With just over a week until Arizona State opens its 2026 season, senior safety Myles Rowser already has his mind on what lies ahead — but first, he had to get through something as basic as the weather. Saturday’s practice brought a wave of sticky humidity, a test Rowser thought he’d already put behind him. […]
With just over a week until Arizona State opens its 2026 season, senior safety Myles Rowser already has his mind on what lies ahead — but first, he had to get through something as basic as the weather.
Saturday’s practice brought a wave of sticky humidity, a test Rowser thought he’d already put behind him.
“Honestly, I thought I was used to it,” Rowser said with a grin. “My family is from Georgia; I stay in Georgia now. But no, I still have to get used to it. Everything was wet — my visor, my gloves — everything.”
If the humidity slowed him down, Rowser didn’t show it. The senior safety is locked in as ASU makes the transition from fall camp to true game-week preparation, a shift Rowser views less as a switch to flip and more as a continuation of what’s been building all offseason.
“It wasn’t really different,” Rowser said of the first week of game prep. “We’ve been playing fast and physically ever since the start. That’s what we’re going to keep doing. But honestly, it’s just a great feeling to get back ready for the games. This is all we’ve been waiting for.”
For Rowser, much of that anticipation centers on his partnership with fellow senior safety Xavion Alford. The two were Arizona State’s top tacklers a season ago — Rowser finishing just shy of 100 while ranking as the Big 12’s 10th-best safety in run defense, and Alford allowing only 90 yards in coverage before bowl season, the fourth-lowest mark in the FBS.
Together, they’ve become one of college football’s premier safety duos, heading into 2026 determined to raise the bar even higher.
Now, more than just statistical leaders, Rowser and Alford have become the backbone of Brian Ward’s defense, pairing their athletic ability with steady communication and a growing presence as team leaders.
“Me and Xavion, we communicate on and off the field,” Rowser said. “We’ve both seen a lot of improvement, just paying attention to the little details — making sure everybody’s in position, not just ourselves but the linebackers, D-line, the corners. It’s been a great moment to share this with him.”
Rowser credits Ward, ASU’s defensive coordinator, for instilling that emphasis on detail. Ward works directly with the safeties, pushing them to extend their awareness beyond their immediate assignments.
“He’s the reason we’re paying attention to those details and communicating with everybody else,” Rowser said. “Having him as the coordinator is a great opportunity.”
And as the countdown to kickoff ticks closer, Rowser feels the defense is already playing at its peak.
“I feel like the defense is at its maximum,” Rowser said. “We’re just really ready to show everybody — the fans, whoever’s watching — that we’re ready.”
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Arizona State junior defensive back Keith Abney II carries himself like a veteran. Entering his third year in Tempe, the confidence comes naturally — from the battles he faces daily in practice to the relationships that fuel him off the field.
Going against ASU’s receivers has sharpened Abney’s edge. “Believe, you know Turboo (Jaren Hamilton), Malik (McClain), (Jalen) Moss — all them guys — they come in and work every day,” Abney said. “So going against them definitely got me way better. I feel like I’m prepared for the season.”
That preparation extends beyond the field. Abney rooms with junior running back Kyson Brown, a leader of the offense, giving him a unique daily perspective. “It’s good having a balance like that,” Abney said. “We come home and talk about practice. It’s like a brotherhood, for real. If I see him slacking, I’ll say something, and he does the same for me. We just push each other.”
That bond extends to the locker room, where teammates look to Abney as a steady presence. Though quick to credit others — “Nah, that’s big bro right there,” he says, pointing to Brown — Abney’s leadership is clear. Even his friendly rivalry with Brown over the “K1” nickname shows how tight-knit the group has become.
On the field, Abney has embraced the mental chess match between offense and defense. “Coach always says if one side’s winning every day, something’s not right,” Abney said. “The offense gets their days, we get ours. It’s back and forth — we fix something, they have an answer, then we’ve got to have an answer for their answer. It makes us better.”
No matchup excites him more than lining up against AP preseason All-America first-team junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. “He challenges me every day,” Abney said. “Seeing how far he’s come since his injury, and the way he works now, pushes me to sharpen my tools. Iron sharpens iron.”
That daily test has fueled confidence in the cornerback room, particularly alongside junior defensive back Javan Robinson, whom Abney calls “a dog” and the group’s spark of energy. Much like Rowser and Alford on the back end, Abney and Javon became the anchors of the corners last season, operating as a true 1A and 1B tandem. Each posted three interceptions and together piled up 95 tackles, giving ASU a duo capable of shutting down top receivers.
With another year under their belts, the pair has helped forge a unit that expects to compete with any offense it faces.
And as his third season is set to begin, Abney feels settled. “Year three, I feel comfortable,” he said. “I know what to expect. I’m excited — running out that tunnel, seeing the fans, seeing my family — that’s what I’m ready for.”
Category: General Sports
