Likens: Arizona State’s offense handing over leadership to players

TEMPE, Ariz. — Manny Wilkins is an oddity in college football. The quarterback survived and competed with high-profile recruits and transfers. He stuck through an offensive coordinator-a-year revolving door.

Through good performances and bad, he’s grown, which is why Saturday’s hosting of the UCLA Bruins marks a significant moment for the senior, who will play his last game at Sun Devil Stadium.

Somehow, three regular season games before his college career wraps, Wilkins is still growing.

“Manny, I felt like he had his best practice of his career today, and part of that was because I saw leadership in him that is coming out now,” said ASU offensive coordinator Rob Likens. “I think he realizes the clock is ticking.

“Our relationship is growing. It takes a while, man. The guy has had four (offensive coordinators) in his life telling him what to do, and that’s not easy with a young man especially with his background and trust and all that. I think he trusts me and I trust him.”

But the trust extends beyond ASU’s senior quarterback.

A week after ASU’s offensive line bludgeoned the usually-physically-imposing Utah Utes to produce 251 yards on the ground, the Sun Devils offensive coordinator said he almost is doing double-takes.

“Maybe I’m guilty of underestimating us a little bit, but man, our guys look like they belong,” he said Tuesday. “I use the reference sometimes of David and Goliath and then all of a sudden you look up and go, ‘Oh, wow man, I think it might be the other way around here.'”

Running back Eno Benjamin hadn’t put together big games on the ground against any reputable run defense outside of his 104 yards at Washington. After being held to 38 rushing yards two weeks ago in a loss to Stanford, he’s averaged 6.4 yards per carry while pushing 30 rushes in the last two games against USC and Utah.

More time to add more to the playbook has helped, too.

Arizona State, simply because of time, has been able to teach and branch out from its early power running game that led to a win over Michigan State.

It’s been able to begin moving receivers like N’Keal Harry around pre-snap and even in terms of position to create more apprehension from opponents. That’s led to more game film to study on the opponents’ end, some of which, the offensive coordinator joked, could be wasted time if ASU ditches those looks come the following weekend.

The offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack in the last two games and is very aware of that fact, making it a point of pride.

“The physical presence of our offensive line and how locked in our players were trying to execute at a high level, I think that’s been kind of like the difference,” Likens said.

But after mentioning all of that, Likens believes his offense breaking out with 38-point games the last two weeks is pretty simple.

“Over the last couple of weeks as our guys have really kind of taken over the football team, which is, that’s what you want to do,” he said. “You want the leaders to take over the football team and they start holding each other accountable in practice.

“They’re correcting mistakes on their own with each other before we even get to ’em. I’ve always said that that’s the sign of a good football team. You could see the results of that in the game.”

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