ASU football notebook: Devils to get new right tackle for Cal game

Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said that depth-chart changes could be made before his team's next game, and the first switch will be at right tackle.

Redshirt freshman Adam Tello, who started the first four games of the season, is out, and Matt Hustad or Tom Njunge will be in the lineup Oct.4 at California.

"The biggest thing is among which of those guys starts," Erickson said. "That's basically where it's at."

Hustad, a redshirt freshman who has earned praise from Erickson for his strength and versatility, has yet to play a snap after recovering from 2007 knee surgery and suffering from mononucleosis earlier this fall. Njunge, a junior-college transfer, started the season as the backup left tackle.

"The coaches have told me and Tom to compete at a high level," Hustad said. "We're pushing each other as much as we can. I think we're both getting better, and the entire line has gotten crisper."

Through a school spokesman, Njunge declined comment.

A change on the line was likely with the Sun Devils struggling to run the ball. They were held to 4 yards on the ground in last week's game against Georgia.

It is the second lost job in as many weeks for Tello, who was removed from the ASU field-goal team after a breakdown resulted in a game-ending block in a 23-20 overtime loss against Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept.20. Tello's loss is an opportunity for the 6-foot-4, 287-pound Hustad, who can play center, guard or tackle.

"I think that, until I put on more weight, tackle is the best position for me," Hustad said. "I feel that I'm athletic enough to play on the end. It's a good fit for me."

DAYS OFF

After working out in half-pads on Thursday, the Sun Devils are off today and Saturday. The players are free men, as Erickson and his assistants will be recruiting.

"I might require them to call me every 10 minutes to check in," Erickson said, smiling. "Nah, they deserve to get away for 48 hours, and one of the things they probably want to get away from is me."

ASU began putting in the game plan for California on Thursday.

RUDY'S TAKE

Quarterback Rudy Carpenter said that the disappointment of two consecutive losses did not keep the Sun Devils from a productive week of practice.

"I thought it was one of our better weeks, to be honest," Carpenter said. "It was good to go up against each other. The speed was good, and guys seemed a little more hungry this week, which is a good sign....

"In a bye week, guys tend to slack and take plays off. That's human nature, I guess."