Who fills the WR void left by Harry?
Some look at a bowl game as a reward, capping off the regular season. Others use it as a preview of what’s to come next season. The Arizona State coaching staff sees it as a bit of both.
Junior wide receiver N’Keal Harry declared for the NFL draft, hired an agent and is working toward his professional future. So if the Sun Devils (7-5) are to pull off an upset of No. 21 Fresno State (11-2) in next week’s Las Vegas Bowl, they’ll need contributions from other receivers.
“There is going to be some opportunity for other guys, some we haven’t had a chance to really get a good look at yet,” wide receivers coach Charlie Fisher said. “We have guys with potential and now they’re going to get more of a chance.”
Harry, projected to go in the first round of the draft, was by far the team’s dominant receiver with 73 catches for 1,088
yards but after him the workload was evenly distributed. Sophomore Frank Darby had 21 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns while junior Brandon Aiyuk managed 24 for 413 yards and three scores. Right behind those two is another junior, Kyle Williams who tallied 39 for 411 yards.
The Sun Devil coaching staff also wants to get a look at freshman Geordon Porter, who played in just one game and will get to red-shirt. He hauled in a long touchdown pass from quarterback Manny Wilkins in Wednesday morning’s practice that opened a lot of eyes.
So let the audition process begin.
“I think early in the season I was trying a little too hard to prove to everyone I could play. I really want letting the game come to me. Coach told me just to relax and trust myself to make the plays so that’s what I’m doing.” Brandon Aiyuk Junior wide receiver
The front-runner
Aiyuk is the front-runner for increased action. Not only will he have more balls thrown his way, but the community college transfer will be busy on special teams. He has been returning kickoffs all season and will likely be returning punts as well — something Harry did when he was in the fold.
Aiyuk is coming off a season-best of five receptions for 106 yards in the 41-40 win at Arizona. The highlight of that game, as well as his season, was a 58yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
Coaches chalk up his showing the last half of the season to adjusting to the speed of the game at this level. He has good hands and is working on rout-running and finishing off plays.
“I think early in the season I was trying a little too hard to prove to everyone I could play. I really want letting the game come to me,” he said. “Coach told me just to relax and trust myself to make the plays so that’s what I’m doing.”
Also in the mix
Darby has also had two 100-yard receiving games but those came in the first half of the season. His best outing came against Colorado when he had three catches for 133 yards including a 40-yard receptions that gave the Sun Devils a short-lived 21-14 lead.
Williams managed seven of his catches for 104 yards against Michigan State and has been used more in shortyardage situations.
“It’s a lot different not having him out there,” Williams said of not having Harry. “Not just his speed, but his presence. It’s a different vibe. We’re all just going to try and do our part. No one can replace him. I mean he’s 6-4 and I’m 5-11 and he’s got a lot of hair and I’m bald.”
On the mend
The availability of a couple injured players won’t be made until late next week. Senior safety Jalen Harvey has been out since Nov. 10 when he aggravated a neck/shoulder stinger and has been limited to non-contact work in practice.
Freshman safety Cam Phillips, who had seen full-time action since in the UCLA game in which both Harvey and DeMonte King were hurt, is slowed by a groin injury sustained in the pregame warm-up for the Territorial Cup game against Arizona. He is scheduled to see a specialist to help determine the severity the injury.
Senior Dasmond Tautalatasi and sophomore Evan Fields saw time in place of Phillips in the Arizona game.
List of commits grows
Coach Herm Edwards added another verbal commit to Arizona State’s 2019 class as cornerback Willie Harts of Pittsburg, Calif. announced his decision on Instagram Tuesday.
Harts, 6-feet, 160 pounds, totaled 24 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended but did a little of everything for the Pirates. He also had 34 rushes for 334 yards and six touchdowns as well as 15 receptions for 312 yards and four more touchdowns.
ASU was one of nine offers Harts received. California and Washington State were among the others.
The addition of Harts extends ASU’s list to 19 known commitments. NCAA rules prevent coaches from committing on verbal commits. Players are able to sign Dec. 19.