TEMPE — Arizona State football has lacked explosiveness in the run game, but a healthy Raleek Brown could be the reason that improves against Kansas on Saturday.

“We still have not produced enough big plays in the running game,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said Wednesday. “Other than turnovers, the No. 1 stat that equates to winning in college football is explosive plays for and against, and we gotta find a way to be more explosive on offense.”

Explosiveness is an area Brown is well-equipped to help, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said.

“He has big-play capability all over him. He’s gotta get back on the field and get hit, take care of the football and know what we’re doing,” Arroyo said. “But he’s a big-play guy. That’s why he’s here, that’s why we recruited him, and his role in the offense is only gonna get more and better each week. So I’m excited to get him back out here healthy and be able to warm him up.”

Brown made his ASU debut in Week 3 against Texas State but produced just three yards on three touches, as he was still limited by a hamstring injury.

Dillingham said it’s a disservice to play Brown when he doesn’t have his top-end speed, so he was held out of the Week 4 loss to Texas Tech as a result.

The speed has been there in practice this week, and he was utilized in a variety of sets. He took traditional handoffs, caught screen passes, lined up out wide as a receiver and was used as a decoy for misdirection.

Running backs coach Shaun Aguano said Brown’s versatility puts the onus on defenses to account for everything.

“He brings that dynamic speed. We know we got pounder guys that the defense has to make tackles, but now we got perimeter guys and guys that can hit the hole real quick. So it just gives a different dynamic to our offense,” Aguano said. “They’re gonna have to be heady on the perimeter because as soon as he gets out there it’s a mismatch for a lot of guys.”

Each of the four backs ASU wants to rotate through between Cam Skattebo, Brown, Kyson Brown and DeCarlos Brooks offer a different style of runner, which allows for multiple running backs on the field at the same time, Aguano added.

“The hot hand is the guy that gets the ball and that’s how we’ve always done it,” Aguano added. “So we’ll see who’s the hot hand.”

What other reinforcements will Arizona State football get back vs. Kansas?

Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta Mornings the Sun Devils are entering the Kansas matchup in good physical shape.

“This bye week got us healthy,” Dillingham said. “This is the healthiest we’ve been all year.”

Linebackers Jordan Crook and Tate Romney help the rotational depth now that both are fully healthy. Crook saw action in Week 4 but played less than half the defensive snaps. Romney was a starter last season and will make his season debut after suffering a broken hand during fall camp.

“It was good to just get back and get my feet wet,” Crook said Wednesday on the Sparky’s Den Podcast. “Definitely good to build off and this upcoming game, and just go from there.”

Laterrance Welch will help take some of the load off starting cornerbacks Javan Robinson and Keith Abney II, who have combined to take 91.2% of the snaps at the position so far. Welch had an interception while covering top receiver Jordyn Tyson in practice this week.

How to watch, listen to Arizona State football’s Big 12 home opener vs. Kansas

Kickoff between the Sun Devils and Jayhawks is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST at Mountain America Stadium.

Hear play-by-play coverage on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 or online, with pregame beginning at 2:30 p.m. ESPN2 will have the TV broadcast.

If you’re going to the game, tailgate lots are opening seven hours ahead of kickoff at 10 a.m., which is two hours earlier than previous start times.