Sun Devils developing depth at cornerback

During the offseason, it was far and away the most downloaded Internet skin flick among Arizona State fans, who salivated while watching it. Minds out of the gutter; we’re talking pigskin.

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When Omar Bolden made his Southern California-cap-tossing, ASU-cap-donning commitment on cable television in February — the footage is still available on YouTube — he was labeled a potential savior at a position where the Sun Devils had serious need: cornerback.

“The opportunity to play early was the big thing for me,” said Bolden, an Ontario, Calif., resident who was one of his state’s most sought-after players. “Obviously, every team has good people, but I felt that I would have a chance to play right away (at ASU) than other places.”

Less than a week into fall practice, Bolden finds himself paying his dues before ascending up the depth chart. The speedy 5-foot-11, 200-pounder usually lines up on the third team.

It is a rare freshman talent that can join a Division I school and play at corner immediately, especially in the pass-happy Pac-10. But Bolden’s status is also an indication of how the returning Sun Devil cornerbacks have performed.

For now, Bolden has not needed to be a savior.

“We’ve started to develop some depth at corner,” first-year coach Dennis Erickson said. “I feel better about things at that position now than I did at the end of spring.”

Reliable senior Justin Tryon has long been entrenched at one cornerback spot, but ASU has desperately been seeking a starter on the other side. Senior Chris Baloney has been given the first opportunity to win the job, and he has held his own through the first five practices.

Junior Jeremy Payton, a converted safety, and sophomore Grant Crunkleton are the second-teamers and have also been solid.

Senior Littrele Jones, sophomore Travis Smith and true freshman Jonathan Clark are also in the mix. Senior Chad Green would have been, but he suffered serious head injuries in an automobile accident in April.

“As a group, (the cornerbacks) are hyped up going into the season,” Payton said. “Someone is going to take the other spot over; I’m not worried about it. We’re working hard, so we’ll cover it.”

Covering anybody was a challenge for ASU in 2006. Though the defense had a marked statistical improvement from the previous season, injuries and inconsistency plagued the cornerbacks.

Former coach Dirk Koetter was so desperate he moved wide receiver Rudy Burgess to corner; he suffered a sprained ankle in his second game at the position and did not play again until seeing limited special-teams action in the Hawaii Bowl. Burgess has returned to offense full time.

Baloney was one of those injured; he missed the final seven games of last season because of leg injuries.

“It feels good to be out here working on what I need to get better on,” Baloney said. “Being out for so long, there’s a lot of things I need to work on. I’m trying to work on the little things each day.”

Baloney cited raising his aggressiveness and instinct as what he needs to do to hold the first-string duties. Payton, the biggest of the aspirants, has a strength edge; he is striving to improve his footwork.

Bolden, a star running back, safety and track sprinter in high school, has relied heavily on speed. Since arriving at ASU, Bolden — who has yet to be approved by the NCAA’s freshman-eligibility clearinghouse but can, for now, practice with the team — has crammed on technique.

“There’s still a lot of work for me to do,” Bolden said. “I don’t have the fundamentals that everybody else does. I haven’t played a lot of corner before. I have a lot of things to pick up.”

The questions concerning the cornerback spot opposite Tryon have lingered since the end of last season. But Baloney said he has been challenged, not offended, by them.

“At the corner spot, we are a family, so we pick each other up,” Baloney said. “The talk didn’t irritate me all that much, but it put the thought in my mind that I need to work harder. It’s a competition out here, and it will take a lot of hard work to be the best.”