Arizona State football secured a major addition on Thursday with the commitment of elite junior college pass rusher Joshua Shanklin.
Shanklin chose ASU over other top programs after taking official visits to Missouri, West Virginia, Ole Miss, and UCLA.
The standout from Foothill College in Los Altos, California, heads to Tempe ranked as the No. 1 JUCO edge rusher in the nation and among the top five JUCO prospects overall, according to 247 Sports.
During his final season at Foothill, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound defensive end posted an impressive stat line with 14.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles in 11 games.
Shanklin told Rivals that his bond with ASU assistant defensive line coach Vince Amey played a key role in his decision.
“Coach Amey recruited me in a really professional way,” Shanklin said. “He was honest and detailed with how I’d fit in. He talked about my speed and how he could help me develop to reach my full potential. I liked that their defensive scheme is D-line driven and how they plan to use me in different packages.”
He also noted that his background as a high school wide receiver gives him an uncommon skill set for his position.
Could Shanklin contribute immediately for the Sun Devils in 2025? While his upside is clear, he may be more of a long-term asset due to the return of all four key edge rushers from last season: Elijah O’Neal, Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, and Justin Wodtly, who accounted for half of ASU’s sacks in 2024.
However, with all four expected to play their final year this season, Shanklin’s chance to make a bigger impact could come sooner rather than later.
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