Michael Jones has not been fully healthy during much of the ASU football team’s fall camp, but the senior wide receiver was back in familiar form by its conclusion.

Despite battling a stomach virus, Jones was ASU’s leading receiver in Thursday night’s scrimmage, catching four balls for 57 yards, including a leaping 32-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

“I hope I can get that virus,” Carpenter said. “I love Mike.
“He works hard, gives everything he has all the time, especially in practice.”

Jones also missed practice time, including the Sun Devils’ scrimmage at Camp Tontozona on Aug. 16 because of a concussion.

The receiving corps is an area that has been hit the hardest by injuries during training camp.

Junior Chris McGaha has not suited up in almost two weeks because he aggravated the sore toe he had surgery on during the spring.

ASU coach Dennis Erickson said he expects McGaha to return to practice Monday and be ready for the season opener against Northern Arizona University on Saturday.

Fellow receivers senior Nate Kimbrough (eye) and junior Brandon Smith (hamstring) also sat out Thursday’s scrimmage.

Younger players on the depth chart are getting a look-see as a result.

Sophomore Kerry Taylor started the scrimmage in place of McGaha, and junior Kyle Williams and redshirt freshman T.J. Simpson saw action with the first team.

“The young guys like Kerry and Kyle get to step up when we’re not there,” Jones said. “They get that time in with Rudy, so when we come back [the whole receiving corps will] be that much better.”

Many freshman players are also getting a chance because of injury.

Other players that sat out Thursday’s scrimmage include senior safety Rodney Cox (back), redshirt freshman defensive end James Brooks (ankle), redshirt freshman center Garth Gerhart (ankle) and junior running back Shaun DeWitty (hamstring).

Sophomore Max Tabach started in place of the injured Cox at safety.

Erickson said that he plans to announce which freshmen will play this season and which ones will redshirt Monday.

“If they’re [practicing] with the second team, [there’s] probably a pretty good chance they’re going to be playing,” Erickson said.

Freshmen that have shown in practice that they are in the mix for immediate playing time include wide receiver Gerell Robinson, defensive end Lawrence Guy, cornerback Josh Jordan, guard Zach Schlink, safety Clint Floyd, linebackers Shelly Lyons and Brandon Magee and running back Ryan Bass.

No more ‘Camp T’

Sunday’s short practice not only marked the end of the preseason, but also the end of the beginning of a new era of ASU football training camp.

This fall was the first time in almost 50 years that the Sun Devils did not travel to Camp Tontozona, a University-owned property just outside of Payson for all of their preseason workouts. Instead, they made the trip north for only one scrimmage Aug. 16.

“To be honest, I thought it was great [to not go to Tontozona],” Jones said. “I’ve been up there four times now . . . and it’s been rough being away from your family. [It was] no phones, no TV, just football all day long every day.”

Erickson made the decision to stay in Tempe for training camp to allow the Sun Devils to utilize their new indoor practice facility, a bubble-like structure located next to the Kajikawa practice field.

“It has nothing to do with Tontozona at all,” Erickson said. “We really feel that we have one of the best indoor facilities in the country.
We’ve got so much room, more than any of the places I’ve been as far as practice facilities are concerned.”

The Sun Devils practiced in the bubble during the late afternoon portions of two-a-days and during monsoon storms. They will practice outside at night during the season but will continue to use the indoor facility for afternoon practices and during bad weather.

Reach the reporter at gina.mizell@asu.edu