ASU senior Zach Krula on solid footing

CAMP TONTOZONA - In the days before the third surgery on his left ankle, Zach Krula stared at the scars from his two previous operations and made peace with the possibility of never playing football again.

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That, however, was the least of his health worries. If the third time was not a charm, Krula would likely walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

“I’m an all-or-nothing kind of guy,” Krula said. “If I couldn’t play, I’d be able to accept it. But the thought of struggling just to get around, that’s something that ticked me off.”

Fortunately for Krula, it never came to that. Once again, he is running on the field and hitting people for Arizona State. Still, the 6-foot-7, 320-pound senior — a first-string right tackle who played guard prior to his injury — treasures the 18 months in which he had no football.

“Getting hurt was a good thing for me,” Krula said. “I got a chance to take a deep breath and refocus, and I fell in love with football again. I wouldn’t trade my situation with anyone.”

Krula has not played in a game since Sept. 17, 2005, when he suffered a gruesome broken ankle in a game against Northwestern at Sun Devil Stadium. Due to his missing nearly two full seasons with the injury, he was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

“He hasn’t missed a beat and gotten better each day,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “I haven’t noticed anything that would even suggest he was injured.”

Resuming a daily football grind has not been an issue for Krula, who broke through the physical and psychological barriers of returning from injury after spring practice.

“Over the summer, I ran a lot with my ankle brace off,” Krula said. “I’ve stopped thinking of myself as someone recovering from surgery long ago. I think of myself as a football player.”

Learning a new position makes Krula’s comeback even more impressive, offensive line coach Gregg Smith said.

“Those are a couple of big hurdles he’s cleared,” Smith said. “First, you have to feel confident that you are totally healthy. He feels that way right now. His injury is not a big deal for him. Right now, it’s all about trying to play tackle and being as sound as he can be.”

Krula said he has not been given a clear explanation for the first two surgeries being unsuccessful. The player has his own theory: “I don’t think the guys that operated on me did a good job,” he said.

After the first surgery, the pins used to hold the ankle in place were too small for Krula’s body weight. The second time, the bones did not heal quickly enough to keep up with the physical demands of Krula’s rehabilitation.

Had the third surgery not taken, his ankle would have been fused, severely restricting its movement.

While sidelined, Krula earned his interdisciplinary studies (education and sociology) degree and served as an assistant coach at Mesa Westwood High. That stint was a vital training ground. Krula plans to teach at the gradeschool level and coach.

“It stopped being fun because it started to feel like a job,” Krula said. “But those kids are not in it for a Nike scholarship or to get on television. They are playing for the love of the game, and they had great intensity and worked hard every day. They brought the love back for me.”

The experience of teaching others has made the transition from guard to tackle easier.

Krula provided instruction for each offensive-line position at Westwood, which he said runs an offense similar to ASU’s. As a result, when he received Erickson’s playbook, there was nothing foreign.

“He’s a smart player who understands the game,” Smith said. “Understanding guard and tackle are different things, but he has the experience to know not just his position, but all of the others.

“When he makes a mistake, he knows it and gets very upset at himself, and that’s good. I want him to be accountable.”

These days, on-field mistakes are minor annoyances. He is back on the field, back playing football. And, he believes, playing it better.

The all-or-nothing guy is having it all.

“I’d love to not have these scars on my ankle,” Krula said. “But because of that, I’ve got an extra year to play with a lot of new coaches and players and a new offense. This season is all about fun for me.”

SCOUTING REPORT: OFFENSIVE LINE

Arizona State has few worries among the more experienced members of its offensive line. The Sun Devils return all five starters from the Hawaii Bowl last season, and veteran Zach Krula is back after a nearly twoyear absence.

The key is developing depth.

Four starting positions appear set: Mike Pollak at center, Brandon Rodd at left tackle, Paul Fanaika at right guard and Krula at right tackle. Senior Robert Gustavis is trying to hold off sophomore Shaun Lauvao at right guard.

Julius Orieukwu and Richard Tuitu’u are backups with experience, but the remaining reserves are green.