TEMPE – At just 5-feet-9 and 185 pounds, Arizona State sophomore wide receiver Derek Eusebio is easy to miss among the giants on a football field.
He doesn’t possess the loudest voice on the field, nor does he bring a physically imposing presence that forces defenses to keep him on their radar. Yet, when Eusebio has received opportunities to make an impact, he’s delivered.
The latest example came against Baylor last Saturday when the Bears’ defense seemed to lose sight of him. On third-and-13, the former walk-on slithered into the secondary untouched and streaked down the middle of the field for a wide-open 61-yard reception late in the fourth quarter.
His crucial catch helped secure a hard-fought 27-24 victory over Baylor, which moved ASU to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 conference play heading into the squad’s Friday night home game against No. 24 TCU.
The first one to greet Eusebio after his long catch-and-run?
His roommate, junior wideout Jordyn Tyson, who, with a wide grin, picked Eusebio off the turf and pressed his facemask up against Eusebio’s helmet, screaming with joy.
“Seeing him getting his shot and him maximizing it, that means the world to me,” Tyson told reporters after the win.
“I was running to get the block just because it was him. Just having him on the field with me, it means a lot. He works his tail off, he doesn’t quit, he doesn’t complain when he doesn’t get the ball or is not playing.”
With the game still in the balance, ASU coach Kenny Dillingham didn’t opt to take his former walk-on off the field. Instead, the Sun Devils went back to Eusebio with two rushes in their game-winning drive. He finished the night with a team-leading 78 receiving yards on two receptions to pair with an additional 11 rushing yards.
It’s a testament to the amount of trust the third-year player has garnered.
“You know what, we can trust this dude. Let’s keep playing him,” said Dillingham, describing his thought process in the fourth quarter. “However, we’ve got to do it. Let’s underthink the coaching and overthink the player. It’s a player’s game, so we just said, ‘How do we get him the ball?’”
The Plano, Texas, native earned that trust by toiling away in practice for nearly three seasons. As a walk-on, he scrapped and clawed on every rep to slowly trek up the depth chart from the practice squad to now a player who frequently mixes in with the first team.
That hunger hasn’t escaped Eusebio despite his breakout game.
During an 11-on-11 practice period in the week leading to the team’s game against TCU, a pass slipped through his hands, fluttering to the grass for an incomplete pass. Profusely shaking his head in disappointment, Eusebio trotted over to the sideline, pressed his chest against the ground and began doing pushups. For him, making plays is the standard.
“I will never forget being a walk-on,” Eusebio said. “I’ve been underestimating my whole life. … All these guys around me have that dog in them, too. I’m not going to lower my average just because I’m a walk-on. I play right next to them.”
Nothing has come easy for him, especially when it comes to finding playing time. Despite making strong strides in spring and fall camp, he didn’t have a chance to record his first career reception until Week 14 of last season.
“I was kind of getting frustrated for a little bit,” Eusebio said. “Just like dang, I want my shot.”
When he did get his first chance to see the field, he seized his opportunity.
After snatching his first career catch, a screen pass, he weaved through defenders using his nimble frame to duck behind his blockers ahead and find the end zone for a 64-yard touchdown reception.
The following Monday, he received news that every walk-on dreams of hearing: He had been put on scholarship.
“It was amazing,” Eusebio said. “It was (at) the Monday meeting right after (the game against) UofA,” Eusebio said. “(Dillingham) just said it in the team meeting and everyone just went crazy.
It had finally come full circle for Eusebio, who decided to take a leap of faith by walking onto the program. With no substantial offers out of Parish Episcopal High School, former ASU wide receivers coach Ra’Shaad Samples was one of the only people who saw potential in Eusebio to play at the Division I level.
“Looking back at it, it feels so long (ago),” Eusebio said. “We’re here 11 months a year, so it feels like forever. … It’s been a long process. I’ve just been grinding. I’m grateful for all the coaches. My development’s been amazing.”
Looking ahead, Eusebio hopes to carve out a role in an ASU offense that is still searching for its footing. The Sun Devils welcome a TCU defense that ranks just 101st against the pass (246 yards per game), which also places it last in the Big 12.
And with junior wide receiver Jalen Moss once again ruled out for Friday night’s contest, the coaching staff will likely turn to Eusebio to fill a vacancy at the slot position.
“I want people who will play as hard as they possibly (can) play and that we can trust will be where they’re supposed to be and do what they’re supposed to do,” Dillingham said. “And that’s somebody (Eusebio) who will do all those things.”
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
