(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN)
In 1977, Jamaican reggae singer Peter Tosh released his second studio album titled “Equal Rights”. The album didn’t win any Grammys and was particularly critically acclaimed, but one song in it was considered by the New York Times one of the best of the year.
That song was titled Stepping Razor. It’s a declarative piece by Tosh in which he explores themes of banding together with his people to become a dangerous revolutionary group against the establishment. All this all woven on top of an undercurrent of an infectious and distinctive Jamaican reggae beat.
What does any of this have to do with Arizona State Football? Well, senior wideout Malik McClain sees Tosh’s main message mirrored within ASU’s receiving core.
The group is dangerous.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the song Stepping Razor,” McClain said, “It’s a razor on the ground, (and if) you step on it you might die. They got us on the ground right now and we’re a razor.”
But dangerous isn’t the only word to describe this receiving core ahead of its Week 1 matchup against Wyoming on Saturday night.
“Hungry,” redshirt senior receiver Xavier Guillory said. “We got guys that are hungry to come in and compete every day like it’s their last rep”
The receivers are one of, if not the most experienced position group on the roster with 102 total career games played between the seven of them.
The group will enter the 2024 season under the guidance of two-time NFL Super Bowl champion Hines Ward, who joined the ASU coaching staff as the receivers coach in late spring. Despite the wealth of experience present in the players, The 14-year NFL veteran has still had to instill a lot of wisdom about playing the position the right way, and in such a short time.
“I just don’t want them, when the games on the line, that they revert back to their old habits,” Ward said. “I’m trying to break the mold, being in the short time that I’ve been here just staying on their butts each and every day, and preaching about consistency.”
As the saying goes, old habits die hard, and that’s been the main struggle for this group ahead of the new season.
“When you get tired, you get fatigued,” Ward said. “You got to lean on your technique and fundamentals to overcome that. Sometimes, when you get tired, and you know you can go no more, you revert back to what’s normal. That’s something I’m trying to break the mold and break that tendency with these guys.”
The messages sent by their coach have been received and met with the competitive mindset from the receivers in the room as a whole to create that danger present in the group.
“We established a championship mindset,” Guillory said. “(We) got rid of the little playground habits that we had, and just recognized that tomorrow is not promised and every day we got to come out with that chip on our shoulder.”
The lethality of the group is measured by its diversity of skill sets from its likely two-deep of contributors. Both McClain and redshirt senior Troy Omeire stand above 6-foot 3-inches tall and will be jump-ball threats in the red zone as well on deep throws. Redshirt senior Jake Smith and graduate Melquan Stovall are both speedy slot receivers with solid hands. Guillory and redshirt sophomore Jordan Tyson both have notable end-line speed that ASU will use to try and take the top off of opposing defenses.
There’s a combination of talent present in Tempe now all the coaching staff has to do is find the right way to utilize it all correctly.
“We’ve got to create some packages,” Ward said. “Our job as coaches is to put these guys in the best position so they can make plays.”
After many months of camp, the focus has finally turned to game week. Wyoming looms around the corner and all the preparation and work up to this point will finally get its chance to materialize on the field. There’s maybe no one more excited — or nervous — for Saturday night at Mountain America stadium than their coach.
“Anxiety has already hit me,” Ward said. “I want to see what it’s like running out to the stadium in front of our Sun Devil family and crowd.”
Tens of thousands of fans will clamor in to watch their Sun Devil receiving core for the first time in 2024. As it sits with no games played the receivers have yet to be stepped on and challenged. However, let McClain tell it, and they’re more than prepared to be tested. The position group is ready to showcase just how dangerous they can be.
“The guys are ready,” McClain said. “I feel like the energy is great and everybody is locked in”
