From Aug. 6–9, Coach Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils Will Be in Payson for Their Annual Preseason Camp to Prepare for the Season
The Arizona State Sun Devils are no strangers to hard work, and as they set their sights on the upcoming college football season, the team is once again embracing one of its most important traditions. From August 6 to August 9, head coach Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils will be in Payson, Arizona, for their annual preseason camp. More than just a change of scenery, the trip to Payson represents a critical stretch in the program’s preparations—a chance for players to bond, compete, and begin solidifying their identity for the season ahead.
Payson, located roughly 90 minutes northeast of Tempe, offers cooler weather, a quiet environment, and a break from the everyday distractions of campus life. For Arizona State, this secluded four-day camp is about more than just football. It’s about culture. It’s about unity. And it’s about turning potential into production.
For Coach Dillingham, now entering another pivotal year at the helm of the Sun Devils, the Payson trip is a core component of his vision for the program. He’s made it clear that mental toughness, accountability, and camaraderie are just as important as speed and talent. The mountain setting, removed from the noise of media, fans, and social media, gives the team a space to sharpen its focus.
The schedule in Payson is rigorous. Players wake up early for meetings, conditioning, and walkthroughs. Multiple full-pad practices each day test both physical conditioning and mental resilience. Between sessions, film study and group work dominate the itinerary. Coaches are constantly challenging players to elevate their understanding of schemes, responsibilities, and situational football.
But the value of the trip goes beyond X’s and O’s. For many players—particularly underclassmen and transfers—this is their first opportunity to deeply bond with their teammates. In the absence of cell phones and off-field distractions, conversations become more genuine. Teammates become family. Leaders emerge. This is where the locker room starts to define itself.
That’s crucial for a team that, like many in the modern era of college football, is filled with new faces. The Sun Devils have embraced the transfer portal and added a number of incoming freshmen and JUCO standouts. Integrating those new pieces is no small task, and Payson presents the ideal setting for acceleration. Coaches are looking for who buys in, who steps up, and who truly understands the standard expected at Arizona State.
On the field, the camp in Payson is all business. With competition heating up at multiple key positions—including quarterback, offensive line, defensive back, and wide receiver—each practice rep carries added weight. While the starting job at quarterback may be close to determined, the battle for backup roles and situational packages is ongoing. Quarterbacks are expected to show command of the offense, leadership in the huddle, and poise under pressure. In Payson, every snap is evaluated.
The offensive line will be one of the most closely watched units during the camp. After a 2024 season that exposed several weaknesses in pass protection and run-blocking, the staff has prioritized both experience and physical development up front. New additions are pushing incumbents, and coaches are experimenting with combinations to find the best chemistry. If the offensive line is to be the backbone of a successful season, the foundation must be poured in Payson.
The wide receiver group, headlined by a combination of young talent and returning contributors, is also under the microscope. Consistency, route discipline, and catching through contact are emphasized. In the thin mountain air, receivers are tested on endurance and attention to detail. The chemistry between receivers and quarterbacks—timing, trust, and communication—is forged during these reps.
Defensively, the focus in Payson will be on physicality, communication, and creating turnovers. Coach Dillingham and defensive coordinator Brian Ward are demanding more aggression, more speed, and more responsibility from their unit. Young defenders are being pushed to understand not just their own assignments, but how their actions fit into the overall structure of the defense. With multiple new starters, including in the secondary and front seven, establishing continuity is essential.
One of the camp’s critical side goals is leadership development. Without the usual distractions of campus life, players are forced to rely on each other. Leaders must emerge vocally and by example. The team takes this seriously, often holding team-only meetings in the evening to air out any concerns, encourage one another, and set clear expectations.
Dillingham has also incorporated team-building activities to complement the grind of practice. Whether it’s team hikes, cookouts, or competitions, these off-field moments are part of the long-term process of developing cohesion. When the season gets tough—and it always does—it’s the bonds built in moments like these that help hold a team together.
Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of the trip to Payson is the mental reset it provides. After a long offseason of workouts, meetings, and speculation, the trip allows the team to step away from media narratives and outside expectations. In Payson, there are no headlines, no social media drama, and no distractions—just football, hard work, and brotherhood. It’s a place where confidence is rebuilt, roles are earned, and a team’s inner fire is rekindled.
This year’s visit to Payson is also particularly important because of the stakes surrounding Arizona State’s 2025 season. The Sun Devils are in a transitional moment as they aim to climb back to conference contention. The pressure to deliver wins has grown, especially in a competitive Pac-12 landscape with multiple high-profile programs on the rise. If ASU is to return to relevance and establish a new standard under Dillingham, the work must start now—in the stillness of Payson, away from the spotlight.
Players and coaches alike understand the significance of this trip. The work they do during these four days may not grab headlines now, but it will show up in the fourth quarter of a close game in October. It will show up when a backup is called upon to step in without missing a beat. It will show up when adversity hits and the team needs to rally. That’s why Payson matters. It’s more than tradition. It’s the proving ground.
Even alumni and former players understand the impact of these camps. Many credit the experience as a turning point in their personal growth and mental toughness. Stories of tough practices, surprise depth chart climbs, and late-night heart-to-hearts still circulate within the program. For young Sun Devils stepping into this year’s camp, the challenge is to write their own legacy.
Kenny Dillingham, still one of the youngest head coaches in the country, has infused the program with his trademark energy and authenticity. He’s relatable, relentless, and laser-focused on building something that lasts. He knows that championships aren’t won in September or November—they’re won in camps like these, where the blueprint is installed, the identity is set, and the team is hardened through competition and connection.
The message to the team heading into Payson is clear: everything matters. Every rep. Every detail. Every moment of discipline, effort, and leadership. The players are expected not only to compete but to learn, grow, and support one another. It’s a bootcamp for the body and the mind—a crucible through which the strongest will rise.
As August 6 approaches, anticipation is building. For the coaches, it’s another opportunity to evaluate. For the players, it’s a chance to separate from the pack. And for the program as a whole, it’s a reminder of what it takes to build something meaningful. The drive to Payson is more than just a route on a map; it’s a journey into the heart of a team’s culture, one that could define the trajectory of Arizona State’s entire season.
When the Sun Devils leave Payson on August 9, they won’t return the same. They’ll return sharper, more connected, and better prepared for the challenges ahead. And while fans may not see every moment of what happens during those four days, they’ll see the results on Saturdays this fall. Because in Payson, the real season begins—not in stadiums filled with thousands, but in the quiet hills of northern Arizona, where sweat, discipline, and belief take root.