Junior quarterback Danny Sullivan is ready for his close-up.
ASU football coach Dennis Erickson described senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter as “very doubtful” to play on Wednesday, meaning Sullivan will likely make his first collegiate start on Saturday against No. 8 USC.
Carpenter is yet to practice this week due to an injured ankle and Sullivan has experienced an added workload.
“I took a lot more [repetitions]; I’m a little more tired than
usual,” Sullivan quipped after Tuesday’s practice.
Erickson said he has been pleased with Sullivan’s performance¬¬.
“He did really well mentally,” Erickson said. “Physically, he threw it [well]; he’s got a really strong arm.”
Sullivan said he has put more work into preparing for this week’s game.
“I’ve been watching film a lot more,” Sullivan said. “I spent a couple hours [on Monday] watching film.”
Sullivan said that while he is confident in his grasp of the ASU offense, keeping up with the pace of a game will be his biggest obstacle.
“Trying to adjust to real game speed with the starters is going to be the biggest challenge,” Sullivan said.
He admitted he has enjoyed seeing some of the spotlight shift in his direction.
“If you don’t want [the attention], then why are you out here playing?” he said.
Sullivan’s teammates think the quarterback is ready to fill in.
“The only thing different [about Sullivan] is that he says the plays [in the huddle] a lot faster,” junior wide receiver Chris McGaha joked. “We worked with Danny as well as Rudy in the summer. We get a lot of passes from Danny so nothing will be much different.”
Sullivan’s last start came as senior at Los Gatos High School in California.
If he is to make his first start on Saturday it will be on a much larger stage.
“Back at Los Gatos there were some games that were big, but [Saturday’s game against USC] is a middle-of-the-season game and it’s bigger than any of those,” Sullivan said. “It’s USC. They are the best team in the Pac-10 and they still could be the best team in the country. There’s no hiding it.”
While Sullivan prepares to make his first start, Carpenter still hopes to make his 37th straight.
“He’ll do everything he can to play,” Erickson said. “If there’s any possibility that he can get back he’ll be back.”
“He’d probably play in the boot,” Erickson said, referring to the protective boot Carpenter wore on his ankle during Tuesday’s workout.
All signs, though, point to Sullivan making his first start and the quarterback said he’s ready.
“We have to get a win no matter who it’s against,” Sullivan said. “We know it’s USC but we know we’ve got to go down there and get a huge win.”
Injury note
Freshman linebacker Brandon Magee (pectoral muscle) will not play against USC.
Erickson said he hopes to have Magee back for ASU’s Oct. 25 game against Oregon.
Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.
