Two years ago, Adam Archuleta was in the Oakland Raiders' training camp, trying to make the 53-man NFL roster after seven seasons as a safety with the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears.
Now he's 32, and he still looks like he can play. Always a workout warrior, Archuleta, the Chandler native and former NFL first-round pick who originally walked on at ASU and went on to become a two-time first-team All Pac-10 linebacker and conference defensive player of the year, is sharing the knowledge he's gained with the current Sun Devils.
Talk about a perspective. Archuleta's been there and done that. He came back to ASU this summer to finish the two classes he needs for his degree in interdisciplinary studies, but when the Devils' coaching staff found out he was on campus, he was asked if he wanted to help with the safeties.
Archuleta's been out of football as a player since August 2008, when the Raiders released him.
"Just enjoying my family and trying to see where my next step is," he said after a recent Sun Devils practice.
"I really do enjoy having an influence on the younger guys," Archuleta said. "I get the gratification that the coaches go through."
So does Archuleta, who is married with a two-year-old son, see coaching in his future?
"At this point I'm not ready for the grind," he said. "The one con is the extreme time away from your family.'