ASU's backup QB may have to step up against USC

 With a game against the Pac-10’s flagship program days away, Arizona State’s starting quarterback was in street clothes and a walking boot, his jersey being worn by one of the receivers.

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That meant that most eyes at the Kajikawa Practice Facility on Tuesday were on Danny Sullivan, which he did not mind in the least. After all, one cannot be a quarterback if he hates being the center of attention.

“Yeah, it was pretty cool,” said Sullivan, a junior who has been confined to the sidelines while Rudy Carpenter has made 36 consecutive starts. “We’ll see the next couple of days. Nothing is set in stone.”

With Carpenter sidelined with a nonweight-bearing projection of a bone in his left ankle — an ailment that is similar to a sprain — Sullivan worked with the first-team offense as the Sun Devils prepared for Saturday’s contest at Southern California, which boasts the nation’s fourth-ranked defense.

Coach Dennis Erickson said he would like to see Carpenter practicing by Thursday, but added he would be comfortable with making a game-time decision at starting quarterback.

“We might not know until Saturday,” Erickson said. “It’s not like Rudy has to practice every day. He knows the offense. You’d like to see him get something in on Thursday to get the rust off, but he could play on Saturday with no practice during the week.”

Sullivan, a 6-foot-5, 238-pounder from Los Gatos, Calif., is 1-for-8 in mop-up duty this season. His biggest stage at ASU was in last year’s Holiday Bowl, when he went 7-for-14 for 118 yards and led the Sun Devils to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in a loss against Texas.

For Sullivan, Tuesday was about developing synergy with offensive personnel he typically does not get extensive work with.

“I need to make sure I’m on the same page with everyone,” Sullivan said. “I felt more in a rhythm because I got more work, and it showed.

Hopefully, that will happen on Saturday, if I get the call. We can start fast and get the team moving.”

Receiver Chris McGaha, who on Tuesday wore Carpenter’s No. 12 practice jersey, said working with Sullivan is not a big change.

“The only thing different is that Danny says the plays a lot faster,” McGaha said.

“So, you have to listen. He has a little more velocity on the ball, but if the ball is coming at you, no matter who is throwing it, it’s your job to catch it.”

Carpenter was still involved in Tuesday’s practice, counseling Sullivan and the other QBs between snaps.

“I told him, 'It’s fun to be a coach, isn’t it?’ ” Erickson said, smiling.

“You can sit back and say, 'Golly, the quarterback screwed up. How could he make that throw.’ So, it was fun for him because he got to be on the other side of it.”

In other injury news, defensive lineman David Smith (stinger) did not practice but should play on Saturday, and linebacker Brandon Magee (pectoral) will sit out another game.