Frank Darby looking to step into role as Sun Devils’ lead receiver
Contrary to popular belief, Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby does occasionally have a bad day. Granted, those don’t come often for the 6-foot-1, 200pounder known for a wide smile and contagious energy.
One such day came in August when the Pac-12 announced it was postponing the fall football season indefinitely. That was a week after releasing a revised schedule that did not include non-conference games.
Darby is heading into his senior season and was expected to be heir to the departed Brandon Aiyuk as the big-play threat in the Sun Devils’ high-powered passing game. The fact that all that was then in jeopardy due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threw him for a loop.
“I got down when they posted the schedule the first time and then the Pac-12 was like, ‘ We out,’ “he said in a recent video conference call with the media. “At that point I was just like, ‘Where do I go from here?’ I was just down because I was lost at one point. I was wondering like do I enter (the NFL Draft) or do I stay or do I come back next year? At first, they weren’t talking about getting eligibility back so I thought this was my last year. I went and talked to (ASU head coach) Herm (Edwards) and the top guys and Herm was just like, ‘Stay, I got you.’”
All appears well and good now with the arrival of daily rapid testing resulting in the conference’s decision to move forward with football after all, albeit after the start of other Power 5 conferences.
So the upbeat Darby is ready to rally the troops toward it’s Nov. 7 morning road date against South Division favorite USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
He was appointed one of five team captains by Edwards. But even before being given that distinction, Darby had taken his role as one of the team veterans seriously. Another of his trademarks is workout routine, the results of which show in a chiseled physique. He’s engaged his teammates to come work out with him.
He’s also trying to serve as a leader to the younger core of wide receivers. The Sun Devils signed four four-star recruits and those newcomers are in addition to some sophomores that saw some time last year.
The Sun Devils have had back-toback first round draft picks at his position with N’Keal Harry going to the Patriots in 2019 and Aiyuk going to the 49ers earlier this year. The Jersey City native is setting his goals high, hoping to be the next.
Shortly after Aiyuk got chosen, Darby let his social media followers know he wanted to be the athlete to continue that trend.
Last season he recorded 31 catches for 616 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked No.11nationally at19.9 yards-percatch, good enough for sixth in the Pac-12.
In ASU’s 31-28 victory over Oregon on Nov. 28 he averaged 31.25 with four grabs for 125 yards.
Of the returning receivers, sophomore Geordon Porter was next with eight catches.
“He talks every day, ‘I’m going first round, I’m going first round,”’ sophomore wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said. “He works to go first round every day in the weight room, he’s out practicing his routes. He’s working.”
Of Darby’s 31 catches, 19 came in the last six games, starting with a six-catch effort against UCLA. He said it was a matter of quarterback Jayden Daniels being a little less fixated on Aiyuk and throwing more balls his way but they now have a bond that is needed between a quarterback and his top playmaker.
One of his goals this season is to show that he is more than just a deep threat, that he is just as capable of contributing when it comes to intermediate routes.
“Jayden found out who I was,” Darby said. “It was always tough for me. That’s how I look at it. It was always tough for me when I was getting just one catch a game. I was frustrated, frustrated every day. I was asking (former offensive coordinator Rob) Likens like, ‘Are you not telling [Daniels] about me?’ The ball was only going to BA (Aiyuk). It was all BA, BA, BA. We’d come in the room during meetings and it was all BA, BA, BA. I used to be thinking at that point that Coach Likens was counting me out. Now it’s just like crazy how everything works.”
Darby knows the younger receivers are likely to feel just like he felt as he waited his turn. But the difference this
season is that offensive coordinator Zak Hill’s new offense is designed to get more players involved and it will involve more passing so he thinks there should be enough opportunities to go around.
“It’s one of the best playbooks I’ve ever been part of because everyone’s going to eat. You’re going to try and clown men, watch those guys over there. There’s a lot we got in the playbook,” Darby said, flashing the trademark grin.
Hill recognizes what Darby brings and says he has seen the bond between Daniels and Darby grow. It’s the same trust the quarterback had last year with Aiyuk.
“Frank brings the energy every day,” Hill said.
“We all know that. Locker room, coaches office, meeting room, on the practice field. He brings the energy. He loves football and he loves competing and he wants the football like all good receivers do. Him and Jayden have a thing as far as that connection. I’m excited to see it game day.”
No decision at tackle spot
One of the few remaining position battles is at right tackle where sophomore LaDarius Henderson, the starter last year as a true freshman, is contending along with redshirt freshman Ben Scott.