TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State freshman Robby Harrison was third in line on Wednesday morning for the first sled, the one that just needed its pin adjusted. Ahead of him, Arizona State defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez barked instruction. “We’re going to go violent,” Rodriguez said. “Get up and down.”
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Harrison turned to face Shannon Forman, a coaching assistant who finished his playing career last season. In some ways, Forman is like Harrison’s on-field tutor. As Rodriguez talked to the defensive line, Forman translated, showing Harrison where he needed to place his hands, how he needed to finish. Harrison raised his arms to show how he planned to attack, showing Forman he understood.
For the first two weeks of spring practice, the education of Robby Harrison has been a fascinating storyline. As a three-star prospect from South Carolina, Harrison didn’t generate much Power 5 recruiting interest, committing to Arizona State before he even had visited campus. Physically, however, the 18-year-old passes the eye test. He stands 6-foot-3, 315 pounds and is the type of lineman who doesn’t need pads to look big. Asked for his first impression of Harrison, senior end Stanley Lambert said simply, “Robby’s strong as hell.” Indeed Harrison, who has worked with athletic trainers since fifth grade, has bench pressed 420 pounds.
But the freshman nose tackle also needs a lot of work, and his education has stretched beyond Rodriguez and engulfed the entire position room. This says something about Arizona State’s culture, at least along the defensive line. And if you’re looking for something positive amid a troubling NCAA investigation into the program’s recruiting, here it is.
On the Kajikawa practice fields, Harrison watched as sophomores Joe Moore and Gharin Stansbury took turns on the sleds, starting from their knees, exploding forward, pushing the sled up. “All right, now listen,” Rodriguez said. “This shit here when you just bring your hands back, that’s not serving any purpose.” To demonstrate, Rodriguez walked and placed his arms on a sled. He pushed the sled up and held it high, pumping his legs. “We got to be able to stick and control, so when we punch — BOOM! — you got to be able to get your hips back into the ground, generate power out of your feet,” he said.
Rodriguez looked at Harrison.
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“You got me, Robby?” he said.
Harrison nodded.
Rodriguez moved to the front. “All right, here we go,” he said. “Robby’s going. Robby’s going. Set … HIT.”
On his knees with his right hand on the grass, Harrison reached for the sled and raised his arms. He rocked back. “Set … HIT.” To the left of Harrison, junior end Anthonie Cooper was moving at a much quicker pace, striking the sled for the second time while Harrison still was getting set after his first. “Speed it up, Robby,” Rodriguez said. Behind the freshman, Moore, who in November hosted Harrison on his official visit, raised his arms as Harrison did, trying to get the freshman to match his movement. “Come on, Robby, push,” Moore said.
On Wednesday, this whole process had begun about 30 minutes earlier, before practice had officially started. As an observer, this is sometimes the most interesting part of Arizona State practice. Players enter the facility, put on pads and prepare to get started. Some visit with teammates. Others work on perfecting drills. As an assistant defensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings, Rodriguez learned the importance of this time. Players were more candid, willing to admit what they didn’t understand. At 10:10 a.m. Harrison sat down to put on his gear. Not a minute passed before Forman, the assistant defensive line coach, got the freshman’s attention.
“Robby! Robby!”
Another defensive player playfully mocked Forman’s command, speaking in a high-pitched nasal voice.
“Robby! Robby!”
Harrison grabbed his pads and followed Forman to the goal post on the far practice field. There, Forman started leading Harrison through a drill, using the goal post as an offensive lineman, working on footwork and hand placement. Although just a few years older, Forman had Harrison’s attention. After all, it was only three months earlier that Forman had played his last Arizona State game, returning from ankle and shoulder injuries to play in the Las Vegas Bowl against Wisconsin. Throughout his five-year career, Forman had not been a star, but he had been dependable, playing every position on the defensive line. Head coach Herm Edwards once referred to Forman as a “crescent wrench,” able to fit in anywhere, which made him perfect for coaching. Just two weeks in, and Forman already looked like a natural.
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“Let’s go, let’s go,” he said to Harrison.
The freshman stretched his left hand out and leaned on the goal post. He then took a giant step with his right foot, then moved his left leg and shoulder quickly past the goal post. “You got to go faster,” Forman said. Around them, two receivers caught punts. Kickers warmed up, kicking footballs over Harrison’s head through the goal post. Soon, Cooper, the junior end, joined Forman, watching Harrison slide past the goal post. “Keep that outside hand up,” Cooper told Harrison. Lambert, the senior end, and senior tackle Tautala Pesefea did the same, showing Harrison how to create separation.
This is something Rodriguez has noticed: The position coach has watched Harrison make mistakes, but before he can correct the freshman, five teammates have beat Rodriguez to the punch. This is culture. This is ownership. This is why Rodriguez insists these first two weeks of spring have been the most fun he’s had in three seasons at Arizona State. His guys are setting the standard. All along, Rodriguez’s goal is not to have one of the best defensive lines in the country but simply to have the best position group in the program. When people watch Arizona State this fall, Rodriguez wants fans to walk away thinking that no matter what happened, win or lose, the defensive line could be trusted to play winning football. To do that, however, the group must be united, and its pushing of Harrison, the youngest in the room, shows the Sun Devils are on the right path.
Back in front of the sleds, Harrison went through three reps beside Cooper, striking and pushing. Rodriguez walked over. The position coach says Harrison’s ceiling is high. In addition to strength, the freshman, a standout wrestler in high school, has toughness. The challenge is getting him adjusted to college. In high school, Harrison was bigger and stronger than the offensive linemen he faced. This will be different. Rodriguez dropped to his knees and placed his arms on the sled. He demonstrated the right technique, striking hard and lowering his backside, positioning himself to extend once the sled came back down.
“Try it again,” Rodriguez said. “You got it, baby.”
Working solo, Harrison struck the sled, arms extended, pausing to hold it up high.
“That feel good?” Rodriguez said.
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Harrison said yes. The entire defensive line watched behind him. Harrison struck again, but didn’t release fast enough. Rodriguez ordered another rep. “Get it all the way up — now come back down!” And another. And another. On the far end, senior end Michael Matus dropped and did a rep to help Harrison.
Rodriguez ordered two more on each hand. “Ready? Set … HIT.” Harrison sprung. “Ahh, BABY!” Rodriguez said. The freshman kept going, striking up, releasing quickly. “Here we go!” Rodriguez said. “Bring those hips!” Finished, Harrison stood. “Nice job,” Rodriguez said, patting Harrison on the helmet. Teammates clapped. Moore and Stansbury slapped the freshman on the shoulder pads.
Through the first couple practices, Harrison felt overwhelmed. With the help of teammates, the freshman from South Carolina is starting to find his way. And so, too, is Arizona State’s defensive line.
(Photo courtesy of Doug Haller)
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