ASU Football: 'Summer of Legends' No. 3 Keith Poole

The Backstory: With 96 down and three to go, you might figure we've exhausted just about every Sun Devil legend you could possibly think of. But you're wrong. Arizona State's football tradition and history are so rich that our series counting down the best players to wear each jersey number doesn't even touch upon many Sun Devil greats.

At No. 3, we meet one of Arizona State's most storied receivers, but we also recall one of the best all-purpose threats and a standout cornerback in the Honorable Mentions section. Keith Poole did plenty to deserve the "legend" tag, but so did Rudy Burgess and Omar Bolden. All three players, and many others who wore No. 3 during their time at Arizona State helped build the program into what it is today.

Truth be told, it's disappointing to us that this series is nearing the end because we've only scratched the surface in documenting the careers of players who made this program great.

The Player: Keith Poole (1993-1996)

When Jake Plummer earned the starting quarterback job in the fall of 1993, the Idaho native was expected to lead Arizona State's resurgence. Plummer accomplished his goal, but he needed the help of one dynamic receiver to do so.

Though Keith Poole began his freshman season on the sidelines, it didn't take long for the California native to burst onto the scene as Plummer's go-to threat. In 1994, Poole became a full-time starter and developed a comfortable relationship with Plummer.

The following season turned out to be Poole's coming out party, as the Sun Devil wideout began his assault on the school record books. As a junior, Poole reeled in 55 receptions for 1,036 yards and seven touchdowns. No. 3 proved to be a difficult man to cover and that held true against some of the best teams in the country. Against Nebraska, Poole caught six passes for 200 yards which helped him average 18.6 yards per catch on the season.

Poole earned First Team All Pac-10 honors, but individual accomplishments were never enough for him. His goal was a Rose Bowl and he teamed up with Jake Plummer to help turn that dream into a reality. In Poole's senior season, he snagged 47 catches for 867 yards and upped his touchdown total to 11 on the season.

Arizona State rode the chemistry that Plummer and Poole developed to a Rose Bowl appearance, but suffered a devastating 20-17 loss at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Poole finished his career as one of the most prolific receivers in school history. His 140 career receptions rank eighth at Arizona State while his 2,691 yards put him fifth in that category. As a senior, Poole brought home Second Team All-American recognition and his second consecutive First Team All Pac-10 honor.

Honorable Mentions

Rudy Burgess: Burgess is a Sun Devil at heart and he's still with the program as an assistant coach. During his career he was an outstanding all-purpose threat and made All-Conference lists as both a running back and a wide receiver.

Omar Bolden: The Denver Broncos' defensive back became a shutdown corner during his days in Tempe and led the Sun Devils with three interceptions in the 2010 season. Bolden's best year came in 2008 when he earned Honorable Mention All-American recognition from CollegeFootballNews.com.