ASU Lands Peoria Star Zeth Thues in 2026 Recruiting Haul

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State Sun Devils football bolstered its 2026 class with two prized high school prospects from the Valley, igniting excitement among fans hungry for a Big 12 contender. Zeth Thues, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound safety ranked No. 129 nationally at his position, committed to ASU on Nov. 11, 2024, from Peoria's Liberty High School. Joining him is Sinei Tengei, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound outside linebacker from Mesa's Westwood High School, who pledged on June 11, 2025, with an ESPN grade of 74.

The duo anchors ASU's modest 10% in-state recruiting footprint in a class of 17 commits, averaging 764 miles from Tempe and headlined by four-star quarterback Jake Fette from Texas, ESPN's No. 4 dual-threat prospect who committed Sept. 22, 2024. Under head coach Kenny Dillingham and director of player personnel Josh Omura, the Sun Devils snagged one ESPN 300 commit amid 24% blue-chip players, with average NIL value at $46,000. Thues and Tengei, both hailing from competitive Arizona 6A programs, embody the program's push to keep Valley talent home amid fierce regional battles with UA and NAU.

ASU's haul extends beyond high schoolers, including junior college standout Siosaia Lapuaho, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive tackle from Garden City Community College who committed June 7, 2025. The class features defensive depth with commits like Julian Hugo (No. 44 DE, Texas) on April 11, 2025, and Oscar Aguilar (No. 49 ILB, California) on April 29, 2025, signaling Dillingham's blueprint for a trench-dominant squad eyeing 2026 breakthroughs. As signing day buzz builds, these Arizona natives position the Sun Devils for a Valley-fueled resurgence.