Despite ASU football being 1-2 heading into Pac-12 play, Manny Wilkins is having a great beginning to the season.
Through three games this season, Wilkins is sporting a quarterback rating of 61.8. That’s good enough for No. 51 in the nation, and No. 6 in the Pac-12. Add in the fact that he hasn’t thrown an interception while passing for 924 yards and seven touchdowns and it is easy to see that he isn’t the problem on this team.
In the game against Texas Tech, Arizona State got back into the game thanks to Wilkins’ arm. When he has taken shots downfield, good things have happened. It is when the offense focuses too much on running the ball that things start to get dicey.
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With Pac-12 play starting this weekend, it is clear what the Sun Devils need to do if they want to compete, throw the ball. Wilkins has shown poise in the pocket, the ability to take a hit, and a high enough IQ to make the right decisions with the ball.
If he has the chance to take more shots down field then there is a great chance that Arizona State can turn their season around.
Overall, this team has issues, but Wilkins isn’t one of those problems. He is the solution.
Challenges have been put in Wilkins’ way and he has delivered. He led ASU to a 5-0 record last season when everyone was calling for Brady White to start.
He beat out Blake Barnett, one of the top transfers in the nation, for the starting quarterback job this off-season, and he has put the Sun Devils in positions to win every game they have played so far this season. It has been other areas of the team that haven’t delivered, but Wilkins isn’t to blame.
When fans look at Arizona State’s 1-2 record entering Pac-12 play, they have good reason to be concerned.
The Pac-12 is fighting for the right to be called the best football conference in the nation and they have the title of having the best quarterback play in the nation.
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Issues on defense and an over-zealous approach to running the ball may end up dooming the Sun Devils this year, but as long as Wilkins is the quarterback that is one position Arizona State doesn’t have to worry about.