TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State running backs coach Larry Porter joked over the summer that by the end of spring practice, he had finally convinced running back Deantre Lewis his leg wouldn't fall off as he returned from a gunshot injury.
Porter might have been joking, but the sentiment was real.
The ASU coaching staff pushed Lewis in the spring and is seeing much greater confidence in him as he battles for time in the backfield.
"It's a totally different guy right now," Porter said after Monday's practice.
"Mentally he's stronger, physically he's stronger, spiritually he's stronger, emotionally he's stronger. You can sense he came to fall camp with a purpose."
That purpose appears twofold. Lewis first must prove to the coaches he can be the explosive backfield threat he was his freshman season in 2010. Then he has to use that to win carries in what is the most crowded position on Todd Graham's first team.
Lewis, who missed all of 2011 after being shot in the upper leg, said he felt it was still a little soon to go full speed in spring practice. Some of that might have been a mental hurdle, which the new staff seems to have helped him clear.
"I feel like I'm holding nothing back out there," Lewis said Monday. "It feels like my old self again, where I'm able to explode in and out of cuts. The hardest part about it was I was afraid I'd lost my vision for the field, but honestly that hasn't gone anywhere."
Added Porter: "He's probably a lot further along than people think or realize. I know we'll be able to use him in some capacity."
That capacity is what remains the big question. Graham and Porter have been impressed by junior college transfer Marion Grice as well as highly touted freshman D.J. Foster. James Morrison has been moved around a bit, working consecutive practices with the tight ends due to the deep group at running back.
Jamal Miles will primarily line up at receiver, and last year's backup Kyle Middlebrooks is limited in fall practice following shoulder surgery. So the competition for carries behind 1,000-yard rusher Cameron Marshall seems down to Lewis, Grice and Foster right now. Lewis knows the pressure is on.
"I always feel pressure," Lewis said. "That's something I like. It pushes me to get better. … These coaches have a great plan for getting playmakers the ball."
Grice was first in after Marshall during early team drills Monday, followed by Lewis and then Foster.
Porter is hoping that the offense plays upwards of 80 plays per game, meaning there would be opportunity for plenty of carries behind Marshall, but probably not enough for three playmakers.
If Lewis can show the big-play potential on display during his freshman year in 2010 (539 yards rushing with four touchdowns and 370 yards receiving with two touchdowns), he could force the staff to get him significant time on the field. If nothing else, Lewis won't let another running back win the primary backup job easily.
"Deantre has really said 'Hey man, I'm right in the middle of this thing.'" Graham said. "So I've been impressed with him."
Graham said Monday's practice was the best he's seen of the offense yet. He said it was the first practice in which the offense didn't turn the ball over.
After redshirt sophomore Taylor Kelly took first-team repetitions in team drills Sunday and earned Graham's praise for ball protection, it was redshirt freshman Michael Eubank on the field first Monday. Kelly came in next, and sophomore Michael Bercovici after that.
"I saw some really good things out of Eubank today," Graham said.
Graham also made note of the impression receiver J.J. Holliday has made, saying the fourth-year junior has had a "great camp."
"He's got me going, 'Who was that? Who was that?'" Graham said.
Elsewhere on offense, Graham noted freshman offensive lineman Evan Goodman, a top recruit, is exceeding expectations.
Alex Garoutte struggled last season at kicker, missing some big field goals. This year, he has competition for the No. 1 job.
Graham on Sunday praised the consistency of non-scholarship kickers Jon Mora and Dillon Jackson while noting that Garoutte has been solid. During special-teams drills early in Monday morning's practice, the kickers alternated field-goal attempts.
Garoutte was the first kicker on the field during Monday's team drills, and he put a 32-yard kick between the uprights.
-- Defensive tackle Will Sutton missed practice Sunday with an eye infection. He returned Monday but appeared to have continued issues with the eye during the first hour of practice.
-- Linebackers Israel Marshall and Anthony Jones, left practice early. Jones had an apparent knee issue while Marshall left for an MRI on what was a right hand or finger injury.
-- Cornerback Devon Spann has not dressed for a practice yet due to a nagging shoulder injury. Graham on Sunday said Spann's injury "doesn't look good."
-- Defensive end Mo Latu missed Monday's practice after sitting out most of Sunday's. The redshirt freshman has battled a serious sinus infection, which required a hospital stay and caused him to lose significant weight.
