For ASU junior left tackle Regis Crawford, Saturday's game at San Diego State will present a lot more than an opportunity to win for the third straight week.
It will provide him with a chance to return to his old town of San Diego and play in front of a host of family and friends. But when Crawford steps onto the gridiron at Qualcomm Stadium, he will try to slay some demons of the past.
While playing at Samuel Morse High School in San Diego, Crawford's teams always fell a step short of making the championship game, despite having five players that later received Division I scholarships.
"Anytime we go back to San Diego, I love doing that," said Crawford, who will serve as one of three captains for the game. "Especially playing in Qualcomm Stadium, because when I was in high school, that's where the championship game was, and I never got to play in the championship game. I love going back to San Diego and playing in that stadium. It should be fun.
"I've invited a couple friends, but my mom has invited more people than I know, so I don't know who's going to be there and who's not going to be there, but it's going to be a couple people."
Crawford isn't too disappointed about his high school career, as he was listed as the fifth-best offensive lineman in the Western Region by PrepStar. He once recorded 13 pancake blocks in a single game during his senior season.
The Sun Devil coaching staff, which was then under the direction of former head coach Bruce Snyder, was so elated upon landing the 6-foot-3, 302-pound product that they elected to not redshirt him in his first year at ASU. As a true freshman, Crawford saw action in nine games, mostly at center when backing up All-Pac-10 selection Scott Peters, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Crawford was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard last season. He played in 10 games as the only underclassman to start on the offensive line.
Crawford is the unit's lone returnee this year, as the four remaining starters graduated at the end of last season. The coaching staff depended on Crawford's experience so much during spring workouts that they moved him to left tackle. Sun Devil offensive line coach Jeff Grimes said Crawford's ability to make the transition has been invaluable.
"He's playing one of the most important positions on offense. If you don't have a guy who can play that spot, your quarterback is going to get hit in the back of the head," Grimes said. "He's been a guy that's played at guard, and that's his most natural position, but he's willing to become a real technician at left tackle, even though that's probably not the best position for him. His willingness to do that means a lot, but his leadership and his character, I don't know where we'd be as an offensive line without him."
Although the switch has been difficult, Crawford has handed it quite well.
"Guard was all about strength, and now (tackle) is all about speed. It's something I'm not used to," Crawford said. "When you're coming after somebody like Levi (Jones), who came after someone like Marvel (Smith), who came after Juan Roque, there's a little bit of pressure on you, but I'm just trying to take it one day at a time."
All banged up: Sophomore quarterback Andrew Walter suffered a knee injury during practice Tuesday. Although there has been no official diagnosis, it appeared similar to a sprain or hyperextension.
The injury occurred one day after Walter was named to start in place of freshman quarterback Chad Christensen. As Walter was rolling out of the pocket during a drill, he planted his feet and his knee turned. Walter practiced Wednesday, but was limited in what he could do, as he jogged through sprinting drills. His status for Saturday's game remains uncertain.
Sophomore cornerback Lamar Baker, who hasn't practiced since sustaining a hip flexor, could miss the remainder of the season. Sophomore right tackle Adrian Ayala will be sidelined Saturday with a high ankle sprain. Redshirt freshman strong safety Joey Smith, who also was injured in practice Tuesday with a bruised thigh, is not expected to play Saturday.
Reach the reporter at christopher.drexel@asu.edu.
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THE REGIS CRAWFORD FILE |
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Played in nine games in 2000 at center when backing up All-Pac-10 selection Scott Peters. |
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Played in 10 games in 2001 at right guard as the only underclassman to start on the offensive line. |
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Has played in all three games this season at left tackle as an anchor on a line that includes junior left guard Tim Fa'aita, junior center Tony Aguilar, sophomore right guard Drew Hodgdon and sophomore right guard Adrian Ayala. |
