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ASU Football: Two Late Additions to 2016 Recruiting Class

By Hunter Robinson

Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham coaches against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the 2016 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. The Mountaineers won 43-42. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham coaches against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the 2016 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. The Mountaineers won 43-42. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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ASU Football continued to strengthen an already deep recruiting class following the signings of Frank Darby and Bryson Echols.

These additions allow the Sun Devils to add much-needed depth at wide receiver and cornerback, two positions that were liabilities in 2015.

Darby is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound wide receiver out of Lincoln High School in Jersey City, N.J. Darby was considered a three-star recruit and was also considering Rutgers and Boston College before ultimately deciding on Arizona State University.

His primary skills are reliable hands and athleticism.  He is one of four wide receivers signed in ASU’s 2016 recruiting class.

Echols is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback graduate transfer from the University of Texas. Echols took part in 32 games while at Texas with one of those appearances as a starter.

Out of high school, Echols was considered a four-star recruit and was a top 25 recruit in Texas’ 2012 class. His strengths are his play-making abilities and ability to play in man coverage.

Echols is one of three cornerbacks the Sun Devils signed in 2016.

Darby is a nice addition for ASU but he won’t have an immediate impact. He could burst onto the scene towards the end of the season due to player injuries or certain matchup situations.

His reliability will make him a good receiver to use in the red zone or in short yardage situations, and his athleticism will allow him to make plays in situations where others couldn’t.

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Echols will bring veteran leadership to a unit that struggled mightily last season. ASU has 11 defensive backs on the roster and none of them are seniors.

Echols will help develop and mentor some of the younger players while he will also have a chance to become the top cornerback for the Sun Devils.

Overall these are two signings that bolster two positions where depth is always crucial.

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