ASU football notebook: Safety Floyd set to return from injury

The injury - a lacerated kidney - just sounds excruciating.

And while Clint Floyd was in real pain after suffering the injury during Arizona State's game at Southern California on Oct.11, the disappointment of having a breakout true freshman season abbreviated hurt just as much. The safety is expected to return for the Sun Devils' game against UCLA on Friday night.

"I was a little upset, but I know that things happen for a reason," said Floyd, a product of Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. "I'm still healthy. I'll play again. Everything's good."

After tests revealed no blood in his urine, Floyd, who missed four games, has been cleared to practice.

"We could use him on special teams this week," coach Dennis Erickson said.

Floyd impressed during preseason drills and moved up the depth chart. The USC game was his second start.

Later that day, Floyd discovered blood in his urine and knew that something was wrong.

"The first couple of weeks, there was a lot of pain," Floyd said. "But when the medication kicked in, I felt a lot better."

As the Sun Devils left the field following a practice earlier this week, Floyd tried to leave no doubt about how he is physically, performing a forward flip.

"I'm glad to be back out here," Floyd said. "I've been waiting a long time to get cleared."

INJURY REPORT

Defensive tackle David Smith, who sat out the Washington State game last week with a nagging neck stinger, is unlikely to play on Friday.

"He's still trying to get his strength back," Erickson said. "I wouldn't say that he's out right now, but he's very questionable."

Senior Paul Unga made his first DivisionI start in Smith's place last week.

HOME FINALE

Quarterback Rudy Carpenter will play his final game at Sun Devil Stadium against a UCLA program that recruited him out of Westlake (Calif.) High School.

Carpenter - whose string of 41 consecutive starts is the longest in the nation for a quarterback - will face a Bruins defense that has allowed just 164.2 passing yards a game, second lowest in the Pac-10 (behind USC) and sixth fewest in the bowl subdivision.

"I think they are one of the better defenses in the Pac-10," Carpenter said. "I think their front four is good, with Brigham Harwell and Brian Price, probably two of the better defensive tackles in college football. They have a solid linebacker corps, both their corners are pretty good and both their safeties are pretty good."

TALKING TURKEY

On Thursday - Thanksgiving Day - the Sun Devils will go through their typical day-before-game meetings routine before gathering for a holiday dinner at the team hotel.

Erickson said that, with a game 24 hours later, the players will be allowed to partake within reason.

"The definition of 'stuffed' depends on what position you play," Erickson said, smiling.