ASU Football notebook: Miller might be able to play

Arizona State tight end Brent Miller ran and took part in individual drills in practice on Tuesday, giving the team hope that a medial collateral ligament sprain in his knee will not keep him out this week.

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“He did a lot,” coach Dennis Erickson said.

“He will practice more (today), and I look for him to have a pretty good chance to play.”

Erickson was less optimistic about star running back Ryan Torain (knee, ankle), whom he called “doubtful” for Saturday’s game against San Diego State.

But the coach added that Torain’s status could change from day-to-day.

Miller was having such a frustratingly eventful first two contests to this season, about the only thing left to happen was an injury.

Surely and unfortunately enough, it happened, as he suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain late in the third quarter against Colorado on Saturday night.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” said Miller, who in the first two games has had multiple drops, two fumbles and a touchdown-negating penalty.

“The first game was a bad one, but last week was OK. I blocked well. But I don’t think I had a fumble in college before. To have two in the first two games stinks.”

Safety Brett Nenaber (hamstring) and running back Jarrell Woods (ankle) should return this week.

But wide receiver Brandon Smith (ankle) did not dress on Tuesday.

Wide receiver Michael Jones (back) wore an orange (noncontact) jersey.

MUNNS MANIA

Linebacker Gerald Munns’ play during the preseason made him a player to watch, and the sophomore has received a lot of chances to be looked at. In two games, Munns and starting middle linebacker Morris Wooten have gotten nearly the same amount of snaps at the position.

The blowout nature of the Sun Devils’ first two games has been a factor in the distribution of playing time, but Munns has provided the middle linebacker spot with little dropoff when he enters.

He has five tackles (to Wooten’s six) with two stops for loss and a sack.

“With his height and speed, he isn’t the biggest or fastest player in the world, but he plays like it,” Erickson said.

“He’s a football player. That’s how I describe it. There are a lot of guys like him playing in the NFL. He’s got a nose for the football, and he’s improved because he sees things so well.”

As a true freshman, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Munns played in all 13 games last season, starting two.

“That experience made me a lot more confident,” said Munns, a graduate of Chandler Hamilton High.

“I came into (this season) used to the game speed. I can just read my keys and play football. I’m not thinking and worrying a lot out there.”