Defensive lineman Wren ready to build on his ‘Big Ugly’ performance

In his first extended action of the season – heck, of his whole college career – Arizona State’s Renell Wren played so well he got national attention.

SI.com’s Andy Staples named the junior defensive tackle his “Big Ugly of the Week” for his performance in last week’s win over then-No. 4 Washington.

ESPN SportsNation’s Marcellus Wiley included Wren on this week’s segment of “Dat Dude’s Dudes,” putting him No. 3 on his list of top performers.

Wren’s breakthrough performance left ASU coaches this week explaining why he hadn’t played more – before Saturday he had averaged about 15 snaps this season, according to defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. It also put Wren in a new situation, sitting in front of reporters in ASU’s media room, the center of attention.

“It’s a blessing, definitely a blessing,” Wren said. “I appreciate the coaches giving me an opportunity.”

Most of Wren’s attention stemmed from one play. Late in the first quarter, Wren lined up at nose tackle over left guard Jesse Sosebee, a 6-foot-5, 312pound junior. At the snap, Wren exploded, pushing Sosebee back, driving his legs. (“Look at that body placement, power position, hand placement,” Wiley, a former NFL defensive end, said on SportsNation.)

After five yards, Sosebee fell to the grass. Behind him, Washington junior quarterback Jake Browning, looking for a receiver, was slow to react, which sealed his fate. Wren grabbed Browning with his right hand, then circled and pulled him down as senior rush linebacker Alani Latu assisted.

“I didn’t expect to put him on his butt like that,” Wren said of the left guard. “I just bull-rushed him, just expecting to make a play. He fell and I almost fell with him, but I held myself and just grabbed on.”

Wren stands 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds. Two years ago, strength coach Shawn Griswold predicted that Wren one day would make the off-season “freaks” lists that highlight college football’s top athletes. Some folks just look like NFL players.

Wren is among them.

At ASU’s final conditioning session in July, he put on a show in the weight room. While teammates pushed up reps of 225 pounds, Wren added extra 45-pound plates to each side of the bar. He put up 315 pounds 11 times.

“He’s a big specimen,” senior defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood said. So what took so long?

Coach Todd Graham said it was mostly a personnel situation. Latu had a strong preseason, earning a starting spot at defensive end. Junior JoJo Wicker moved inside to 3-technique, which is where Graham thinks Wicker will play in the NFL.

He shifted Smallwood to nose and kept senior Koron Crump at rush linebacker.

That worked fine until Crump suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, but even then, ASU seemed hesitant to play Wren.

“Just being consistent in practice,” Bennett said when asked why. “Going good on good, I thought in camp he showed flashes and then he had a lull. But I will say this: (Defensive line) Coach (Michael) Slater said the last two weeks Renell’s been practicing harder. My big thing is, we have to trust you.”

Wren is laid back for a man his size. Bennett said you can praise the defensive tackle for practicing hard and he’ll show little emotion. Heck, you can tell him he’s won the lottery and get the same thing.