Prior to each season, fall training camp and practices are a time for position battles to be settled.
This year is no different for the ASU football team. Among the many compelling storylines for the Sun Devils has been the backup quarterback competition.
Redshirt freshman Taylor Kelly and true freshman Mike Bercovici are both vying to become junior starter Brock Osweiler’s backup.
Kelly returns to ASU this year after manning the scout team a season ago. He came to Tempe after a standout high school career at Eagle High School in Idaho. His work on the gridiron earned him the 2009-10 Gatorade Idaho Football Player of the Year award.
For Kelly, this year’s training camp has been a learning experience.
“This camp has been really good for me so far,” Kelly said. “Just learning from Brock and Coach Mazzone and [Steven] Threet and all them. My second year in the offense, I’ve really learned a lot from them and it’s helped me a lot.”
Kelly admits that having Bercovici around to contend with has been beneficial to his game.
“It’s been fun, just going out there and competing with him,” Kelly said. “We’re good friends off the field and on the field. We always talk about what we see and what you did wrong and all that stuff.”
Then there’s Bercovici, who left high school early to partake in ASU’s spring practice. The new Sun Devil is fresh off a stellar high school career at Taft High School in Calabasas, Calif. Bercovici threw for 3,755 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior. He also notched six games with 300 or more yards.
“I take every practice one day at a time regardless of what’s going on with the competition between me and Taylor,” Bercovici said. “We have really been learning a lot as far as what coverage’s we’re going to be seeing and just been very focused on the routes and prepared for practice.”
ASU coach Dennis Erickson expects the final decision to be made by the beginning of next week. Both quarterbacks will be monitored during ASU’s scrimmage this Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium as well as on a daily basis.
“There are some pluses and minuses on both guys,” Erickson said. “There will be separation like I said as we get into next week. Noel [Mazzone] and I have talked about it, and there really isn’t all that much separation. If we knew, we’d make a decision right now.”
Lewis returns to practice
Sophomore running back Deantre Lewis returned to ASU practice on Thursday afternoon. He did not participate in team drills, but was dressed out in his number five jersey and shorts.
While in his hometown of Norco, Calif. last February, Lewis was struck by a bullet during a random shooting and has been sidelined ever since. Now that he’s back in Tempe, he hopes to be at full strength by next week.
“I do not plan on redshirting this season,” Lewis said. “I feel good. I feel 85-90 percent and that 10 percent is just conditioning. By Thursday next week, I should be in full pads.”
Lewis was a dynamic contributor on offense last season as a freshman. He played in 11 games, and showcased his electric speed by rushing for 539 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis also caught 23 passes for 370 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Magee has surgery
Senior linebacker Brandon Magee underwent successful surgery on Wednesday. He suffered an ACL injury during last Saturday’s scrimmage and will miss the entire 2011 season.
“Surgery went really good yesterday now the return to greatness begins,” Magee tweeted. “Shout out to Sun Devil nation and all the prayers and kind words.”
Reach the reporter at gdillar@asu.edu
