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ASU football notebook: Fobbs-Valentino could become familiar name
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CAMP TONTOZONA - To most Arizona State football followers, he has been the defensive back whose surname is long and playing time has been short.
SOUNDSLIDES: The first Camp Tontozona under Dennis Erickson
But Angelo Fobbs-Valentino has an opportunity to increase his profile over the next three weeks, with first-string strong safety Troy Nolan sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Fobbs-Valentino, a junior, worked with the starters for much of practice on Wednesday.
“It’s exciting to get the chance,” Fobbs-Valentino said. “I feel like I’ve been getting better, and the coaches gave me an opportunity to step up. I have to answer that call.”
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Fobbs-Valentino, who has played in 12 career games (11 last year), will share time with Jeremy Payton at safety until Nolan returns. Pass coverage is Fobbs-Valentino’s strength, but he needs to improve his tackling.
“He’s getting better,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “The opportunity to start has been created for both Angelo and Jeremy, and both of them have risen to the occasion.”
In other depth-chart doings, true freshman Omar Bolden appears to have supplanted senior Chris Baloney at cornerback. Senior Robert Gustavis and sophomore Shaun Lavauo are sharing time at left guard.
INJURY REPORT
Brandon Smith rested his sprained ankle another day, and fellow receiver Michael Jones sat out with a sore back. Those two are projected starters, but the wideout competition is getting more cutthroat.
“Guys like Rudy Burgess, Kyle Williams, and Chris McGaha are practicing every snap,” Erickson said. “Kerry Taylor is getting better every day. If I am a receiver, I don’t want to be hurt for very long.”
Receiver Jeff Gray (concussion), linebacker Gerald Munns (ankle) and defensive linemen Eric Tanner and Alex Asi were either out or limited.
NO BIG DEAL
Even though it was a beautiful day — there were few clouds in the sky on Wednesday, and the turf was in terrific shape — Erickson did not wax poetic about his first practice at Camp Tontozona.
“Aw, practice is practice,” Erickson said. “Once I got into it, I forgot where I was, to tell the truth.”
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
Arizona State has two practices: from 8:50 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) and 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in full pads.
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