TEMPE, Ariz. -- With depth in the defensive secondary an ongoing concern, Arizona State will experiment with running back Deantre Lewis on defense, coach Todd Graham said Monday.
"We might look at it and have nothing come of it," Graham said. "But Deantre was more than willing as a team guy to say 'Coach, whatever I can do I’ll do to help our team.' And he is a phenomenal athlete."
Graham said he has thought about Lewis, a redshirt sophomore, as a possibility to add depth to the secondary for a while, particularly since freshman safety Laiu Moeakiola tweaked a hamstring and sophomore cornerback Rashad Wadood was lost for the season to a shoulder injury. The idea initially came to Graham watching Lewis use his speed and physicality on kickoff coverage.
Should Lewis end up being used as a defensive back, it will be in specific situations. Graham said he envisions trying Lewis at the spur linebacker or bandit safety position in nickel or dime packages on third downs, particularly to rush the quarterback.
"I don’t think that he's not going to be a running back, but if we can utilize him in a dime or nickel package on third down, then why not," Graham said. "The reps he's getting on offense are limited because of all the guys we have there."
Lewis, who missed all of last season due to a hamstring injury suffered in a random shooting, has touched the ball just four times through ASU's first two games. Senior Cameron Marshall, freshman D.J. Foster and junior Marion Grice have combined for 54 of ASU's 64 non-quarterback carries.
Moeakiola's return is uncertain in the short term, though he practiced last week. And while the addition of Lewis to the secondary could provide a little security in the event of another injury, Graham has some opposition to the experiment.
"I'll be real honest with you: Coach (Mike) Norvell (ASU's offensive coordinator) is not for it," Graham said. "But we've got to do what's best for our team, especially long range."
MAGEE BACK, MENDOZA OUT
Graham said Monday that redshirt senior linebacker Brandon Magee has been cleared to practice and is expected to return against Missouri this weekend after missing ASU's game against Illinois due to a concussion.
Freshman linebacker Carlos Mendoza, Magee's backup, is "very doubtful" for the game in Columbia, Mo., after separating his shoulder against Illinois. Prior to the injury, Mendoza had two interceptions, one of which led to an ASU field goal.
ASU did not know for sure it would be without Magee until Friday afternoon, Graham said, and his absence tested the team's linebacker depth. Mendoza's injury further tested that depth, but Graham said the biggest issue was the loss of Magee.
"What happened with the linebacker situation was we lost our best player," Graham said. "That really was disruptive. And I'll be honest with you: We overcoached the situation. I personally was beside myself because we'd planned with (Magee), and he controls most of the communication on defense."
Anthony Jones started in place of Magee, having only a walkthrough at the "will" position to prepare. Between that and Mendoza's inexperience, Graham and his staff had to be very hands-on coaching the linebackers all night.
Graham said he doesn't anticipate that Mendoza will need shoulder surgery and expects him back some time this season.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
-- Junior defensive tackle Jake Sheffield played for the first time this season against Illinois after missing the season opener with a calf issue. He recorded one tackle
-- Through two weeks, ASU's offense ranks 17th nationally in yardage (532 yards per game), third in passing efficiency and seventh in scoring (54 points per game). ASU also ranks sixth nationally in fewest yards penalized per game (17.5), better than any other Pac-12 team.
-- ASU's defense stacks up well nationally, too. The unit is tied for the national lead in interceptions (six), tied for third in tackles for loss (21) and tied for seventh in sacks (eight). Spur linebacker Chris Young is tied for 10th nationally with five tackles for loss.
-- After facing a Big Ten opponent in Week 2, ASU gets an SEC opponent in Week 3. ASU is 0-5 all time against the SEC, although this is Missouri's first season in the conference. ASU beat Missouri last year while the Tigers were still a member of the Big 12. The all-time series between the two schools is tied 3-3.
-- ASU on Monday announced a 7 p.m. Arizona time kickoff for the Sept. 22 home game against Utah. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks.
