ASU’s NFL prospects getting ready
Aiyuk, Benjamin prepare for Senior Bowl, Cabral for Sun Bowl
Everybody connected with Arizona State football is getting ready for a bowl game, even the NFL prospects.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Eno Benjamin have accepted invitations to the Reece’s Senior Bowl next month in Mobile, Alabama. And center Cohl Cabral is preparing for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve in El Paso, Texas.
It might seem like a rift. Aiyuk and Benjamin are leaving the team, and Cabral is staying with it. But there’s no discord. Different guys have different motivations, and everybody’s good with that. It’s part of the NFL model.
“This just is my ‘thank you’ to everyone who’s been around me,” Cabral said.
“Talent gets you there at some point, but at the same time, the guys that are around you are going to help push you there. … (This is) my farewell to the guys around me to help them and get them a win one last time.”
'I respect it'
Cabral is getting ready for the NFL draft, just like Aiyuk and Benjamin. They just have different ways of going about it.
For Cabral, Florida State will be an opportunity to show that he can hang with the types of guys he’ll face at the next level.
“They’re big,” Cabral said of FSU’s interior linemen. “You’ve got guys inside that are 315-plus, 6-4. They’re bigger bodies than we’re used to.”
If Cabral can hold his own against this caliber of competition, it’ll boost his draft stock.
That’s Benjamin’s biggest concern.
He had a down year, running behind a makeshift line that included two freshmen and didn’t feature Cabral at center until the season was several weeks old.
Benjamin’s yardage and touchdown totals were way down, and he picked up a reputation for fumbling.
The last thing Benjamin needs is an injury, which could turn him from a mid- to late-round prospect into an undrafted rookie free agent.
His decision to skip the Sun Bowl is close to a nobrainer.
“I respect it,” Cabral said. “Backs have a short clock on what they’re able to do. It’s uncommon to have backs go out and have a 10-year career, just because of the amount of carries they’re getting.
“He’s close to 600 carries the last two years, so I get it. … I think it’s smart for him, not taking as many hits and being able to be 100 percent at the (NFL Draft) Combine, the next level or the Senior Bowl.” As for Aiyuk, his stock can’t get much higher. He’s been selected for two All-America squads (Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America), and he’s widely considered a likely firstor second-round prospect.
Playing for Aiyuk carries nothing but risk. “Whichever NFL team gets him,” wide receivers coach Derek Hagan said, “they’re gonna be lucky to have him. He’s a special playmaker. … His ceiling is very high.”
Hagan, who played eight years in the NFL, has no problems with college guys who decide against playing post-season games.
“I think it depends on the player,” he said. “When I was coming out, I played in the bowl game. I really don’t have a preference whether a guy plays or not. If you think it’s gonna help your stock or not gonna help your stock, I’m all for it. Obviously, BA’s not playing. If I could have him for one more game, I wouldn’t mind, but we’ve had 20-something games together. So, I’m happy. I’m thankful that I was able to be around him and work with him. And now he’s on to better things, trying to fulfill his dreams.”
'Compete, man'
If there’s anybody who sees all sides of it, it’s running back AJ Carter.
With Aiyuk out, several guys will have to be ready to make up for his absence.
“I feel like I have to come with it, the entire offense has to come with it,” Carter said. “Without Aiyuk, we have to have Frank Darby step up. I have to step up.”
With Benjamin out, Carter gets a chance to show what he can do.
“Eno, that’s a good dude,” Carter said. “… He gives me confidence to play. He takes time to give me little keys to look at and stuff to do.”
With Cabral in, Carter gets the best opportunity to make an impact.
“He has experience,” Carter said. “He’s a four-year starter. He can give out all the calls, all the audibles. … He’ll have everybody on the line ready.
“This is a good time to be able to run behind them. They’ve all molded together.”
For Carter, it’s also a good time to get behind ASU’s focus on getting guys ready for the next level. It’s helped Aiyuk, Benjamin and Cabral.
Now, it can help him.
The coaches with NFL experience all tell him the same thing.
“Compete, man,” Carter said. “That’s what they tell me. Compete. Make sure you know everything . ... Once you get in, you’re a starter.”
Carter’s locked in.
Like everyone connected with ASU football, he’s getting ready for a bowl game. Who knows, maybe one day he could be getting ready for more?
“I’m taking this serious,” Carter said. “No playing around. I’m trying to win.”