They have yet to see the best from their investment in Darby’s former teammate, N’Keal Harry. He needs to improve his technique so that he is using his hands rather than his body to secure the catch. Another area of concern is his catch ability. By the numbers: 6'0", 194 pounds. Last year, the New England Patriots selected Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry in the first round with the hopes that he’ll develop into their X-receiver. A rib injury sustained in the season opener saw him miss time. Four-star Florida defensive standout Jaylin Marshall chooses Arizona State football, ASU football schedule ranked easiest among Pac-12 football teams in 2021, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Darby uses that physicality at the line of scrimmage — with his hand strength to create separation — and also in contested catch situations. From the minute he stepped on to the field in 2017, Frank Darby became a dangerous deep threat. The latest player linked to Seattle is Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who is currently en route to the Pacific Northwest after meeting with the 49ers in the Santa Clara. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he is a … Most notably, the New England Patriots are in the market for a wide receiver. Bumphis, a former standout wide receiver at Mississippi State, replaces Guy Holliday, ... Utah’s Pac-12 Tournament seed will be decided Saturday vs. Arizona State, win or lose. The top-rated wide receiver recruit in the state of Arizona actually gave Hartline and Ohio State his own personal pledge back in December. However, Darby finally enrolled at Arizona State in June 2016. Other teams that could have interest include the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants. His physicality actually makes him seem bigger than his listed 6’1″ and 200 pounds. In addition to hand use at the line of scrimmage, Darby showcases quick feet to help create separation. He also competed in track, winning the the 2017 CIF-SS Division 1 long jump championship and going on to place third in the state. 25 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. The reigning Super Bowl champions selected Arizona State wideout N'Keal Harry with the No. For updates from the 2021 Senior Bowl, click here for our 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: American Team or 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: National Team. Darby torched sixth-ranked Oregon to the tune of 125 yards on just 4 receptions as the Sun Devils drove a fork into the hearts of the Ducks’ playoff hopes. It starts with physicality. Stay in the know. ASU’s wide receivers coach candid about his group’s strength and challenges going into the 2021 season. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson. The Arizona Wildcats have already seen three of their wide receivers withdraw from the transfer portal and return to the UA. It’s an impressive achievement in its own right. Thompson announced Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, he is transferring to Arizona State. At Lincoln High School, Darby made a friend of the weight room, becoming a physical specimen that would go on to dominate on the football field. That group included Tre … He led Utah in receiving touchdowns (from the wide receiver position) in 2018 and 2019 despite just one start. Arriving so late to the program, he redshirted the 2016 season. How has Darby been able to achieve this performance? That's not the case anymore. Arizona wide receiver Ma’jon Wright to transfer to Middle Tennessee State New, 18 comments By Ryan Kelapire @RKelapire Jan 23, 2021, 6:58pm PST The 49ers zigged when most expected them to zag late in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and came away with a new weapon for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo when they selected former Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the No. Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby (84) scores a touchdown against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, … He played college football at Arizona State. That’s a characteristic that has substance in the NFL. However, his journey to the NFL Draft began far from Tempe, Arizona in Jersey City. Although Darby had excelled on the field, he hadn’t academically. Although he played both sides of the ball — like many high school players — he excelled on offense. Jaelen Strong (born January 25, 1994) is a former American football wide receiver. 2020 leading receiver … The 2020 season was the one that Frank Darby staked his claim as the next great NFL Draft prospect from the Arizona State wide receiver room. This is a list of Arizona State Sun Devils football players ... end: QB Quarterback: WR Wide … Flash sale: Get unlimited digital access today for only $39 for a year. Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@Gannett.com or 602 444-4783. That’s his work ethic and leadership. Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk projects as a starting receiver in an offense based on West Coast principles. Over the last two years, an Arizona State wide receiver has been taken in the first round. The San Francisco 49ers selected Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the No. Does his ability match up to his confidence? He caught a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of  that contest. Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. The New England Patriots have selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time in head coach Bill Belichick's tenure with the team. ... A local guy who wasn’t getting much recruiting attention from Power 5 programs aside from Arizona State took a step forward in 2020. The lack of true breakaway speed gives the overall impression that he is a good — but not great — athlete. Arriving so late to the program, he redshirted the 2016 season. Thankfully for Darby, he has a fan in Jim Nagy. However, it was made even sweeter by the fact it was the first time any Lincoln player had achieved the accolade in over 40 years. The Arizona State Sun Devils have a remarkable recent history with the NFL Draft. Frank Darby - WR, Arizona State. All Rights Reserved. Frank Darby has emerged as one of the Pac-12’s most potent offensive weapons over the past four years. As a result, he didn’t meet the academic threshold required to sign his national letter of intent. His performances earned him first-team All-State honors. An extended recruitment period saw him entertain offers from Rutgers and Boston College. Arizona State Football He is Pauline’s 43rd-ranked wide receiver in this 2021 NFL Draft class. San Jose State’s rough week got even rougher with the news star wide receiver Tre Walker is transferring and wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings has been hired at Arizona. Harry has already spent time with the Cardinals in Arizona, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Despite his impressive senior season, Darby wasn’t highly recruited. He once again proved to be a dangerous deep threat, racking up 20 yards per catch on average. He appears to have adequate long speed. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images), Frank Darby NFL Draft Profile & Senior Bowl Measurements, Frank Darby becomes an Arizona State wide receiver, Analyzing Frank Darby’s NFL Draft profile, Frank Darby’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft, Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. Brandon Aiyuk was a relative unknown outside of Arizona coming into his senior season at Arizona State. He had racked up 33 catches for 756 yards and four touchdowns in his Utah career. Despite Wright's departure, Arizona will return five of its top six wide receivers from 2020: Berryhill, Tayvian Cunningham, Brian Casteel, Joiner and Curry. 32 pick Thursday night, giving quarterback Tom Brady another talented target in the passing game. Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Frank Darby makes an outstanding adjustment for a 22-yard deep ball on fourth down. Thompson is a native of Southern California, having graduated from Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, 65 miles East of Los Angeles. More: Four-star Florida defensive standout Jaylin Marshall chooses Arizona State football. 2020: Six receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown in two games played. However, there are too many examples on tape of him having to rely on contested-catch situations as he can’t separate with speed. You can follow him on Twitter at, Defensive Points Allowed Consistency Score, Expected Fantasy Points and Fantasy Points Differential, 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: American Team, 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: National Team, Frank Darby graded as a sixth-round prospect. Q&A with Prentice Gill. The fact that former University of Utah wide receiver Bryan Thompson announced Thursday afternoon that he is transferring to Arizona State has everything to do with a … Despite this, he still averaged 19.9 yards per catch in the process of securing eight touchdowns. Here are three things to know about Aiyuk. The ASU wide receiver has seen his … Are you a sports fan? Unfortunately, a family issue saw him miss his final Arizona State game before declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft. He had his best game with three receptions for 65 yards in a 24-21 loss to Washington. Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 207-pounder, recorded nine catches for 182 yards and a touchdown in five games for the Utes last season. “Thankful to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Saunders said on Twitter. Mel Gray was a … Thompson, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, could be the vertical threat the Sun Devils are looking for to replace the departed Frank Darby. Former Iowa State standout wide receiver Hakeem Butler was released by the Arizona Cardinals and defensive end Matt Leo was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. From high school to the Arizona State wide receiver room, teammates and coaches alike talk about his leadership and the work he puts into making himself and others better. Rather than using his hands to secure the ball, Darby often relies on his body for receptions. The 5-foot-10, 172-pound wide receiver committed to Penn State on July 25, 2020. He is a very good route runner who can use his routes to … This can lead to costly drops. After a less than stellar 2020 season, Frank Darby is a player who needs to maximize his opportunities in Mobile. Frank Darby becomes an Arizona State wide receiver. Pro Football Network, LLC. There are multiple teams with wide receiver needs in the 2021 NFL Draft. Darby rose to prominence at Lincoln in his senior season. From just 35 receptions, Darby racked up 957 receiving yards and snagged 10 touchdowns. The Vols have offered 2022 wide receiver prospect and Penn State commit Kaden Saunders. In this most disrupted of seasons, however, he failed to live up to expectation. The Arizona State football team has a lot of wide receivers, although the group is young as a whole. The Arizona State football team has a lot of wide receivers, although the group is young as a whole. With N’Keal Harry departed to the NFL Draft in 2019, Frank Darby still had Brandon Aiyuk for company in the Arizona State wide receiver room. That attribute has been a part of his composition since the weight room at Lincoln High School. He was a first-team All-CIF Southern Section (Inland Division) as a junior in 2015 with 58 catches for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns. 1. Can Frank Darby be the next Arizona State wide receiver taken as a first-round NFL Draft selection following N’Keal Harry and Brandon Aiyuk? Copyright © 2019-2021. The wide receiver position is one of the most important to watch this offseason for the Sun Devils. Utah Utes wide receiver Bryan Thompson (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 40-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) during a Pac-12 game against the California Golden Bears at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. Frank Darby is confident that he can follow N’Keal Harry and Brandon Aiyuk as a first-round NFL Draft selection. However, Darby finally enrolled at Arizona State in June 2016. As a three-star recruit, he was ranked as the 27th-best player in New Jersey and the 163rd wide receiver in the 2016 class. The San Francisco 49ers selected Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the No. Now that Super Bowl 55 is finished, what better way to celebrate than with Matt Williamson's brand new First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft? 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Brandon Aiyuk Arizona State &49ers Wide Receiver Signed/Autographed 8x10 Photo at the best online prices at … San Diego State felt his wrath once more in 2018. If you remove 2020 from the equation, he has averaged 21.6 yards per catch throughout his career. There was interest in his services, nonetheless, and even prior to his standout 2015 campaign, he had committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Mel Gray, 1971-1982. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Although his calling card is the deep threat, the aforementioned skill set allows him to win on short to intermediate routes as well. Thompson is the fifth player ASU has landed through the transfer portal. Currently, Tony Pauline has Frank Darby graded as a sixth-round prospect with a ranking of 275th on his latest big board for Pro Football Network. Although he only saw 9 receptions in his redshirt-freshman season, he reeled in 234 receiving yards at a phenomenal 26 yards per reception. Related | Top wide receivers at the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Might another be doing the same? More: ASU football schedule ranked easiest among Pac-12 football teams in 2021. He played in 12 games, starting nine of those. It’s clear from Frank Darby’s time as an Arizona State wide receiver that he is an exceptional deep threat. 22 JUCO receiver from Sierra College in California and had a relatively solid impact right away. The … There is no better time than now to start deciphering the top fantasy players for 2021 with post-Super bowl fantasy football rankings. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 20-12. Herm Edwards and his staff added another weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels, as former Utah wide receiver Bryan Thompson is transferring to Arizona State. Another multi-talented athlete, Melvin Gray is up next in fourth. Darby currently projects as a potential WR2 in the NFL, with the ability to use his physicality to mold a special teams role. ... Slot to Arizona State Sun Devils Newsletter; Get the latest Arizona State Football news, photos, rankings, ... ASU Football: Former Utah wide receiver Bryan Thompson joins Sun Devils via transfer portal. This is particularly troubling for a player that relies on winning contested catches. His standout performance in a breakout season came in late November. That would be the first of five career 100-yard outings for Darby. The others being tight end Jalin Conyers (Oklahoma), offensive lineman Triston Miller (North Carolina), defensive lineman Travez Moore (LSU) and linebacker Xavier Steele (UMass). Darby ranked second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation for yards per catch. Last year, San Jose State finished fourth nationally with a pair of all-conference wide receivers helping to lead the way. Despite this, it is unlikely that Darby makes it three consecutive years with an Arizona State wide receiver taken in the first round. Although there are examples of him being able to pull away from defenders in the secondary, one of the biggest concerns over Frank Darby as an NFL Draft projection is his speed. Half of that yardage came in his first game as an Arizona State wide receiver, a 111-yard performance that included a touchdown against San Diego State. The Sun Devils will be adding a veteran to the mix in Utah transfer Bryan Thompson, who announced on social media he is headed to Tempe. Featured | 2021 Senior Bowl Rosters, Weigh-Ins, and Measurements, The Senior Bowl executive commented earlier in 2020 that “Frank Darby has the tools to be one of the first wide receivers picked next April. Despite acquiring the required SAT score, eventually, Darby de-committed from the Hawkeyes following a disagreement over additional schooling the program wanted him to attend. In 2019 he was Utah's second-leading receiver with 18 receptions for 461 receiving yards, for an average of 25.6 yards per catch. We love Darby’s upside because coaches say he’s the hardest worker.”. Apr 23, 2020 at 8:16 PM • --. The following week he secured a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown against Colorado. An extended recruitment period saw him entertain offers from Rutgers and Boston College. It’s an incredible statistic that shows the sort of dynamic ability you get if you select him in the NFL Draft. News More News 2/7/2021 football Edit. TEMPE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 29: Wide receiver Frank Darby #84 of the Arizona State Sun Devils catches a 42 yard reception against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. There’s one aspect of Frank Darby’s NFL Draft profile that can’t be measured in a box score, neither can it be truly scouted on tape. The junior wide out came to Arizona State as the No. Despite not seeing the field, he impressed on the scout team during practices. Despite not seeing the field, he impressed on the scout team during practices. GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 26: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona.