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ASU Football: 'All-Sun Devils first team' wide receivers

The Catch. No caption necessary

The Catch, the records and the 1997 Rose Bowl. The All-Sun Devils first team of wide receivers has no shortage of history, as all three provided great memories for the maroon and gold faithful.

John Jefferson: He made "The Catch" in 1975. That alone would be enough to make the first team, but everything else he did at school makes him one of the best Sun Devils ever, regardless of position.

He was a consensus All-American in 1977, only the second Sun Devil at the time to ever receive the honor. That year he caught 53 passes for eight touchdowns, and even added a rushing touchdown. He was All-Western Athletic Conference that year, as he did in 1975 when he set a personal best with 921 yards.

He graduated with the Arizona State record for receptions (183) and receiving yards (2,937), records that stood until the early 2000s. He was drafted 14th overall in the first round by the San Diego Chargers in 1978 and made the NFL All-Rookie team. He was inducted into Arizona State's Hall of Fame in 1979.

Derek Hagan: And Jefferson's records were broken by Hagan. He topped 1,000 yards in all three seasons after his freshman campaign, and his 258 receptions, 3,939 career receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in the air are best all-time in Arizona State history. His receptions are also third in Pac-12 history.

He spent 2002-05 in Tempe collecting more passes than anyone before him or since. The Miami Dolphins took Hagan with the their third round pick, 82nd overall, in 2006. He is not currently in the Sun Devil Hall of Fame, but take a look at his numbers- he won't be out for much longer.

Keith Poole: He was one half of arguably the most popular quarterback-receiver combo in Arizona State history. Poole and Jake Plummer led the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl in 1997, after an 11-1 season in which they shut out No. 1 Nebraska.

Poole led the Pac-10 in yards per reception in 1994 and 1995, and spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons atop the Pac-12 leader board in touchdowns, while his 11 touchdowns in 1996 were sixth-best in the nation. He caught 25 touchdowns in his career (second in Arizona State history) and rushed for three more.

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.


Honorable mention Rod TidwellHe's a Sun Devil, man!