Tackle Britton weighing NFL draft options

Eben Britton said he’s “ready to go” as the Arizona Wildcats’ rivalry game with Arizona State nears.

Whether he’s ready to leave UA for good is less clear.

Britton, the Wildcats’ junior offensive tackle, has yet to decide whether he’ll declare for the NFL draft after this season.

“I’m excited about all that stuff, but I’m not worried about it right now,” he said. “I have to see this season out, then I’ll talk to my family at the end of the year, weigh my options and see how that goes.”

Britton, a 6-foot-6-inch, 310-pound beast, already has some influential fans.

Analyst Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. lists Britton as the seventh-best player, and second-best offensive lineman, heading into the 2009 draft. McShay, who also is an ESPN contributor, wrote that Britton “has the size, potential and athletic ability to develop into a starting right tackle in the NFL.”

NFLDraftScout.com lists Britton as the second-best tackle in the country.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said Britton is the fourth-best junior tackle in America.

Kiper, however, does not list Britton as one of the top five tackles available. His list includes Ole Miss’ Michael Oher, the subject of Michael Lewis’ book, “The Blind Side,” as well as Baylor’s Jason Smith, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Oklahoma’s Phil Loadholt and South Carolina’s Jamon Meredith.

For now, Britton said he’s more concerned with ASU than any pro team.

Britton was on the sidelines as a recruit when UA stunned the Sun Devils 34-27 in 2004, but has lost both games as a player.

GRIGSBY TO START

Nicolas Grigsby will start at tailback Saturday, UA coach Mike Stoops said, although backup Keola Antolin is expected to share playing time.

Grigsby, a sophomore, has started every game this season — even though his workload has been steadily decreasing.

Grigsby carried 17 times for 56 yards in a Week 10 loss to Oregon before being benched. He had just six touches for 11 yards in UA’s loss to Oregon State.

Antolin, meanwhile, has rushed a combined 45 times for 201 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games.

“They’re going to see the same amount of playing time,” offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said. “We’ll see who gets hot, who’s playing well, and we’ll make our decision based on that.”

FULL HOUSE

Saturday’s game is listed as a sellout — or at least something close to it. Only a handful of single tickets remain for the “Duel in the Desert,” according to the UA athletic department. ASU has sold out its ticket allotment of 2,800.

EXTRA POINTS

Dykes said backup quarterback Matt Scott will see playing time against ASU. Scott last played against Oregon, rushing four times for 39 yards.