LOCAL WATCH: HAGAN A FINE CATCH FOR ASU FORMER STAR AT PALMDALE PLAYING LIKE PRO WIDEOUT AS SUN DEVILS SOPHOMORE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

When Derek Hagan arrived in Tempe, Ariz., for his freshman year at Arizona State, he had no interest in redshirting, as most first-year players do.

Now Hagan, who played at Palmdale High, is a veteran receiver for the Sun Devils. Forget that he just turned 19 on Sept. 21.

``I'm not used to sitting on the bench. I was going to play right away,'' said Hagan, who is second on the team with 12 receptions entering today's game against No. 10 USC at Sun Devil Stadium. ``I knew if I came out here and worked hard I'd have a chance to play.''

After giving Nevada Las Vegas an oral commitment before Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter made a late offer, Hagan stepped into a receiver's dream. The Sun Devils employ multiple-receiver sets and throw the ball often.

And Hagan, jockeying for playing time behind eventual NFL draft pick Shaun McDonald, squeezed in 32 catches for 405 yards to break College Football Hall of Famer John Jefferson's freshman school reception record.

``He's a football player, and that's the most important part of it. As a football player he attacks the game,'' receivers coach Darryl Jackson said. ``It does take a special individual to rise up and be able to play as a true freshman. There aren't too many across the country who can not only play but contribute.''

Hagan, who caught 65 passes as a Palmdale senior, had a fearless approach to running across the field to chase passes from ASU's standout quarterback Andrew Walter. He fit in perfectly with what the Sun Devils hope to accomplish.

``Coach Koetter's offense is the best offense a wide receiver could hope to play for,'' Hagan said. ``We run four-wide-receiver sets with Andrew at quarterback. We throw the ball downfield, and that's what I want to be a part of.''

Hagan has blazing speed and a graceful stride, gifts that made him the region's top triple jumper and a Southern Section champion as a Falcons senior.

He's 6-foot-1, 192 pounds and can take a pounding from defensive backs.

``As a sophomore, Derek was about 5-10, 120 pounds. But he grew about six inches and gained about 25 pounds,'' Palmdale coach Jeff Williams said. ``He started out as a little scrawny guy and grew into a real good football player.''

Hagan scored his first collegiate touchdown in the opener against Northern Arizona - ``There's always someone telling me: ``You had 32 catches and zero touchdowns'' - and added a second in Saturday's 45-17 loss at Oregon State.

That was the Sun Devils' second consecutive lopsided loss as a ranked team (they fell 21-2 at Iowa the previous week). Now bumped from the Top 25 and struggling offensively, Arizona State must regroup against the Trojans, who will be out to regain whatever luster they lost in their loss at California last week.

``We're going to click sooner or later,'' Hagan said.

Staff writer Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com

DEREK HAGAN FILE

School: Arizona State

Year: Sophomore

Position: Receiver

Local tie: Palmdale High

Quote: ``He wasn't a legitimate player until he started hitting the weights. ... He always had the athletic ability, and once his body started catching up to what was going on in his head, he became a real good prospect.''

- Palmdale coach Jeff Williams

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Arizona State's Derek Hagan broke the school's freshman receptions record (32) last season and is picking up right where he left off.

Box:

DEREK HAGAN FILE (see text)