Jeff Metcalfe

azcentral sports

D.J. Calhoun likes to dial up former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis for motivation and likely will do so before his Arizona State debut tonight against Weber State.

Even the thought of Lewis' famous leave-your-mark video – "I've always been told that I'm too small, I'm not big enough, I'm not fast enough, I don't have what it takes" – gets Calhoun into the mood for some hitting.

"I wish he was a coach here," said Calhoun, expected to start at Will linebacker. "Even a speech coach, just to be in my ear, because I love that listening to him before a game gets me focused."

Calhoun will be among more than 20 players – true/redshirt freshmen and transfers – introducing themselves when No. 19-ranked ASU starts against Weber State. It won't be before the largest crowd by a long shot – No. 7 UCLA, No. 11 Stanford and No. 17 Notre Dame are coming later – but that doesn't detract from the importance of making an opening impression at Sun Devil Stadium.

"It's a true blessing," said cornerback Kweishi Brown, a junior-college transfer. "Not everybody gets this chance. It's a great opportunity to show these fans what you can actually do. It's like Coach says, 'What is your plan?' You've got to have a plan, because if you don't that's when you're going to start messing up."

Here's more about some of those who will be donning the traditional maroon jersey, gold pants/helmet and running out of the Tillman Tunnel on game day for the first time.

Edmond Boateng

The sophomore transfer from New Mexico Military Institute moved up during preseason camp to co-first team Devil-backer with De'Marieya Nelson, who also plays tight end on offense. He was at Wells Fargo Arena on Valentine's Day when ASU men's basketball stunned Arizona in double-overtime and now wants to experience the stadium noise.

"I'm sure this will be a lot louder," he said. "I'm ready for the screams and roars. "I'm just going to embrace it, stay focused, stay calm and do what coach tells me to do.

"It's about playing to my assignments. Every play I have to get right, every play I have to be on my motor, every play I have to give it my all. I'm sure they see that in practice, but it has to translate to games as well. When it comes down to showing I'm returning the favor (for his scholarship) and giving it my all, the key thing is to be in tune with what they want me to do and be focused."

Boateng and all the newcomers know at least the basics of the Pat Tillman story. Enough to appreciate his legacy and the responsibility of carrying it on.

"That serves as motivation, especially just knowing when we open that gate he's still here with us, by our side, keeping our head up and having that intensity about every play. Just the way he played and his characteristics of life. That's stuff that instills character in you. That's very impactful for me and the rest of the team."

Kweishi Brown

Brown, with 11 interceptions in two seasons at Grossmont College (Calif.), where he was junior college All-American, struggled early in camp.

"I wasn't confident with myself," he said. "I asked, 'What am I doing wrong to where I don't feel like I'm actually having fun?' I was just going through the motions, trying to get it over with (and paralyzed by overthinking)."

He said a talk with his father, Lester, a former Marine, helped him to "do what I did to get here. I'm just more comfortable with myself. I trust my instincts more than I did before. I'm definitely ready, but only game day will tell. I would talk and not do what I say, but I'm pretty confident."

D.J. Calhoun

When he played in the U.S. Army All-American Game as high school senior, Calhoun said the atmosphere was "too much at first. Even in my high school games, I want to hit people, I'm nervous, everybody is there so I've got to be a leader.

"It's just a lot of adrenalin rushing all the time. I think when I get comfortable, I'm going to be locked in."

Calhoun played at El Cerrito (Calif.) High before relatively small crowds compared with fellow freshmen Christian Sam and Chad Adams, both from Allen, Texas; and Armand Perry, from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.

"My heart is going to be racing (in the tunnel)," Calhoun said. "I'm going to have to really take deep breaths and just relax."

Tashon Smallwood

Of all the true freshmen, defensive tackle Smallwood has had the kind of consistent camp that excites fans to see him play.

Junior Jaxon Hood, who missed much of camp, probably will start but Smallwood (6 feet, 275 pounds), from Fresno, Calif., will get plenty of time.

"I'm not sure what it will be like," Smallwood said. "I feel lik

e I'm going to get butterflies, anxious. I don't exactly the feeling yet. I can only imagine."

Putting on his uniform, No. 90, will carry the same thrill it has since he started in sports.

"Getting my jersey, seeing my name on the back of it, something I've never had before, it's great," he said. "I can't wait to put it on and go play. I'll have chills down my whole body."