ASU’s Frank Darby leaves pro day with confidence, family on his mind

In each of the past two years, Arizona State has seen one of its wide receivers get selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Frank Darby hopes to keep that streak going in 2021.

At ASU’s pro day on Monday, Darby measured in at 6-foot, 200 pounds with a 34.5-inch vertical.

The wide receiver also got in 19 bench reps.

Official results from @ASUFootball pro-day on WR Frank Darby. Couldn't find a pic for this graphic where Frank wasn't smiling. Dude has unreal energy!

HT 6000
WT 201
Hand 9 3/8
Arm 31 3/4
74 7/8
40-yd 4.56/4.58
VJ 34.5
BJ 9-9
SS 4.25
3C 7.05
BP 19 reps pic.twitter.com/lljHw4kweE

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 29, 2021

“I had a lot of butterflies that didn’t leave me until after the 40. … Once the butterflies left my body, I just felt like it was a walk in the park,” Darby told reporters via Zoom.

⚠️ savage szn in full effect ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/4HUZ6gCGSB

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) March 29, 2021

“Go out there, you’ve been doing this all your life, just go out there and catch the ball, play fast. Do what you do and always be yourself,” he said of his mindset.

But between the nerves and the focus on performing his best, Darby said his mind has also been on his family, especially after losing his mother unexpectedly three weeks ago.

“I’m just happy I was able to fight through it and keep pushing for her and coming out here and doing what I need to do,” he said. “I just know she’s watching over me.”

Darby came to Tempe from Jersey City, N.J., as a three-star recruit, according to 247 Sports. He played in 40 games across four seasons with the team, accumulating 1,317 yards and 13 touchdowns on 67 receptions.

His best season came in 2019 when he caught 31 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs, earning himself Pac-12 honorable mention accolades.

The wide receiver said his time in college spent around Sun Devil receivers Brandon Aiyuk and N’Keal Harry helped build not only his skillset, but his mindset for the future. Aiyuk went 25th overall in last year’s draft, while Harry went 32nd a year prior to that.

“Each and every day when I was training with them and they would talk about being drafted, when I was working out with them and doing similar things they were doing, I’m just like ‘I could be a draft pick too,’” Darby said.

“They helped me get to the level I’m at today and I also helped them get to the level they’re at today, too.”

That confidence only grew when he headed to the Senior Bowl in January. Darby drew attention in practices and had one reception in the game, a deep pass on a 4th-and-8 to bring the National team to a first down at the 14-yard line.

“When I went out there and was able to go out there and compete with guys from SEC, ACC, seeing different guys I’ve never competed against all the years I’ve been in college and going out there and still being able to beat those guys, my confidence level shot up to the sky,” the wide receiver said.

Darby, who is the only ASU player who went through the pro day that took place of an NFL Draft Combine appearance, said Monday that he felt positive about his performance because he trusted his training and competed with his well-known high level of energy.

“As long as I walked off that field with a smile on my face and my head high, I felt like I did a really good job,” he said.

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