Just a day before the ASU football team's opening matchup with Texas A&M, the offense received crushing news: sophomore running back Kalen Ballage was heading back to Tempe.
Ballage, who was slated to be the second half of a one-two backfield punch with fellow sophomore Demario Richard, has since been diagnosed with mononucleosis, which coach Todd Graham believes will keep him out for "one to two weeks."
With the big back out against the Aggies, ASU's offense was inconsistent, managing just 3.5 yards per carry. Graham said the heavier load on the shoulders of other backs impacted their effectiveness.
"I think (Kalen's absence) did affect Demario, because he had to play a lot more snaps, and then we had to use Gump in ways we didn't want to use him," Graham said. "If we would have had time we probably would have used D.J., so a lot of things like that."
In the new backfield plan, ASU used a heavy dose of redshirt junior De'Chavon "Gump" Hayes in both the passing and rushing games, giving him 13 offensive touches, the second most of any Sun Devil and third most in the game.
Graham said that, if he had more time, he probably would have spread out those touches more, specifically to senior D.J. Foster, who only had three carries and six catches on the day.
"'Gump,' who wasn't really supposed to play that much in the running back position, now he had to do all that," Graham said in his Monday press conference. "If we would have probably had time, we would have had D.J. do that instead of — so it did effect it a little bit."
In his first game at ASU, he said he wanted to go out, be ready and compete. Hayes said he felt he did that to the best of his abilities.
"They just told be to be ready," Hayes said. "So when I stepped out there and the first pass came to me, I was ready. I wasn't anxious, I wasn't nervous, I was ready. The game is always going to be the game and there's nothing new to me."
Additional Notes:
-Graham was late to his media availability session after a long talk with redshirt senior quarterback Mike Bercovici, redshirt senior safety Jordan Simone, senior center Nick Kelly and Foster. When asked, Graham said the discussion was about leadership and lessons that can be learned from Saturday's game.
-Kelly and redshirt junior tackle Evan Goodman both were in green non-contact jerseys at practice. It is the first time either has worn green this year.
Related Links:
Sun Devil Stadium introduces 'Double Inferno' student section
ASU vs. Texas A&M: By the numbers
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow @Tonis_The_Tiger on Twitter.
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