Kind Hagan disturbs rivals
There might not be a more agreeable, friendly football player in the Pacific-10 Conference than Arizona State’s Derek Hagan.
He smiles, laughs, answers questions and even makes sure there isn’t anything else he can do for you.
Most defensive coaches, though, don’t find Hagan agreeable at all, because the talented wide receiver makes sure he can do everything for the Sun Devils’ offense.
One coach that isn’t anxious about meeting Hagan this Saturday is Washington defensive backs coach Steven Wilks.
“He’s an outstanding receiver, maybe best the we’ve seen all year … and that’s saying a lot,” Wilks said.
The problem, though, is that not many coaches thought that way in 2002.
ASU coach Dirk Koetter and an assistant were viewing prospects’ highlight tapes when Koetter accidentally discovered Hagan.
Koetter remembers being enamored with the kid going head to head with the recruit he was supposed to be watching.
“I like this guy, but I like this other guy better. Who is he?” Koetter recalled asking his assistant. “Call him and see if we can set up a visit.”
Hagan had already orally committed to UNLV, but he’ll never forget getting the call from the Pac-10 coach.
“How can you pass up the Pac-10? That’s what you want, right?” he said.
Hagan lined up a visit, loved Koetter’s throw-first mentality and committed on the spot. It was his only scholarship offer from a Pac-10 team, he said.
Since then, Hagan has torn apart nearly every one of those teams that slighted him.
“I think of that all the time,” he said of the jilt. “I just look at it like I’m holding a grudge. Watch out!”
The preseason All-American (as named by four different publications) owns almost every ASU receiving record. He has the most receptions (227) and yards (3,444), and he needs one more touchdown to break the team mark of 25.
Hagan is all over the Pac-10 record book, too, ranking fifth in catches, fourth in yards and tied for eighth in touchdowns.
“I never expected the records, but as long as you’re working hard all the time, anything can happen,” he said.
This season, Hagan has 46 receptions for 715 yards and six touchdowns. He is projected as a late first-round selection in the 2006 NFL draft.
Notes
Coach Tyrone Willingham said that tailback Louis Rankin (turf toe) will likely be out of Saturday’s game, leaving the starting duty up in the air. Kenny James left last Saturday’s game with a sore groin, but he practiced at full speed all week. James Sims rushed 10 times for 24 yards as he got most of the carries in last week’s game. Fullback Ty Eriks (knee) is also doubtful. … The Huskies spent the week practicing in the Dempsey Indoor facility in preparation for the warm climate of Tempe, Ariz. … Willingham said that cornerback Matt Fountaine, who was suspended last week for violating an undisclosed team rule, returned to practice this week with a good attitude. … Durrell Moss will start at cornerback opposite of Roy Lewis, but Willingham said the Huskies will employ a lot of nickel and dime packages to counter the Sun Devils’ four-receiver package.