As the ASU sideline became a triage of offensive lineman last Saturday in Georgia, big-ole No. 79, an insurance policy of sorts, gave new meaning to the term “in good hands.”

Brent Good, a senior walk-on transfer from Holy Cross in 2007, came on in the second half against UGA at right guard in replacement of sophomore Matt Hustad and played so well that coach Dennis Erickson decided to give him a scholarship.

“I put him on scholarship for nothing other than his dedication to the game,” Erickson said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. He’s a guy who it’s important to him to play well and for us to win.”

At 6 feet 2 inches and 342 pounds, Good is a renowned weight room junkie and helped create running creases for senior Dimitri Nance to go along with protecting senior quarterback Danny Sullivan in his first critical playing time in an ASU uniform.

“He is a big, strong guy and he has a huge heart,” Erickson said. “He plays his rear-end off. When you’re a walk-on and all of a sudden you’re starting the second half against the University of Georgia on the road … He did a commendable job.”

Good received most of the snaps at left guard during Wednesday’s practice with junior Jon Hargis recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

With Hustad out for at least three weeks, sophomore Mike Marcisz out for the year and senior Thomas Altieri and sophomore Garth Gerhart still hobbled with injury, Good could be in the starting lineup at least another three weeks.

Good was a jovial fellow for the press after practice, but that wouldn’t describe how he felt as he received the call to action.

“Try not to get nervous,” he said of his thoughts before heading into the game. “Ninety-thousand fans and you see that Georgia Bulldog in front you. [I said] ‘Whew, all right, let’s go.’”

Good noticed a significant difference in competition from his days with Holy Cross.

“We had some good competition up there,” he said. “But rather than having like one or two awesome players, (UGA’s) whole line and linebacker corps are like beasts.”

Good was as happy with the news of a new starting role as he was with cashing in with the scholarship.

“I mean, not having to pay for school is very, very nice,” he said. “It is not something [where] I will say, ‘No, I don’t want it.’”

Good, a graduate of Dobson High School in Mesa, who switched from an engineering to a psychology major, decided to come back to ASU in part to save money on school.

“That’s the reason I came back home,” Good said. “It would be a little cheaper and I figured I could continue with football — a passion of mine.”

Good is focused on academics as an in-state student, and he wanted to make sure he had something besides football to fall back on.

“If I don’t make it to the NFL, I’m not going to fall on my face,” Good said.

Turnover story

Through three games, ASU leads the Pac-10 and the nation in turnover margin at plus 10. However, the Sun Devils’ turnover margin victory did not prove to be the decisive statistic against UGA.

“Normally when you win that battle by two, you win [the game] or put yourself in a position to win and we did,” Erickson said. “I go back to making plays, and we just didn’t do it. Is it frustrating? Yeah, it’s frustrating for our team and players, but it’s over and done with and we just [have to] go on and learn from that.”

Winning the turnover battle could again be key to beating OSU, as the Beavers have shown a propensity for coughing the ball up at crucial times this season.

Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu.