California QB Israel Carter hasn't wavered on his commitment to ASU football program

There has been no one more loyal to the recruiting process than Arizona State commit Israel Carter, a quarterback out of Corona Centennial located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. He has visited Tempe not one, not two, not three - but four times.

The Sun Devils had a tough season and yes, there still is that lingering cloud of the NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. Oh, there is that matter of a coaching change as well. Yet Carter has remained steadfast in his commitment to the Sun Devils and says he will sign on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for football.

"I want the Sun Devil fans to know I am a loyal guy, a person of my word. That's how I was raised," said Carter, who was the school's first commitment of the 2023 cycle. "I'm looking forward to playing for the Sun Devils. The program has a lot to offer, I like the school, the area. I'm all in."

It has been about a month since Kenny Dillingham was named successor to Herm Edwards, who parted ways with the program three games into the season. Running backs coach Shaun Aguano served as interim coach and remained on staff, the lone holdover from the Edwards regime.

Aguano went to watch Carter play when the Sun Devils were in Southern California to play USC in October. Carter appreciated that gesture and got an equally warm vibe from the new coaches with whom he has spoken. He wasn't scared off by the 3-9 showing the past season or whatever penalties might come ASU's way when the NCAA investigation comes to a close.

"Everybody knew it was going to be a tough season with some of the players that we lost but I committed to more than just the football program. I like what the new coaching staff has done and I am excited about being part of the building process, the foundation moving forward," he said.

The uncertainty around the program last year was a major factor in the Sun Devils signing only six high school prospects for the 2022 cycle, their worst showing in the modern recruiting era. They supplemented that with six community college prospects, three of whom came late in the summer. They added another 14 through the transfer portal, the majority of those becoming starters or playing a lot as a reserve.

ASU has done considerably better with Dillingham rallying the program late. The number of commits stands at 12, eight of those three-star prospects. Three are community college transfers.

Among those is Cullen "C.J." Fite, a defensive lineman out of Tatum High School in Tatum, Texas. Fite committed to ASU, then de-committed after the coaching change, only to re-commit a week ago. He had an informal ceremony at his school Tuesday, one day ahead of when he will officially become a Sun Devil.

Fite was in touch with Dillingham as well as his position coach and liked what they had to say enough to jump back on board. Defensive line coach Vince Amey visited him the next day, furthering his thought that ASU was indeed the place he wanted to play.

"They always told me they would honor my scholarship and that's the right thing to do but you never really know if you're really in their plans," said Fite, who had 18 offers, with Oregon State and Washington State the others from the Pac 12. "But they really made me feel wanted and I could tell they weren't just saying what they think they should say."

The past weekend was a busy one for Dillingham who entertained a number of prospects in Tempe. That resulted in commitments from some, including safety Montana Warren (6-2, 180) of Henderson, Texas, cornerback Keontez Bradley (6-2, 175) out of Mansfield, Ohio and defensive lineman Landen Thomas (6-4, 240) out of Zachry, Louisiana as well as edge rusher Elijah O'Neal, a first-team All-American out of Butte Community College (Calif.).

Have there been some setbacks? Sure, as is typical when there is a coaching change. ASU had a couple of those in cornerback R.L. Miller out of Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco) and linebacker Xe-Ree Alexander out of Kennedy Catholic in Burien, Washington, both of whom de-committed.

Carter said he will enroll early and take part in spring drills, which is expected nowadays at the quarterback position. Fite said he is graduating early too hasn't decided on whether he will come to Tempe in January.

Dillingham said in his opening press conference that he would "attack" the transfer portal and that has been the case with the youngest head coach at a Power 5 school getting 15 transfers, including quarterback Drew Pyne, the starter at Notre Dame last season. Many of those he landed are former standouts at their respective Arizona high schools who chose to start their college careers at other Division I schools, doubling down on previous comments that he wants to have a roster infused with local talent.

Here is a rundown on what has taken shape when it comes to ASU personnel.

Arizona State football players gained in transfer portal

RB DeCarlos Brooks (5-10, 210, R-Jr.) The Chandler product was the second-leading rusher last season at California with 250 yards on 59 carries. Played in 23 career games over three years there, totaling 346 yards and one touchdown on 69 attempts.

LB Travion Brown (6-3, 230, Jr.) The Washington State transfer played in 11 games with two starts. He recorded 49 tackles, five tackles for a loss 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Transferred to ASU with former high school teammate Ben Coleman who played at California.

P Josh Carlson (6-0, 185, R-Sr.) The product of Gilbert High School comes to ASU from New Mexico State, where he averaged 40.5 yards on 56 punts with 33 fair catches, 15 downed inside the 20 and 15 punts of 50 or more yards.

OL Ben Coleman (6-4, 330, R-Jr.). Transfer from California where he started 22 games and displayed the versatility to play tackle and guard. Comes to ASU along with Travion Brown, a former high school teammate at Linfield Christian in Temecula California.

QB Jacob Conover (6-1, 205, R-Fr.) Returns home from Brigham Young where he spent two years, one as a red-shirt but saw little playing time. Is a former standout at Chandler High School where he played for two seasons under Shaun Aguano.

DE Prince Dorbah (6-3, 243) The Texas transfer played in five games last season as a reserve for the Longhorns, registering seven tackles, one of those for a loss.

OL Aaron Frost (6-5, 315, Sr.) The first portal acquisition not from Arizona. The Southern California product is transferring from Nevada where he played for four years, earning second-team All-Mountain West selection twice. Missed last season with an injury sustained before the season started.

LB Krew Jackson (6-5, 2-4, R-Fr.) The Queen Creek product comes home from ASU after two years at Kansas State. Saw action in two games as a true freshman in 2021 to retain his red-shirt. Saw minimal action the past season with three tackles and an interception.

Read more: Tracking Arizona State football players in and out of the transfer portal

LB-DL Tristan Monday (6-4, 240, Fr.) The Saguaro graduate is returning home after spending a true freshman season at Wisconsin where he did not play any games. Was a three-star prospect out of high school. Had eight offers and originally committed to Arizona before flipping to Wisconsin after a visit there.

QB Drew Pyne (5-11, 198, R-Fr.) The Notre Dame transfer completed 164 of 254 passes for 1,021 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions in 10 games, rushing for an additional 108 yards and two touchdowns. The team went 8-2 with him as a starter with a 4-1 record against ranked opponents.

RB Cameron Skattebo (5-10, 212, So.) The Sacramento State transfer was the Big Sky Offensive Player of the year in 2022 rushing for 1,373 yards and seven touchdowns on 195 tries with a high of 201 yards in a win over Eastern Washington. Also used as a return specialist.

WR Jake Smith (6-0, 200, Jr.) The graduate of Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep did not play in his Smith never played in his two years at USC, missing the 2021 season with a foot injury. Before transferring to USC Smith spent two years at Texas where he had 23 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns in seven games in 2020.

OLB Tate Romney (6-3, 230, Fr.) The Chandler HS product red-shirted last season at BYU so he has a full complement of four-year eligibility remaining. He is a 2020 graduate who went on a Mormon mission out of high school. As a prospect his senior year he was ranked the No. 67 outside linebacker, No. 25 Arizona prospect and No. 1,068 recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

WR Melquan Stovall (5-10, 185, Sr.) Played in just three games last year at Colorado State and had 13 catches for 106 yards but then left the team to preserve his redshirt and have two years of eligibility remaining. Before that, he played three years at Nevada making 56 catches for 643 yards in 2021.

LS Slater Zellers (6-1, 230, R-Sr.) The local out of Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep was the primary long snap specialist at California. Named to the Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award Preseason Watch List for the first time in his career the past season.

Additions from community colleges

OL Maxwell Iheanachor (6-7, 315, Jr.) The transfer from East Los Angeles College was recruited by new line coach Saga Tuitele. He also visited Kansas, BYU, California and Utah State.

DE Elijah O'Neal (6-4, 240, Jr.) The Butte CC (California) transfer earned first-team CC All-American honors with 66 tackles (43 solo), 14.5 sacks, 26 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

OL Kyle Scott (6-5, 320, So.) Comes from Riverside CC (Riverside, Calif.) which went 12-2 the past season, averaging 196 yards per game.

High school commits

WR Korbin Hendrix, 6-2, 180, McKinney North (McKinney, Tex.)

S Chase Davis, 6-2, 185, Little Elm (Little Elm, Tex.)

QB Israel Carter 6-1, 180), Centennial (Coronal, Calif.)

S Montana Warren, 6-2, 180, Henderson (Henderson, Tex.)

CB Keontez Bradley, 6-2, 175, Mansfield (Mansfield, Ohio)

DL Cullen "C.J." Fite, 6-1, 280, Tatum (Tatum, Tex.)

OL Sirri Kandiyeli, 6-3, 270, Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.)

RB Kyson Brown, 5-10, 195, Lancaster (Lancaster, Tex.)

DL Landen Thomas, 6-4, 240), Zachary (Zachary, La.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: California QB Israel Carter hasn't wavered on Arizona State commitment