QB Manny Wilkins working to get everything in sync

This is Day 4 coverage of Arizona State football at Camp Tontozona. 

CAMP TONTOZONA — After Thursday’s practice, while Arizona State’s defense headed to the makeshift weight room at one end of the field, Manny Wilkins set up on the opposite end and started throwing to his receivers.

First, sophomore Kyle Williams. Wilkins took a short drop and threw to the back of the end zone, where Williams leaped and made the catch before falling out of bounds.

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“Last one,” Wilkins said, firing another pass.

Then, sophomore N’Keal Harry.

Wilkins fired. It was short.

“Go again, N’Keal, go again,” Wilkins yelled.

The quarterback fired. This time too long. Wilkins yelled in frustration.

Another pass.

Short.

“Again,” Wilkins said.

Through 10 days of preseason camp, Wilkins has committed to this kind of detail, trying to get ASU’s offense in sync through encouragement, instruction and repetition.

On Monday, he and senior running back Kalen Ballage had a miscommunication on a third-down play that ended in an incomplete pass. As they came off the field, Wilkins told Ballage, “We’ll get it fixed, don’t worry.”

On Tuesday, Wilkins threw a touchdown pass to junior tight end Jay Jay Wilson, but he still wasn’t happy. After apologizing for the poor throw, Wilkins went through the final steps of the route with Wilson. “If you give me three yards to work with instead of 1, we’ll have a better chance,” he said.

After Thursday’s practice, Wilkins gave reporters another example, this one involving sophomore receiver Ryan Newsome.

“Before practice the other day, Newsome and I, we were practicing 7 cuts in the back of the end zone,” he said. “And I was telling him where the ball was going to be and how he needed to turn out of his cut, and we just got out on the same page. And when we got to team (11-on-11 action), the same exact play that we were talking about? It happened.

“That’s the kind of relationship we need to have. You need to be able to trust that he’s going to do the job and he needs to know I’m going to put the ball there and do the right thing.”

At this point – granted, it’s early – Wilkins seems positioned to open coach Todd Graham’s sixth season as ASU’s starting quarterback. This week, he has taken the bulk of first-team reps over sophomore Blake Barnett. Wilkins seems more mature, more confident, more secure in his No. 5 jersey.

Also, his mechanics are different.

Over the off-season, Wilkins worked with Dennis Gile, a quarterback coach based in Scottsdale, on trying to establish a quicker release. Wilkins last season felt like he “short-stroked” everything, which affected his accuracy.

“With Manny, it was just a couple little things to try and change the motion to where he felt more comfortable, and yet he could be more consistent in placing the ball,” Gile said.

In 10 starts last season, Wilkins had a 63.3 completion percentage. A contributing factor to his performance: His health. Wilkins played through injuries nearly all season.

“Manny, let me tell you something, the most courageous guy I’ve ever seen,” Graham said. “He should not have been playing, especially against Colorado. He couldn’t move.”

Wilkins said this is all part of his progression. When he first arrived at ASU, his footwork was a mess. Last year he felt better, but then he got hurt. This season he feels better about everything.

“I feel very comfortable,” Wilkins said. “I’m a vet now. It’s crazy to think because I feel like just yesterday I was walking into Camp T for the first time.”

Line experimentation

– ASU continues to experiment on the offensive line, particularly at center. On Wednesday, junior Sam Jones (normally a left guard), senior A.J. McCollum and sophomore Cade Cote all got first-team reps. On Thursday, sophomore tackle Cohl Cabral took over for a spell. The line ASU seemed to line up most went like this:

LT Steven Miller

LG Sam Jones

C A.J. McCollum

RG Quinn Bailey

RT Zach Robertson

“We got a lot of competition going on there,” Graham said. “I counted today, I think there are 10 guys that we feel really good about.”

Observations

– With senior defensive end Alani Latu off the field, freshman Shannon Forman got first-team reps. Forman lined up at defensive tackle, pushing junior JoJo Wicker out to end, where he played most of last season. “He’s making some great strides,” defensive line coach Michael Slater said of Forman. “He’s very coachable. He’s just a sponge, just eating up everything he gets.”

– Senior J’Marcus Rhodes has worked at first-team spur linebacker for most of preseason camp, but Graham said junior Tyler Whiley has impressed him lately. “One of the best things about this fall camp has been competition,” he said. “Tyler has been sitting there (on the third team), but every day I watch film and every day he just keeps moving up.” In addition to Rhodes, senior Marcus Ball has played ahead of Whiley at the spur position.  

– Barnett had some nice moments. Near the end of practice, he rolled right and hit Kyle Williams. The sophomore receiver then got by freshman safety Alex Perry and took it to the end zone. Earlier in a red-zone drill, Barnett lofted a soft pass to Terrell Chatman. The sophomore receiver fell but still made the catch while laying on his back in the end zone.

– Speaking of big plays, Wilkins hit Harry across the middle of the field. Redshirt-freshman cornerback Chase Lucas wrapped up Harry and officials ruled the play dead, frustrating Harry. “I’m breaking that!” he shouted, referring to the tackle.

– Junior tight end Jay Jay Wilson returned to practice after missing Wednesday to deal with what Graham called a personal matter.

– Asked if freshman running back Eno Benjamin will play this season, Graham said, “No doubt.” With seniors Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard — along with sophomore Nick Ralston — ASU’s backfield is crowded, but Graham said he wants to get his best players on the field. There are ways to do that. “Most people don’t realize that Demario is a really good receiver,” Graham said. “He can actually move out and do some things at receiver, just like Kalen can.”

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– Near the end of practice, Lucas blocked a 37-yard field-goal attempt from freshman Brandon Ruiz.

– ASU has added a Friday special-teams walk-through session that is expected to start at 9 a.m. It is open to the public.

Schedule

Friday: Special teams walk-through, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday: Final practice, 9:30 a.m.-noon, followed by autograph session. 

Directions: Camp Tontozona is located at 235 S Camp Tontozona Rd., in Payson. From Phoenix, take 87N to Payson. Turn right on 260E and go about 17 miles.

Camp Tontozona weather

The forecast for Friday is calling for a high of 86 and a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm.

Saturday appears to be slight warmer at 85 degrees, with another chance for an afternoon thunderstorm in spots. Saturday’s high is looking like 84 but with an afternoon thunderstorm looming.

Parking

Parking is limited all week. Parking for Saturday will be in a closed section on the eastbound side of SR260 near Camp Tontozona Road. Be sure to follow the message boards, speed-limit signs and event parking signs on SR260 to the designated event parking areas. Parking attendants will be placed at the entrance locations to direct guests to the correct parking area.

The eastbound lanes of SR 260 between Kohl’s Ranch and Christopher Creek will also be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Sunday to allow for parking, according to ADOT.

Camp T travel alert

ADOT issued a warning for drivers who plan to use SR 260 east of Payson on Saturday morning, saying drivers should allow extra travel time because of heavy traffic in the area.

Fans traveling to the area from Phoenix should also be aware of traffic restrictions on SR 87 about 25 miles south of Payson, where the highway is narrowed to one lane for repairs. “Drivers can expect long delays and should consider alternate routes between Payson and the Valley,” ADOT warned.