Redshirt D-Day
August 22nd, 2007, 11:09 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
Jonathan English
The Arizona State coaching staff is expected to decide which true freshmen will play this season during a meeting on Thursday morning.
Receiver Kerry Taylor and cornerback Omar Bolden have long been sure bets to stay off the redshirt list, with a pair of defensive linemen, tackle Jonathan English and end James Brooks, figured to go either way. The smart money is on English playing immediately, with ASU using Brooks in 2007 only if he is needed due to a desperate injury or poor-performance situation.
English is listed at 335 pounds, but Erickson said that the Kenner, La., resident has lost weight and increased his mobility since arriving on campus. During Wednesday’s scrimmage at Kajikawa Practice Facility, English received healthy playing time with the second-team defense.
“He’s getting better. He can help us,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “Jonathan is just about down to his regular playing weight, and he might be our fourth tackle.”
Michael Marquardt and David Smith are the starting DTs, with English, Jon Hargis, Alex Asi and Tashaka Merriweather the projected reserves. Redshirt freshman Saia Falahola (triceps) should return the third or fourth week of the season.
Brooks has displayed impressive athleticism, especially during practices at Camp Tontozona. However, the emergence of converted tight end Dane Guthrie at DE lessens the urgency for Brooks to play right away.
Although Luis Vasquez (high ankle sprain) will likely miss the season opener against San Jose State, the Sun Devils could utilize a defensive end rotation of Guthrie, Dexter Davis, Kellen Mills, Wes Evans and Paul Unga while Brooks gains experience and confidence on the scout team. (It is possible that Eric Tanner could return from a knee injury before the San Jose State game, further stocking the DE corps).
Bolden said that he and the other true freshmen chosen to play this year will not be satisfied with just getting on the field.
“(The freshmen) tell each other all the time that we have to keep working, because we want to be part of the first team,” Bolden said. “Freshmen, sophomores, whatever, we’re trying to help the team compete for a national championship like everyone else.”
For ultimate Sun Devil football data junkies, here are the numbers from the Wednesday scrimmage, as best compiled by myself and two other reporters. These are very unofficial:
SCORING PLAYS: Torain 56 run; FG Weber 47; Barrett 40 interception return; FG Richards 47; FG Richards 28; FG Weber 40; FG Weber 22
RUSHING: Torain 3 for 62, TD; Woods 3 for 31; P. Jones 7 for 24; Herring 5 for 21; DeWitty 4 for 20; Szakacsy 2 for 7; Carpenter 1 for minus-2
PASSING: Carpenter 2-of-10 for 50, INT; Sullivan 7-of-15 for 48; Szakacsy 8-of-13 for 92, INT
RECEIVING: Taylor 4 for 35; Gray 3 for 49; K. Williams 1 for 41; DeWitty 1 for 24; Simpson 1 for 15; Glass 1 for 9; Miller 1 for 9; J. Williams 1 for 4; Conrad 1 for 3; Evbuomwan 1 for 3; P. Jones 1 for minus-1; Woods 1 for minus-1
MISSED FIELD GOALS: Richards 30
DEFENSIVE SUPERLATIVES: Anderson (sack); Asi (sack); Barrett (sack, interception); Nenaber (interception)
