To be sure, there were skeptics when Herm Edwards took over the Arizona State football program this year. He hadn’t coached in nine years, and his eight-year regular-season record as an NFL head coach was 54-74.

It didn’t help that ASU’s athletic director, Ray Anderson, formerly the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, was once Edwards’ agent.

But the Sun Devils (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) have a win over then-No. 15 Michigan State and have taken conference heavyweights Washington and Colorado down to the wire.

On Thursday night, ASU hosts Stanford (4-2, 2-1) as both teams are coming off bye weeks. The Cardinal will have to contend with the two-pronged threat of tailback Eno Benjamin and wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

The former ranks sixth in the nation in rushing yards per game (119.2); he had 312 against Oregon State, admittedly a weak defense. Harry, who stands 6-foot-4, is one of the top receivers in the country and a dangerous punt returner.

“It’s really the combination of those two guys that really makes this a strong football team,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said.

Stanford (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12) at ASU (3-3, 1-2) Where: Tempe, Ariz. When: 6 p.m. Thursday TV/Radio: ESPN/1050 Story lines: After back-to-back losses, Stanford needs a win in the worst way. To get it, it will need to stoke up its ground game, whether Bryce Love plays or not. ASU is traditionally tough at home, and now the Sun Devils have an inspirational head coach in Herm Edwards. He was known for his conservative play-calling as a head coach in the NFL. For the Sun Devils, he has gambled on some fourth-down calls. Injuries: Stanford — WR Connor Wedington (undisclosed), S Ben Edwards (und.) and G Foster Sarell (leg) are out. G Nate Herbig (und.) and RB Bryce Love (ankle) are questionable. Arizona State — LB Koron Crump (knee) is out. LB Jay Jay Wilson (ankle) is questionable. LB Malik Lawal (undisclosed), QB Manny Wilkins (leg) and WR N’Keal Harry (ankle) are probable. WHAT TO WATCH FOR The Sun Devils were the victims of Love’s school-record 301 rushing yards and 3 TDs when Stanford won 34-24 last season. The Cardinal have given up only seven touchdown passes. Their secondary will try to contain Wilkins, who has thrown for 1,446 yards and 11 TDs with only one interception. ASU has committed just two turnovers, fewest in the nation. Stanford committed four in just its last game. — Tom FitzGerald

Read More

Then there’s much improved quarterback Manny Wilkins, the San Marin-Novato grad who has thrown for 11 touchdowns with just one interception. He’s “not going to be surprised by anything we do,” Shaw said. “He’s seen a lot of football. He is composed, comfortable and confident.”

According to Shaw, the Sun Devils “fought and scrapped at the end of the Michigan State game” (a 16-13 decision), and he said that’s a tribute to Edwards.

The 64-year-old head coach played at Monterey High School, Cal (for two years), Monterey Peninsula College and San Diego State. He was not drafted — probably because he wasn’t blessed with burning speed — but played defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles for nine years, making 33 career interceptions. He played briefly for the Rams and Falcons before retiring.

As a player he was best known for a play known as “The Miracle at the Meadowlands” in 1978. The Giants led the Eagles 17-12, and Philadelphia had no timeouts left. Instead of taking a knee in the final seconds, Joe Pisarcik tried a handoff to Larry Csonka. The ball came loose, and Edwards returned it 26 yards for a touchdown and a 19-17 win.

Edwards’ first coaching job was on the San Jose State staff. He went on to coach the New York Jets for five years (2001-05)and the Kansas City Chiefs for three (2006-08). The Chiefs went 6-26 during his final two years.

He spent nine years as a pro football analyst with ESPN, and his energy and intensity made him well known to NFL fans. He kept his hand in coaching by working the Under Armour All-America Game, a showcase of top high school players.

He took over an ASU program that over the previous three years had averaged six wins a season under Todd Graham, who was fired.

Edwards, who puts in his own daily workouts at 5 a.m. at Sun Devil Stadium, briefly had ASU in the Top 25. After ASU beat Michigan State, it was ranked No. 23 before losing the next Saturday to San Diego State.

To nobody’s surprise, he preaches aggressiveness. “I am really big on attacking the football as a defender,” he said this week. “I have always said that when the ball leaves the quarterback’s hands, it does not belong to the offense. It has no one’s name on it. You have to be confident enough to play the ball.

“I see that in football in general that most guys are not confident. They do not play the ball; they play the man. When you have the ability to play the ball, you have to play the ball.”

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald