Arizona State practice report from Wednesday
The Sun Devils practiced Wednesday at the Kajikawa practice fields. They host Notre Dame on Saturday.
PRACTICE REPORT
Coach Todd Graham's opening statement to reporters: Graham doesn't talk to the media on Wednesdays.
Graham's post-practice pep talk to team: 4 minutes, 31 seconds.
Attire: Pads.
Time open to media: 21 minutes, 16 seconds.
PERSONNEL
Out: TE/LB Marcus Washington (knee, out for season); DT Corey Smith (hip, out for season); DB Ezekiel Bishop (knee, two weeks); LB Jamal Scott (arm, two weeks).
Limited: LG Christian Westerman (knee, nine days).
Absent: DT Jaxon Hood (personal issues).
HOOD NOT PRACTICING
Jaxon Hood has not practiced this week and co-defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said he didn't expect the junior defensive tackle to play Saturday against Notre Dame. Graham doesn't talk to the media on Wednesday, but he told me Hood was dealing with personal issues and acknowledged he was doubtful for the Fighting Irish.
This, obviously, isn't good news for the Sun Devils. Hood -- who has started most of three seasons -- is ASU's most experienced defensive player. He has played in big games, and Saturday's contest -- with College Football Playoff implications -- is the school's biggest in years. Sophomore Viliami Latu ran with the first team in Hood's spot during the portion of Wednesday's practice open to reporters. He has been part of ASU's defensive-line rotation for most of the season, collecting eight tackles, including 1.5 loss.
There is, however, a trickle-down effect here. With ASU a man down, freshman defensive tackle Emanuel Dayries is running with the second team. Patterson said there's a strong possibility Dayries will play Saturday. This will be his first action of the season. ASU has prepared Dayries and freshman defensive lineman Renell Wren for this possibility, but it's not ideal to burn a red-shirt at this time of the season, let a lone against the No. 10 team in the country.
As for Hood, this is something to watch. He was away from the program for nearly a month for personal reasons over the summer, causing him to miss the first two weeks of preseason camp. It is not known if this related. In eight games, Hood has 10 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.
In other news, although Graham has not yet announced a decision, it appears junior defensive end Demetrius Cherry will play Saturday. Cherry -- suspended for last week's win over Utah following an arrest for misdemeanor DUI -- practiced with the first team today. Under previous coach Dennis Erickson, the penalty for players arrested for DUI was typically one game. Although one season, ASU split up the suspension for left tackle Evan Finkenberg. He sat out the first half of two games spread over two different seasons.
MORE MOVEMENT
I'm not sure if it's related to Hood's absence, but red-shirt freshman linebacker Alani Latu -- previously ASU's second-team strong-side linebacker -- is practicing at Devil-backer this week. "He's growing like his brother (Viliami Latu),'' Devilbackers coach Paul Randolph said. "He's physical, he's tough, he's smart. Has a lot of ability, so we moved him down just to give him a chance to grow and learn the position. That way, he can just keep growing and be who he's going to be." With Latu at Devil, sophomore Carlos Mendoza ran at second-team SAM and freshman Christian Sam was at second-team weak-side linebacker.
VISITOR
-Former ASU receiver Rashad Ross visited practice.
UP NEXT
ASU has its final full practice Thursday at Sun Devil Stadium.