The question of who is going to patrol the “no-fly zone” over Tempe is up in the air.
ASU is still looking for replacements for cornerback Deveron Carr and safety Keelan Johnson, who helped lead the Sun Devils’ 10th-ranked pass defense (nicknamed the "no-fly-zone") last season. Redshirt sophomore Ezekiel Bishop took most of the reps at field safety with the first team defense on Thursday opposite senior safety Alden Darby. Bishop was expected to see significant playing time in 2011, but his year was cut short by a torn ACL in the first game of the season against UC Davis.
“We know he can play, but he had the injury that kind of took away some of his confidence, but he’s getting it back,” Darby said. “I’m seeing that old Ezekiel Bishop come back, and I like it.”
While Bishop appears to be the current favorite at safety, the cornerback spot is much more open.
Redshirt senior Robert Nelson, senior Marlon Pollard, redshirt sophomore Rashad Wadood and redshirt junior Lloyd Carrington all received reps at corner.
“We’ve got four guys right there that can really start, and it’s going to come down to the wire,” Darby said. “It all comes down to who’s the smartest and who’s the most focused, who makes the least amount of mistakes.”
Carrington, a transfer from Pittsburgh last season who is now eligible to play, had a particularly good showing. He broke up a potential touchdown pass on the goal line during the Sun Devils' scrimmage Thursday, but he thought he could have done better.
“I wanted to get the pick,” Carrington said.
Darby poised for big season
Darby said he’s always been a bit underrated, but not anymore.
His stats last season earned him second-team All-Pac-12 honors and are comparable to safeties who will likely go in the first two rounds of this year’s NFL Draft.
Darby had more interceptions (three) that top-rated Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro (two) last season. He also had more total tackles (80) than Florida’s Matt Elam (76), who is ranked right behind Vaccaro in the draft.
While the comparisons are nice, the numbers don’t really mean much.
“Those are some great players right there. ... It’s a lot of little things that separate them from me and me from them,“ Darby said. “Stats don’t tell it all.”
For example, Darby wants to emulate Elam’s downhill, thumping play style.
“I was actually watching his highlight tape yesterday evening and said, ‘Man I’m going to come down like he was coming downhill and smacking people,'” Darby said.
If Darby puts up the kind of numbers he did last year, he’ll find himself playing on Sundays. CBSsports.com ranks Darby as the No. 5 safety prospect in its 2014 draft class.
Sutton receives Pat Tillman jersey
Redshirt senior defensive tackle Will Sutton wore the honorary camouflaged Pat Tillman practice jersey Thursday for the first time.
Sutton was caught off guard when coach Todd Graham threw Sutton the jersey at the team’s pre-practice meeting.
“I didn’t think they were going to do this again, because it’s been a while since Darby had it,” Sutton said.
Graham said that the jersey is presented to the defensive player that embodies Tillman’s leadership qualities at practice.
“He’s been bringing it every day,” Graham said. “He’s coaching guys, telling guys, ‘This is not acceptable,’ and he didn’t do that last year.”
Wearing the signature jersey was also issued as a challenge to Sutton.
“Will has earned this jersey," Graham said. "The key to our success is that he keeps it."
Sutton said he isn't sure how long he can wear the jersey in spring practice, but he said he won't wear it in ASU's Fan Fest on Saturday.
Reach the reporter at ejsmith7@asu.edu
