Quarterback

ASU senior Rudy Carpenter was stellar again in the Sun Devils’ win against Stanford last week, passing for 345 yards and three touchdowns, despite being under constant pressure in the pocket.

UNLV sophomore Omar Clayton is a former walk-on who started three games in 2007 before a broken hand ended his freshman season.

Clayton is a dual-threat quarterback that runs the spread offense for the Runnin’ Rebels. He’s the only player in UNLV history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.

Clayton is a great athlete that can make plays with his arm and legs, but he’s not even close to being the elite quarterback that Carpenter has evolved into during the early part of this season.

Edge ASU

Running back

The ASU running game was much improved last week against Stanford, mostly because senior Keegan Herring and junior Shaun DeWitty were back from hamstring injuries.

Herring rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries, while junior Dimitri Nance added 75 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

However, Herring re-aggravated his injured hamstring late in the fourth quarter, and his status for Saturday’s game is questionable.

UNLV senior Frank “The Tank” Summers is a big, physical player that likes to pound the ball up the middle. He has rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.

Summers can also catch the ball out of the backfield, as he became the only player in UNLV history to lead the team in rushing touchdowns (six) and receiving touchdowns (four) in the same season in 2007.

If Herring is able to play Saturday, then the Sun Devils have a greater variety of options at the position to wear down the UNLV defense. But his recurring injury is concerning, and the other ASU running backs have not proven they can carry the rushing load without him in the lineup.

Edge UNLV

Receivers

The ASU receiving corps continued to rack up big numbers against Stanford last week.

Senior Michael Jones currently leads the team in receptions (12) and yards (241) despite suffering a sprained Achilles last week in practice.

Sophomore Kerry Taylor looks poised to have a breakout season after another great performance against the Cardinal (five catches, 92 yards and a touchdown).

ASU’s group of tight ends also got more involved in the passing game against Stanford.

Redshirt freshman Dan Knapp caught his first career ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, while junior Jovon Williams made a great leaping catch along the sidelines.

Senior Andrew Pettes, who has been the starter at tight end, suffered a groin injury against Stanford and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Rebels.

UNLV generally starts four wide receivers, with freshman Phillip Payne, junior Ryan Wolfe, junior Rodelin Anthony and senior Casey Flair projected to be out there for the first snap.

Senior tight end Ryan Worthen is a former walk-on that is primarily used as a blocker for the Rebels.

The ASU receiving corps is making a strong case that it is one of the best in the nation, and that trend will continue against a thin UNLV secondary.

Edge ASU

Offensive line

ASU’s offensive line has only given up three sacks so far this season, but Carpenter was still knocked down frequently against Stanford.

Four out of the five players starting on UNLV’s offensive line had experience on the first unit coming into this season.

The Rebels’ offensive line has allowed just two sacks this season and has been able to open holes for Summers in the first two games.

ASU’s offensive line has been making good strides so far this season, but Carpenter is still getting hit too often.

Edge UNLV

Defensive line

ASU junior defensive end Dexter Davis has officially become one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the Pac-10, as he already has four sacks in two games.

Davis is on pace to shatter his own personal best for sacks in a season (10.5) and could challenge former ASU great Terrell Suggs for the school record for sacks in a season (24).

Seniors defensive tackle David Smith senior defensive end Luis Vasquez also help to make up a talented group.

UNLV’s defensive ends, Isaako Aaitui (sophomore) and Thor Pili (senior) each have six tackles this season to lead the defensive line.

Junior tackle Martin Tevaseu, who originally signed with ASU in 2006, is now a starter for the Rebels after transferring to UNLV from Santa Rosa Junior College.

UNLV has to get pressure on Carpenter if it wants to be successful against ASU’s potent offense, but that doesn’t look likely with the lack of pass rushers on the defensive line.

Edge ASU

Linebackers

ASU’s top three tacklers come from this position. Junior Mike Nixon leads the way with 15 tackles, while juniors Travis Goethel (14) and Gerald Munns (13) are close behind.

But the Sun Devils will be without Munns on Saturday, as he had surgery this week on the broken pinky finger he played with against Stanford.

UNLV also has injury issues at linebacker, as junior Starr Fuimaono tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Utah last week and will miss the rest of the season.

Freshman Nate Carter, who has one tackle this season, will start in Fuimaono’s place.

Sophomore Ronnie Paulo, the Rebels’ leading tackler, also missed part of the Utah game because of a bruised leg but is expected to play Saturday.

The Sun Devils will miss Munns in the middle of the defense, but there will not be a huge drop-off without him in the lineup.

Edge ASU

Secondary

The ASU secondary notched its first two interceptions of the season last week against Stanford. Junior cornerback Terell Carr picked off the first ball of his career, while senior safety Troy Nolan recorded his seventh career interception.

Former walk-on junior Pierre Singfield leads the ASU secondary in tackles with nine.

UNLV has experience in the secondary, but it is also an area that lacks depth.

Sophomore Travis Dixon, a Chandler native, moved to safety after losing the starting quarterback job because the Rebels needed extra bodies at the position.

Junior safety Daryl Forte is tied for second on the team in tackles (15) and also has one interception this season.

Carpenter should have no problem finding holes in the UNLV secondary, and ASU’s pass defense should be able to take advantage of the young quarterback that will be throwing its way.

Edge ASU

Special teams

ASU sophomore kicker Thomas Weber made two more field goals against Stanford last week, which makes him a perfect 5-for-5 on the season.

Weber is also averaging 43.3 yards per punt, with two out of seven
being downed inside the 20-yard line.

Junior Kyle Williams is averaging 10.2 yards per punt return and 20 yards per kick return.

UNLV has three players that fill the roles at the various kicking positions.

Junior Kyle Watson and sophomore Ben Jaekle have each made one field goal in their split time a placekicker.

Jaekle also handles the kickoff duties, while senior quarterback-convert Dack Ishii punts for the Rebels.

Freshman Michael Johnson has returned every punt and kickoff this season for UNLV and is currently third on the team in all purpose yards.

ASU only needs one guy to handle all of the Sun Devils’ kicking needs, and Weber has been better than every one of UNLV’s kicking specialists.

Edge ASU

X-factor

With the much-anticipated showdown against No. 2 Georgia now just a week away, Saturday’s contest against a far less impressive UNLV team could be a classic example of a trap game if the Sun Devils start looking ahead.

But ASU coach Dennis Erickson has been in the game long enough to know how to get his team ready to play any opponent, and the Sun Devils have really seemed to buy into his one-day-at-a-time philosophy.

Combine that attitude with ASU’s superior talent, and the Sun Devils will take care of business Saturday and head into the Georgia game with a perfect 3-0 record.

Edge ASU

Overall Edge ASU

Reach the reporter at gina.mizell@asu.edu.