McFoy Coming Full Circle

I got to talk to senior S Ryan McFoy for about 15 minutes in early August before fall camp really got started.

At one point, I asked the SoCal native what it felt like to have to play basically every position on defense but lineman over the past three seasons in Tempe.

He kind of laughed before answering, but I think he knew I was serious about the question. He made note of the fact that while it was tough to keep having to transition from position to position, he felt like it was making him a better, more well-rounded player.

Two games into 2009, that work is paying off.

McFoy got significant time, including eight starts, during his 2006 freshman season. We saw him a lot as an extra deep safety in nickel packages but it wasn’t uncommon to see him move up closer to the line of scrimmage because of his raw speed.

However, he never quite looked comfortable early in his career having to play bump-and-run coverage. That led the coaching staff, due to a glut of talent at safety and a lack of depth at linebacker, to shift him down into the front 7. McFoy didn’t start at all during the 10-win 2007 season. He struggled to find his place in the LB corps and found himself more often than not getting more special teams duty than anything.

That season also saw his tackling stats cut in half. For the most part, he looked lost and almost without a role.

However, his redevelopment as a player started last year. He got his first start at the WILL against Northern Arizona and played in every game. His stats began to pick up but, more importantly, he just looked more confident. Ryan’s footwork began to solidify and he seemed to have a better handle on where the ball was going at all times.

This past off-season, with the departure of Troy Nolan and Rodney Cox at safety and a glut of talent at linebacker, McFoy once again found himself moving positions. He was headed back to the deep backfield, but this time, he wasn’t a freshman.

Playing safety is a fine art. It takes intense concentration on every skill position player on offense. You have to know where the quarterback is looking, where your corners need extra assistance and which receivers are running which routes. It’s a classic head-on-a-swivel position that initially may have overwhelmed McFoy.

So far this season, you can tell a clear and tangible difference in his attitude. He has almost got a swagger out there. It all comes with confidence and simply knowing what he’s doing. Having all that experience at different positions is clearly helping him as well, as McFoy has been able to pick up his teammates in the front seven when needed.

Beyond his on-field performance, it takes a strong-minded player to deal with the ups and downs and changes McFoy has gone through since arriving in Tempe. His leadership potential and willingness to do whatever it takes to help Arizona State win makes him a key piece in what is quickly becoming one of the most feared defensive units Arizona State has boasted in decades.

He may not be as flashy or physical as Troy Nolan, but he’s doing the trick so far in 2009.

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