They are the last major group of Dirk Koetter recruits at Arizona State.

After Saturday's Territorial Cup, no more than five Koetter recruits will remain when Dennis Erickson goes into his fourth season as ASU coach in 2010. It'll only be that many if linebacker Gerald Munns and wide receiver Brandon Smith are granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and choose to return.

Of the 22 seniors definitely departing, 13 came in 2005 or '06, Koetter's final two of six seasons. The others were Erickson additions since 2007.

"We have a bunch of blue-collar seniors," linebacker Mike Nixon said. "It's a lot of hard workers who aren't necessarily the most vocal guys around. If you see them every day in the weight room through the off season, they're good leaders who hopefully the young guys have learned a little something from."

The fourth- and fifth-year seniors are 26-23 overall going into their final game.

They were part of only the third Pac-10 championship team in school history in 2007, a somewhat muted high because it ended with a one-sided Holiday Bowl loss to Texas rather than a Rose Bowl that went to co-champion Southern California.

Erickson praises the seniors for their cooperation in the coaching transition and this season for keeping the team afloat despite what will be a second consecutive losing record without a bowl reward.

That's why beating Arizona, if the Sun Devils can stage an upset, would be significant.

"To be able to say I was 3-1 (vs. UA) as opposed to 2-2 is bragging rights," Nixon said. "That's what we're fighting for right now."

Maybe not much in the big picture, but the consequences of losing in the rivalry include a second six-game losing streak in as many years. UA is unranked so the ASU seniors cannot improve upon a 1-11 record vs. top 25 opponents in the Associated Press rankings.

Defensive end Dexter Davis, making his school record 50th consecutive start and third in school career sacks (30), and two-time tackle leader Nixon are the highest profile seniors. They and left tackle Shawn Lauvao are captains.

Davis (at outside linebacker), wide receiver Chris McGaha and Lauvao (at guard) are ASU's top NFL prospects. Linebacker Travis Goethel and wide receiver Kyle Williams also might get a look.

Nixon, who played minor league baseball for four summers before returning to football, is all but certain of his next stop. He envisions starting law school in fall 2011 at age 28 and earning a degree when he's 30.

"I've been around a lot of players in my coaching career, and the guy is the best," Erickson said. "His leadership ability, how smart he is on the field. I don't have enough accolades for a guy like that. How he's hung in there the last couple of years when our seasons haven't been as good as he'd like them to be. To me that's true leadership. It's easy to be a leader when things are going well.

"He's going to be successful whatever he decides to do. I'd hire him if I needed somebody to defend me."

Nixon was named this week as an Academic All-American, the only Pac-10 player on the first team. He is a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, given for a combination of athletic and academic achievement plus community service. Last season, Nixon led the Pac-10 in interceptions and was sixth in tackles.

"I didn't want to grind for another 5-6 years (in baseball) and be close to 30 with no education," Nixon said. "Coming to Arizona State, I've been able to finish up my education and also meet a lot of great people who hopefully will work as networks in the future. I'm in a much better place now than I would have been if I tried to grind it out in the minors.

"When I was playing baseball, there was always that what if in my mind. What would college football have been like? Coming back, I was able to answer some of those questions. There is definitely not going to be any regrets about any decision I've made."