matter,” the HC had told him earlier.

Kenny Dillingham is the example of an underdog dream, the man who proved everyone wrong. With Cam Skattebo by his side, the HC made a season that will go down in program history as one of its best. He’d be looking to recreate that same success this year as well, as he looks to work his new additions into what the team requires them before their season opener.