TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State freshman running back Demario Richard has supplied plenty of reasons to be impressed lately -- be it the power with which he runs, the way he finds holes to run through or his pass catching.
But perhaps more impressive than all that: Richard is still only 17 years old.
ASU's youngest player, Richard has adjusted quickly to the college level and has recently become one of the key cogs in the Sun Devils' offensive attack.
"It's hard for a young man that's 17 or 18 years old to come in here and do that," ASU coach Todd Graham said. "I'm really proud of his mental maturity and his toughness. That's the thing that has really impressed me -- his durability and toughness. We knew he was a great back, and he's really done well."
In a crowded backfield led by junior D.J. Foster, Richard's role has grown gradually. Through ASU's first six games, Richard ran the ball 19 times for 110 yards. He didn't play against USC.
Over the last three games, Richard has rushed 36 times for 220 yards. Against Notre Dame, Richard accounted for 101 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came on back-to-back catches for 44 total yards to give ASU a 41-31 lead.
"I was just doing what I was coached to do," Richard said. "I just did what I was supposed to do. It was nothing surprising. A clutch moment, but nothing surprising."
That ASU would go to Richard in such a moment as it fought to maintain a lead that had dwindled from 34-3 speaks to the confidence the coaches have in the young back and his improved grasp of the offensive system.
"Our offense is mentally challenging at times," running backs coach Bo Graham said. "I think probably five weeks ago he was frustrated and didn't understand what he was doing, but the past few weeks its started make more sense to him and he's more comfortable."
Richard, a product of Palmdale (Calif.) High, brings a dynamic to ASU's backfield Foster and seniors Deantre Lewis and Kyle Middlebrooks don't. That trio is more explosiveness, speed and shiftiness, where Richard is more of a power back who can drag defenders an extra few yards or break through a tackler.
Fellow freshman Kalen Ballage brings some of the same dynamic, but Ballage is nearly half a foot taller than Richard, who's listed at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds.
"I think he's the guy that's hardest to tackle," Bo Graham said. "He's shorter, so he's got a lower center of gravity. I think his strength is his lower body. So he's going to force you to tackle him, and I think what you see is the yards after contact. There were a couple plays the last game where he was wrapped up at the line and just ran through a tackle."
As for his youth, Graham says Richard has room to grow. He has made mistakes but rarely made the same one twice. He's a work in progress when it comes to pass protection, route running, reading defenses and communication.
But Richard hasn't seemed to struggle much adjusting to the rigors of Division I football or being the youngest player on the team. He won't turn 18 until Dec. 2.
"All my life I've been hanging with the older guys," Richard said. "I've never really hung out with people my age."
That, Richard said, gave him a head start on the dos and don'ts of the football field. At ASU, Richard has a strong example to watch in Foster, who himself contributed right away as a freshman and is now the clear leader of the group.
"It's helped me a lot more than I expected it to," Richard said. "I take stuff from him, and he takes stuff from me, so we're all helping each other. He's teaching me. He's like an on-the-field coach."
Said Foster of Richard after ASU's 55-31 over Notre Dame: "He's the yin to my yang. I'm so proud of that kid. I've seen him grow so much since he's got here. It's unbelievable to see his growth and what he's doing each week for this team."
Richard says it's not hard staying patient for more opportunities. He just doesn't think about it.
"I'm just waiting on my time and learning the plays," Richard said. "When my time comes I'll know what to do and what not to do."
It seemed inevitable Todd Graham would be asked this week about the possibility of a letdown against Oregon State this week after such a big win against Notre Dame, but it was nothing new for him.
"Everybody asks me that every week all year long," Graham said. "I think these players understand and are very humble. They also respect the opponents they're playing.
"If you want to win a championship, you've got to go play every week, and that is a challenge, but we are playing our best football. There are absolutely no excuses. We know we're facing, in my opinion, one of the best football coaches in the Pac-12."
-- After dealing with leg cramping in the second half against Notre Dame, receiver Jaelen Strong practiced without limitation Tuesday. Safety Jordan Simone, who suffered a "stinger" in the game, practiced in a limited-contact jersey, but Graham said his issue was nothing serious.
-- Junior nose tackle Jaxon Hood remains absent from practice as he tends to "personal issues." Sophomore Viliami Latu started in Hood's place against Notre Dame.
Â-- Senior quarterback Taylor Kelly has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Senior CLASS Award and one of 12 semifinalists the Wuerffel Trophy. The Senior CLASS Award honors student athletes that excel in four areas: Community, classroom, character and competition. The Wuerffel Trophy honors exemplary community service.
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