ASU comfortable with RB depth
Even given the departure of two scholarship running backs, Arizona State coaches are comfortable with the status of the position for the rest of this season and the short-term future.
Provided sophomore Eno Benjamin stays healthy, the Sun Devils likely can make do in their final five games. Benjamin is No. 13 nationally, averaging 107.6 yards, and has taken 80 percent of the running back carries in the first seven games. That’s not likely to change as long as ASU is playing tight games.
“The score is going to dictate how you rotate running backs,” position coach John Simon said Tuesday. “The fourth quarter is a sense of urgency so you’re going to have your best guy in. You’re down by 14 points at any point in the game, it’s the fourth quarter so Eno has to go. When we’re up and we’re in a little bit more control or Eno is up in number in carries, that’s a situation where you want to rotate the guys.”
The depth chart behind Benjamin now consists of sophomore Isaiah Floyd and junior Paul Lucas. Sophomore Trelon Smith this week and freshman Brock Sturges earlier have left the team in what was announced as mutual decisions.
Smith had 11 carries for 56 yards (45 of those against Washington) after sitting out the first three games for what Herm Edwards said was a coaching decision.
Simon said between Benjamin, Floyd, Lucas and junior fullback Nick Ralston, he has enough to work with this season. Freshman A.J. Carter, who played in two games, is slated to redshirt barring injury. Demetrious Flowers, who is grayshirting this semester, is expected to join the team for spring practice.
Smith leaving “wasn’t a big blow to us because of the numbers we had,” Simon said. “We’re ready. It’s time to move on with what we have and get these guys ready to play this week” at USC. “We will reevaluate where we are after the season, but obviously we’re not going to bring in a guy unless he’s really special. At this point, we don’t need another body.”
ASU has no running backs among its known 2019 recruiting commitments.