Reports surfaced before the Sun Bowl, but redshirt junior linebacker Christian Sam announced he will not be returning to the Arizona State Sun Devils for his final year of eligibility.
This comes after the linebacker did not practice heavily or play in ASU’s 52-31 bowl loss to the N.C. State Wolfpack.
Sam is the third Sun Devil to leave the program early for the draft, joining junior defensive lineman JoJo Wicker and redshirt junior offensive lineman Sam Jones.
The departure leaves another gaping hole in the linebacking corps, as a second starting slot has opened next to the one left by graduating senior DJ Calhoun.