Redshirt junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong attempts to receive a pass from redshirt sophomore quarterback Mike Bercovici. The Sun Devils lost to UCLA on Sept 25 at Sun Devil Stadium 62-27. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)Jaelen Strong is quiet on the sidelines before games. He goes about his warmups with an air of calm and focus.
He runs his routes, makes his catches and walks back to the line without much flair and without drawing much attention to himself.
For a player of Strong's caliber, that is a difficult thing to do.
Playing a position known for its divas, Strong strikes a very different figure. He doesn't yell or shout pre-game, his body language is collected and controlled and his eyes seem locked on to something in the distance. One can practically see the wheels spinning in his head, presumably reviewing his preparation for the game.
But once Strong gets on the field, he is anything but quiet.
Hailed as one of ASU's best receiving threats in recent memory and nationally regarded as a potential first round pick in the NFL draft, Strong is a star the size of which Tempe isn't used to.
After transferring to Tempe from junior college last season, Strong, a redshirt junior, exploded for 75 catches and 1,122 yards with seven touchdowns.
With his draft stock rising and pundits from around the country watching, Strong has started off the 2014 season with no signs of slowing down.
Through four games, he has 31 receptions for 412 yards and two touchdowns.
If he keeps up that pace, Strong will best his 2013 season in almost every category. On this trajectory, Strong will have 95 catches for 1,236 yards and six touchdowns over the course of the season.
Checking in at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Strong resembles the ideal size of many top NFL receiving threats.
In today's football world, big receivers who can create separation from smaller defensive backs are a hot commodity, and that's exactly Strong's speciality.
Redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly and Strong are famous for their patented back shoulder fade connection in which Strong uses his height to haul in passes thrown over the top of defenders.
When Kelly went down with injury and backup Mike Bercovici stepped in as starter, he used Strong as a security blanket.
Seemingly whenever Strong has one-on-one coverage, Bercovici looked his way.
And while the rest of the team struggled in what would amount to be a 35-point loss, Strong turned in one of his best games of the season, setting a season high with 12 catches and matching his season high for yardage with 146.
As a team, the Sun Devils are facing a pivotal turning point in their season. With upcoming games against USC and Stanford, ASU's Pac-12 season is on the line. Given the doubt surrounding Kelly's availability, the team will have to lean on its star.
Reach the sports editor at icbeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @ICBeck21
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