ASU’s Frank Darby already embracing leadership role in senior year

The Arizona State Sun Devils have seen quite the turnover in the wide receiver room. And for good measure.

The Sun Devils have strung together wideouts in the first round of NFL drafts in back-to-back years entering 2020.

There’s one constant that’s remained over those two years, however, in ASU WR Frank Darby.

Darby, in his senior season, is experiencing a different side to Sun Devil football. He may have been bestowed the captaincy on Monday, but the WR sounds like he’s been in the role for multiple seasons, not multiple days.

No longer the guy fighting for targets, Darby is finally getting to see what the work looks like from the other side of the field. He’s loving every minute of it as he helps coach up the younger pass catchers trying to earn playing time.

“From all the receiver groups I’ve been a part of, this receiving group is different,” Darby said Friday. “They work harder, they compete at a different level. … They’re just battling and battling. … It’s just different now. A spot can be taken every day. I try to get them to just keep competing, keep competing.

“Just like [ASU head coach] Herm [Edwards] preaches to us. Compete, compete, compete. … This is probably the best wide receiver group I’ve been around as far as competition, skill level and … nobody’s dropping passes out there. ”

“I’m just happy to be a part of it and also the leader because they all look up to me as their leader and I’m pushing them to be great so they can help me and the football team win games,” Darby added.

Taking over the reins from former Sun Devil and now-San Francisco 49er Brandon Aiyuk as the team’s No. 1 receiving threat sits Darby. The wide receiver has seen an uptick in play every season, finishing his junior year with 31 catches for 616 yards and eight touchdowns. He tied Aiyuk’s mark of eight receiving touchdowns with half the receptions.

ASU head coach Herm Edwards hopes Darby can have the same two-season trajectory as Aiyuk had when was the No. 2 guy behind Harry, jumping from 474 yards to almost 1,200. There’s some serious shoes to be filled.

“Frank feels a little bit of the pressure,” Edwards said. “You go two years in a row and you get two receivers drafted in the first round. That’s not common from the same team, it’s really not. that’s kinda one of those, ‘How did that happen?’

“And that’s good for Frank, but I told him, ‘I don’t want you to feel the pressure of any of that. I want you to enjoy playing football. Bring your energy every day, do the little things. Don’t worry about what you have to do, just go play football. That’s what I told Aiyuk last year. I said, ‘Look, don’t worry about numbers.'”

From the size of his smile and the demeanor of the wide receiver had while on a Zoom teleconference on Friday, it’s safe to say Darby’s taking it all in stride.

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