Junior tight end Chris Coyle carries the ball downfield during the Sun Devils’ 45-14 win over Illinois on Saturday. (Photo by Sam Rosenbaum)ASU junior tight end Chris Coyle was practically useless last season.
A tight end in Noel Mazzone’s offense is about as pointless as NCAA rule 3-3-10: If a player’s helmet comes completely off, he must leave the game for the next down.
That all changed under coach Todd Graham.
For a school that proudly boasts alums like Todd Heap and Zach Miller currently in the NFL, Coyle’s performance in the Sun Devils’ 45-14 victory over Illinois put him in the same light Saturday.
Coyle finished with 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns — all career-highs.
He surpassed last year’s totals in one game. Coyle had six catches for 73 yards his sophomore season.
“It was a great night tonight,” Coyle said. “I just tried to catch everything they threw my way. Both these guys (redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly and redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Eubank) threw a lot of passes to me, and I just tried to make as many plays possible for the Sun Devils.”
Coyle was Kelly’s go-to option throughout fall camp. Whether it’s as the lead block or the first read on a pass play, his H-back position is utilized on almost every single play under offensive coordinator Mike Norvell.
That wasn’t the case during the Dennis Erickson days. The majority of his playing time came on special teams. On offense, he was used sparingly on offense as a tight end, fullback and slot receiver.
No wonder he was satisfied with just two catches against NAU last week.
“I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t think about transferring for a little while,” Coyle said. “That was one of those situations where I was told to have patience. I even went in and talked to Coach Erickson about it. He said just wait around and good things will happen for you.”
Those experiences led up to this moment Saturday. He spent his time on the sidelines gaining mental reps. Coyle watched and learned from former wide receiver Gerell Robinson and former tight end Trevor Kohl during practice.
Coyle said his patience came to a climax at the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, when Boise State embarrassed ASU 56-24. With a new coaching staff on campus, Coyle took it as a new start.
“They’re (the coaching staff) tough on us, but it’s great because I’ve been about discipline my whole life,” Coyle said. “I was missing that discipline these past couple of years. It’s good to have it back out here and it’s really helping us as a team grow and go to the next level.”
He came out in the spring to prove to this staff he’d be the perfect fit for the H-back spot. Coyle’s versatility at the position was on display Saturday, which made it easy to see why Kelly and Eubank consistently rave about him.
“He’s been like this ever since he’s been here,” Kelly said. “We really haven’t utilized him. He’s really disciplined and really smart. You can count on him if it’s 3rd and 6 to beat his guy, get to the right depth and catch the ball.”
Coyle can’t even remember the last time he had 10 receptions in a game, which matched the most Miller caught in a game as a Sun Devil. Coyle has now caught more than Heap (eight) did in one game.
Erickson’s advice has finally come to fruition.
“Because I had patience, I ended up in the perfect situation,” Coyle said.
Reach the reporter at mtesfats@asu.edu
