It appears senior running back Keegan Herring is finally fit to reclaim his starting job.
ASU coach Dennis Erickson announced Thursday that Herring will make his first start of the year against Oregon (5-2, 3-1 Pac-10) on Saturday.
Junior Dimitri Nance has started all six games for the Sun Devils (2-4, 1-2) this season, while Herring has been slowed by a lingering hamstring injury.
“[Herring]’s going to start this game, but that doesn’t mean much,” Erickson said. “We’re going to use [four running backs]. He’s ready to get more carries than he’s gotten.”
Herring has missed three games so far this season, but has split carries with Nance whenever he has played. Herring has carried the ball 22 times to Nance’s 25 in the past two contests.
Herring is known for his big-play ability, but he has yet to break off a run longer than 20 yards this season. In fact, his 20-yard run against Stanford Sept. 6 is ASU’s longest run all year.
“That’s what football is all about: making plays,” Erickson said. “Hopefully we’ll make them [Saturday].”
The running back tandem enjoyed adequate success against UO during last year’s meeting in Eugene, combining for 126 yards on 27 carries.
Beyond the numbers
In a tradition that continues from last year, several players have been swapping practice uniforms with their teammates.
On Thursday, senior wide receiver Michael Jones was wearing Brandon Smith’s No. 2, while junior wide receiver Kyle Williams sported Jones’ No. 1 and Smith had Williams’ No. 6.
Freshman defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and senior safety Rodney Cox were also among the many players to switch jerseys.
Sophomore kicker Thomas Weber said an NFL scout was confused Wednesday when he saw senior safety Troy Nolan wearing sophomore defensive tackle Jonathan English’s jersey.
English outweighs Nolan by roughly 85 pounds.
Weber takes blame
Although it may appear ASU has weaknesses on its offensive line during field-goal and point-after tries, Thomas Weber — last year’s Lou Groza Award winner — said he’s been at fault for the recent struggles.
Weber had two kicks blocked on consecutive drives in Oct. 11’s 28-0 loss at USC.
“Those two kicks that were blocked were on me,” Weber said. “Those kicks were too low. [The offensive line has] been doing fine all year.”
UNLV also blocked one of Weber’s kicks in its 23-20 defeat of the Sun Devils on Sept. 13.
He is 8 for 12 on field goal attempts this year, after going 24 for 25 in 2007.
“[Weber] is a great kicker,” Erickson said. “He’s had a bad streak, so we’ll see what happens, but he’s been kicking the heck out of the ball [in practice].
“I have more confidence in him than anyone I’ve ever had.”
Carpenter looks good
Senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter suffered no setbacks Thursday, and it looks like he will run his consecutive-games-played streak to 38 games.
His left ankle was still heavily taped, but Carpenter moved around well and was able to make every throw.
He connected with junior running back Shaun DeWitty on a 40-plus-yard pass to end Thursday’s practice.
Reach the reporter at alex.espinoza@asu.edu.
