It’s come down to two for the ASU football team. 

Needing to win the last two games to  have a chance at avoiding a second consecutive bowl-less season, coach Dennis Erickson cut his list of potential starters for its final road game against UCLA (5-5, 2-5 Pac-10) to two.

“It’s either going to be [sophomore] Samson [Szakascy] or [senior] Danny [Sullivan].  I’ve narrowed it down,” Erickson said.

After his first career start against Oregon last week, freshman Brock Osweiler has been relegated back to third string for the Sun Devils (4-6, 2-5).

Erickson said that Osweiler was a healthy scratch. 

“I just felt that if we were to start Samson, with Danny’s experience, [Sullivan] could step in without having to practice a lot,” Erickson said. “That’s how I felt about it.”

Based upon the repetitions at practice, Erickson seems to be leaning toward starting Szakacsy.

“He looks good.  He has practiced very well,” Erickson said. “He is smart and understands what is going on, and gets the ball out very quick.  It will be interesting to see what transpires.”

Erickson said he has only recently been able to truly evaluate Szakacsy, who has dealt with elbow tendinitis all season. Erickson said the sophomore’s arm still isn’t 100 percent.   

A significant part of the quarterback evaluation will be to see if Szakascy can stand in and throw under pressure.  

His electrifying scrambles against UO showed a new and perhaps essential element of the zone-read offense. However, happy feet could get the sophomore in trouble.

“All the information I got is the half against Oregon,” Erickson said. “[Szakacsy scrambled] because he had to.”

Senior running back Dimitri Nance has been impressed with the sophomore and said his ability to improvise can both help and hurt his pass-blocking duties.

“Samson is looking pretty good,” Nance said.  “He showed us he can do a little bit [against UO].  I think he has confidence that he knows he will be playing.”

Although it’s the 11th game of the year, Nance hopes the offense can finally find a rhythm, even if it is  to start a third different quarterback in as many weeks.

“It’s been a little rough,” Nance said. “You just have to make due with whatever you have. You’ve been practicing with one quarterback and he gets injured, and then you practice with another quarterback who has a different style.”

After battling injuries and starting only six games last season, it’s been a renaissance of sorts for the Nance.  

The senior running back has started nine games and rushed for 570 yards, keeping younger backs behind him on the depth chart.

Nance said he wants to make sure the senior group doesn’t go out quietly.

“Our backs are against the wall,” Nance said. “We have to win these last two games.  Everybody is going to try to get these last two games.”

Terell Carr reinstated

An ASU official said Wednesday that senior cornerback Terell Carr has been reinstated by athletic director Lisa Love and is now allowed to practice.

There was no comment from the official on Carr’s playing status, who was arrested Nov. 9 on suspicion of three misdemeanors, including the alleged assault of his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

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