ASU’s Manny Wilkins, N’Keal Harry have high expectations for 2018

LOS ANGELES — Arizona State football returns eight starters from its 2017 campaign, including senior quarterback Manny Wilkins and junior wide receiver N’Keal Harry. Both have high expectations for the 2018 season after standout statistical seasons during a down year for ASU.

Despite a 7-6 2017 season for the Sun Devils, Wilkins managed to still throw for 3,270 yards at a 63.4 percent completion percentage, 20 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Harry also had an exceptional year as he had 1,142 receiving yards for eight touchdowns and 82 receptions, which is third all-time in ASU football history.

The 2018 offseason is already off to a promising start as Wilkins was one of 26 quarterbacks named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list.

Harry was also named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list and was added to the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, an award for the best college receiver.

“He has a special quality and one you need in anything in life that you do. He competes,” coach Herm Edwards said. “He’s a special player. He really is. He’s going to have a career at this. I mean, there’s no doubt. He’s going to play at the next level. It’s just a matter of when he decides to go, but he’s going to play at the next level.”

The Sun Devils have many changes to the current coaching staff, but one familiar face is 25-year college coaching veteran and former wide receiver coach Rob Likens, who was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2018 season.

“He’s still the energizer bunny of the offense,” Harry said. “He’s so passionate. He loves what he does. Every day he wakes up, I truly believe he is thankful for the position that he is.”

Likens has a track record of helping talented wide receivers reach the NFL as he has seven former players currently on NFL rosters. This will prove pivotal as Harry enters his junior year and will become eligible to enter the NFL Draft.

In Wilkins’ case, his success will be directly correlated with how well the offensive line performs. ASU finished 124th in sacks allowed in 2017., Only six other schools allowed more sacks in Division I. Key transfers to the offensive line include former Hamilton High School left tackle and Stanford graduate transfer Casey Tucker and USC transfer Roy Hemsley.

“Change it,” Wilkins said. “Those guys (Tucker and Hemsley) have been busting their butt in the weight room and making sure we are on the same page.”

Unlike last year, where the offense was predicated on a run-heavy scheme, the offense could possibly go through ASU’s most explosive players in Wilkins and Harry. Arizona State ranked third in rushing attempts in the Pac-12 with 565 but finished 6th in total yards with 2,276.

ASU hopes to have a more refined pocket passing performance from Wilkins this season to successfully implement an increased volume of attempts.

“We’ll see. Obviously, I am not going to give away any goodies on our offense but we got a group of guys coming,” Wilkins said. “We got a good group of guys already there and we’re expecting them to do some good things.”