Fifth-year senior defensive back Macen Williams has chosen to retire from football, as announced by Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham after the team’s Saturday scrimmage at Mountain America Stadium.
Macen Williams, who had been a solid contributor as a backup cornerback and nickel back, practiced effectively during ASU’s Camp Tontozona last Saturday but has been absent from practice this week. His departure impacts the nickel corner position, where he had been competing closely with sophomore Cole Martin, both of whom had significant first-team reps in the early days of preseason camp.
Originally signed by the Sun Devils in 2020, Macen Williams played a key role in recent seasons, including serving as the second-string nickel behind Jordan Clark last year. Williams registered 13 tackles over seven games last season.
With Macen Williams sidelined, the Sun Devils have moved senior free safety Shamari Simmons to the first-team nickel position, while Martin has joined the second team. Dillingham and defensive coordinator Brian Ward mentioned earlier that Simmons would be dual-trained, leveraging the team’s depth at safety, with plans to return him to safety next week.
If Simmons does revert to free safety as anticipated, Martin will likely become the starter at nickel. Martin, a transfer from Oregon and former four-star recruit, was a top prospect from Basha High in Chandler.
Another candidate for the nickel position is sophomore Keith Abney, who practiced there in the spring before shifting to cornerback during preseason. Abney has been working with the first-team defense and seems well-positioned to start against Wyoming on August 31. True freshman Kyan McDonald has been taking third-team reps at nickel.
Sophomore Xavion Alford, who typically practices as the first-team strong safety, has also seen reps at free safety. Alford, a leader on the defense, has been a consistent playmaker in practice.
Junior Myles Rowser, a former four-star recruit who started for New Mexico State last season, and sophomore Kamari Wilson, a top-100 recruit who transferred from Florida, have stood out in camp. Rowser has taken first-team reps at strong safety, while Wilson, who excels at strong safety, had an interception in the Camp Tontozona scrimmage.
Redshirt freshman Montana Warren has also impressed with his performance at second-team free safety and looks to be a valuable fifth option in the deep safety rotation.
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