Friday, April 19, 2024

Arizona State wide receivers still present challenge without first-round threat

September 12, 2019
<p>Michigan State football players enter Spartan Stadium before playing Western Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Broncos, 51-17, at Spartan Stadium on September 7, 2019. </p>

Michigan State football players enter Spartan Stadium before playing Western Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Broncos, 51-17, at Spartan Stadium on September 7, 2019.

Photo by Matt Zubik | The State News

Xavier Henderson watched from the sideline as Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins launched the ball towards the end zone. Michigan State's Justin Layne lunged into the air, only to be out-jumped by future NFL first-round pick N'Keal Harry.

Touchdown.

After trailing the entire game, the Sun Devils tied the score at 13 with eight minutes left. As time expired, Brandon Ruiz kicked a game-ending 28-yard field goal to pull off the upset.

Things will be a lot different Saturday afternoon when No. 18 MSU hosts ASU (4:00 p.m., FOX).

There's no Harry — he is in New England. There's no Layne — he is in Pittsburgh. But, the Sun Devil's wide receivers still present a high-level challenge for MSU's secondary to defend.

“They’re good-sized kids. They go after the ball well," secondary coach Paul Haynes said. "They throw it deep, and they break tackles. Any time you have a spread team like that, they make you try to tackle in space, again not giving the quarterback a lot of things, but giving him options to sit there and throw it.

“Very, very talented group. We played against all of those guys last year. They’re experienced, but again, they run well and get after the ball.”

Without the big name clouding the rest of their talent, the Sun Devils have established a strong group of pass-catchers, including six players that caught a pass in last year's meeting against MSU.

Brandon Aiyuk, who leads ASU in receiving with eight catches for 238 yards and a touchdown, returns to lead a group that won't have any fear against the Spartan defense. Aiyuk, Kyle Williams, Ryan Newsome, Frank Darby, Tommy Hudson and running back Eno Benjamin combined for 22 catches and 267 yards against MSU last season.

RELATED: Scouting the Sun Devils: How Michigan State plans to stop Eno Benjamin and Jayden Daniels

This year, the Sun Devils currently rank 31st in college football with 588 receiving yards through their first two games.

MSU's secondary will be a little healthier heading into the game on Saturday as well. Haynes said cornerbacks Shakur Brown and Kalon Gervin will be good to go after Brown didn't dress against Western Michigan and Gervin got injured late in the fourth quarter.

Henderson said even without Harry, ASU's offense is just as difficult to defend as they were a year ago.

“I wouldn’t say it makes it easier. He was a great player last year," sophomore safety Xavier Henderson said Tuesday after practice. "I think we did a good job, (Justin) Layne, they battled all game long. We weren’t really focused on just him last year and we’re not focused on just one player this year. We’re watching all of them. They are all pretty explosive on the offensive side."

RELATED: Mark Dantonio reflects on the past as he looks forward to the future

With true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels running the offense, having a talented group of experienced receivers is an advantage that ASU hopes works in its favor Saturday afternoon.

MSU's defense has not allowed an opposing receiver to gain over 80 yards in its first two games. And despite the experience the Sun Devils will bring at their receiver position, the Spartans feel that they are prepared as ever.

"Coach Haynes said that their receiving corps is probably one of the most mature and older receiving corps, or experienced receiving corps that we’re going to face," senior safety David Dowell said. "I'm expecting it to be another challenge this week but we’re looking forward to it.” 

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Arizona State wide receivers still present challenge without first-round threat” on social media.