Sun Devil follow-up: DeWitty to remain starting running back

 Shaun DeWitty has been the “best overall player” among the Arizona State running backs, coach Dennis Erickson said, and he will remain the starter after running for a career-high 110 yards at Oregon State on Saturday.

ASU upbeat after better effort, softer games ahead

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DeWitty, a junior, has been injury-prone, but the 6-foot-2, 227-pounder gives the Sun Devils the best mix of running, receiving and pass blocking since Ryan Torain.

“We made the decision to start him and see what he does,” Erickson said. “He ran well. He’s not going to take it to the house, but he did break that long one (54 yards). He protected well and took care of the football.”

Erickson said Ryan Bass, who has been limited by a sore hamstring and did not play on Saturday, should be part of the running-back rotation this week.

• Nate Kimbrough averaged 28.3 yards on three punt returns, including a 58-yarder. The senior filled the role in place of Kyle Williams (concussion), who remains day-to-day.

“He’s a competitor who wants to win,” Erickson said. “He has to continue to return punts for us. We have to get him on the field, because he makes plays for us.”

• Five false-start penalties were due in part to crowd noise, Erickson said. The Sun Devils used silent snap counts for the first time this season.

INJURY REPORT

• Safety Rodney Cox and defensive tackle David Smith departed Saturday’s game with injuries, but returned and should be OK, Erickson said.

• Defensive end James Brooks (ankle) remains questionable for this week.

NOTES

• True freshman Lawrence Guy has 32 tackles this season from the defensive tackle position, second-most in the Pac-10 behind UCLA’s Brigham Harwell, a senior and All-America candidate.

Guy’s total is especially impressive because he began the year at end and has started only the last four games at tackle. He had six stops at Oregon State.

• Erickson had no comment on a pass-interference call on cornerback Omar Bolden that extended a fourth-quarter Oregon State drive that ended with a field goal.

“I thought Omar made a good play, and I should leave it at that,” he said.

• Troy Nolan on Saturday returned an interception for a touchdown for the third time in his career. Two of them have been thrown by Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield.

• The time and television arrangements for ASU’s home game against Washington State on Nov. 15 are expected to be announced today.

It is unlikely that the contest will appear in either of the two TV windows available — 1:30 p.m. on ABC and 8:15 p.m. on Fox Sports Net — because two matchups are far more compelling: Arizona-Oregon and California-Oregon State. Arrangements could be made to broadcast the game locally.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Sun Devils visit winless Washington at 5 p.m. on Saturday. ASU last visited Seattle two years ago, winning in overtime when tight end Brent Miller made a diving touchdown catch.