ASU's Herring has fought for everything

It seems like yesterday that Arizona State debuted a lighting-quick true freshman tailback in a season-opening game against Temple, and Keegan Herring immediately served notice that he was something special.

After entering the contest in the second quarter, his first collegiate carry went for 15 yards; the second, 14. Herring finished the night with 134 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.

That was in 2005.

“It’s almost like I can blink my eyes, and I’m right here,” Herring said earlier this week. “It has gone by really fast.”

Without question, Herring has been something special for the Sun Devils, as a No. 10 placement on the school’s all-time rushing list attests. However, the road has hardly been as smooth as Herring’s first game suggested, as he has had to constantly fight for carries on the field while enduring tragedy off it.

This preseason, the 5-foot-10, 195 pounder is again unable to claim the primary ball-carrying duties for himself. Herring is first on the depth chart, but a parade of backs — returnees Dimitri Nance, Jarrell Woods, Shaun DeWitty and freshman Ryan Bass — is on his tail.

“Right now, our plan is to use Keegan and Dimitri, but because we do have depth, we’re going to use them all,” coach Dennis Erickson said.

Each of the runners has a strength that distinguishes him from the others, and in the past, ASU tailored part of its game plan around their specific talents. However, that can make an offense more predictable.

After do-it-all Ryan Torain suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2007, Herring was classified as the first- and second-down outside runner, Nance the short-yardage, between-the-tackles specialist. In ’06, DeWitty — he redshirted last season — was used primarily in third-down passing situations.

ASU’s coaches do not want as much specialization this season.

“Those guys aren’t rookies anymore,” running backs coach Jamie Christian said. “They’ve been in our system for a year and a half — two spring practices and a fall — so it’s time to minimize mistakes and take it to another level at that position.”

Throughout his career, Herring has had to learn that there is more to being a big-time Division I running back than breakaway speed. Struggles in pass protection and blitz pickups limited his playing time as a freshman, and Torain beat him out for the starter’s spot in ’06 because of his read-and-recognition ability and physical running between the tackles.

With the objective of becoming a better inside runner, Herring (2,234 yards on the ground in his ASU career) has added 10 pounds of bulk.

“The coaches are looking for a more complete back,” Herring said. “At the same time, I have to work on running between the tackles if I want to play at the next level. You just can’t go outside. The guys are too fast out there.”

Nance has worked on pass blocking. DeWitty has focused on eliminating an upright running style that makes him easier to arm tackle and more susceptible to fumbles.

For Woods, it is a matter of staying healthy after an ankle injury sidelined him until the Holiday Bowl a year ago.

Then, there is Bass, the X-factor. He comes in with impressive credentials, including a Parade All-America selection.

“It would be great to play as a freshman, but I have to work hard each day to get there first,” Bass said. “I think I have good speed and vision, but the tempo here is a lot different than high school.”

It is possible that Bass could encounter the same growing pains that Herring experienced as a freshman. Those ’05 learning experiences paled in comparison, however, to the well-documented pain Herring had before last season, when death claimed his father, sister, aunt and a friend.

Through it all, Herring is on pace to finish his career as one of the elite backs in ASU history, a somewhat remarkable achievement, considering that he has started only 12 of his 38 games in maroon and gold.

“I’ve been dedicated to my job and not lost my composure when someone moved in front of me,” Herring said. “I never lost the faith that I’m a good running back. That makes me a better player. When a lot of guys get beat for their spot after thinking they are the man, they shut down.

“To be as successful as I’ve been at this school, I have to tip my hat and say thanks to everybody who has helped make it happen.”