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ASU head coach says he loves the way WR Frank Darby competes and compliments his ability to get open downfield.
Arizona Republic

Frank Darby is feeling fine, thanks for asking, although even he is surprised to not be recovering from a concussion after the big bang he suffered last week.

“I’m so happy and glad I didn’t have a concussion because I probably wouldn’t have been practicing today and missed out on one of the biggest games,” the Arizona State junior wide receiver said Tuesday. “I’m happy I’m all good and clear and ready to go.”

Darby admits to being “knocked out a little bit” when he was leveled by San Diego State safety Trenton Thompson on the next-to-last play Saturday, an apparent 48-yard completion. Video replay confirmed a targeting call against Thompson, resulting in his ejection, but also determined the pass to be incomplete, flooring Darby for a second time.

The 6-1 sophomore still believes he made the catch and that ASU should have had a shot at tying or winning from the 1-yard line (after a penalty assessment) with six seconds remaining. Instead, a shot to the end zone from the 35-yard line was batted down, and San Diego State won 28-21, averting what would have been a late-game collapse.

“The ball hit my arm and was rolling on top of me, and it never hit the ground,” Darby said. “That’s what it looked like, but they’re saying there’s another camera view I haven’t seen yet that it hit the floor. But I doubt it. I woke up and it was in my hand.”

Darby said the helmet-to-helmet hit from Thompson “messed my neck up and my jaw hurt a little bit,” but he was on the field for the ensuing play and is “feeling great” after treatment over the weekend. If he had concussion symptoms, Darby would have been required to go through mandatory protocol before being cleared to play this week at No. 12 Washington.

“I’ve never seen nobody get hit like that before,” Darby said. “Honestly I think he (Thompson) should have been out (three plays) before that when he hit (Ryan) Newsome. That could have been targeting right there. If he wasn’t right there, it would have been a touchdown, and we would have looked at another outcome of the game.

“I gave my all on that play and everything turned out great. When (the official) said it was an incomplete pass, I felt like I let the team down.”

With five catches for a career-high 127 yards, Darby didn’t let anyone down and in fact strengthened his standing as one of ASU’s best receivers. Split end N’Keal Harry is the unquestioned leader of the group with Kyle Williams secure as a starting slot receiver. Darby has been competing with Brandon Aiyuk and Terrell Chatman to be the first-team flanker, a job that Aiyuk seemed to be in the lead for when the season began.

Now, though, it’s “Jersey Frank” or “Big Game Frank,” as coach Herm Edwards alternately calls him, who is emerging as the Sun Devils’ deep threat.

“Before going into this offseason, I always wanted to be a starter,” Darby said. “Last year, they had talent in front of me,” including Jalen Harvey, now playing safety. “That was cool. But this year, I told them I was coming for the spot.”

He worked hard to earn the confidence of quarterback Manny Wilkins after a redshirt freshman season in which he averaged 26 yards per catch. 

“I felt like he always trusted me going deep, but I guess he wanted me to mature more,” Darby said. “I was young and didn’t know football too much. I grew up and got my mind right and worked out with him over the summer. All the little things so we could be great this year.”

There was little for Wilkins not to like about Darby against San Diego State. They combined for 51- and 43-yard completions in the second quarter, the first leading to a touchdown that put ASU ahead 14-7. If the fourth-quarter bomb had stuck, Darby would have had one of the top 25 receiving yardage games in school history.

Darby urged Wilkins to throw a post route to him at the end of the game. “It’s been there all game,” he told Wilkins. “Just throw it over the safety’s head, and I’m going to make the catch, bro. I’m thinking he ain’t going to listen, he’s going to his guy (Harry), but when I seen the ball in the air, my whole mindset was ‘Just go get it.’

“The ball was right where it was supposed to be. Manny threw it perfect.”

Then coming down, “I see the helmet. It just went like boom, lights out. (Thompson) jumped at me and led with his head, and that’s how he connected with me.”

Edwards said Darby is “sneaky fast. He seems to get behind people and is one of the best long-ball catchers on our team as far as adjusting to the ball and finding it in the air.”

Darby is from Jersey City and knows Edwards was born 45 miles south in Fort Monmouth so they feel something of a kinship. He initially committed to Iowa, but that fell through due to academic issues that later improved. Former ASU wide receivers coach Jay Norvell made a trip east that won over Darby, who had options to play closer to home. 

“He’s a fun guy to be around and has a lively personality,” Edwards said. 

The fun could just be starting if Darby is able to keep defenses from ganging up on Harry.

“Now that everyone sees we can go deep, it’s going to loosen everything up on N’Keal’s side so they can’t stack the safety and the corner over there,” Darby said. “It’s opening up everything. Now teams are going to have to play us straight up.”

Saturday’s game

ASU (2-1) at Washington (2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Streaming: Watch ESPN app

Radio: KTAR-AM 620

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