Pflugrad coming back to Tempe

Ex-ASU WR now a coach on NAU staff

Aaron Pflugrad’s memories of Arizona State stretch back to his childhood, when as a 10year-old he tagged along with his dad, then an ASU assistant, to Camp Tontozona.

Pflugrad grew up around the ASU program. Then, after a short stint at Oregon, he played two seasons with the Sun Devils, turning into one of Brock Osweiler’s favorite receivers. After his playing days, Pflugrad even served as a graduate assistant under coach Todd Graham.

Pflugrad has maroon and gold in his blood, but Saturday, as ASU kicks off Graham’s fifth season, he will return to Sun Devil Stadium in a different role. In his second season as receivers coach at Northern Arizona, Pflugrad will try to knock off the program that built his football foundation.

“Obviously, it will be great to be back down there in that stadium,” Pflugrad said. “And, obviously, I have nothing but respect for the ASU program and Coach Graham and all he’s done in my coaching career up to this point, but I’m more concerned with getting our guys ready to play as receivers coach for Northern Arizona.”

Under Pflugrad’s watch, Phoenix Mountain Pointe product Emmanuel Butler has blossomed into one of the top FCS receivers in the country. Last season, the 6-foot-4 Butler set a school record for receiving yards (1,208) and tied the school mark for touchdown receptions (15).

For more on this story, visit sundevils .azcentral.com.