ASU Football: Rodriguez, D-linemen discuss Lole loss, excitement for opener

(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)

With just over a week until Arizona State Football returns to play, the Sun Devils are amped up after COVID-19 issues washed away much of their 2020 season.

“I’m starting to itch,” senior tight end Curtis Hodges said. “It’s hard to sleep at night sometimes. I’m watching highlight videos. I can’t wait to get out there. It’s exciting for sure.”

While excitement continues to grow for the upcoming season, ASU did suffer a recent setback. Senior defensive tackle Jermayne Lole announced on Aug. 18 that he received surgery after a triceps injury, which could potentially keep him out for the rest of the season. The defensive line still has a strong group of veterans to lead the way and young talent that will have the chance to step up in the wake of the injury.

After Monday’s practice, members of the defensive line and defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez spoke to the media to discuss the impact of Lole’s injury and how the unit is coming along as the season approaches.

Lole’s injury felt by Rodriguez, brings unit together

Even though ASU only played four games last year, Lole proved he was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the Pac-12. The expectations were high for him coming into this year, as Pro Football Focus ranked Lole as the No. 24 player in the nation.

The loss this season is seismic on the field, but it seemed to touch Rodriguez off the field as well.

“Injuries are the hardest part of this business, period,” Rodriguez said. “You get so close to your guys … but in particular, I have such a love and respect for Jermayne. When you lose Jermayne, you lose more than a player. It’s our obligation as a team to do our best to replace the production, but you can’t replace the person. He has a presence.

“For Jermayne, he needs to know that he still has a future. We still love him and it’s a gut punch and it’s about as heartbreaking as it gets, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Graduate senior defensive tackle DJ Davidson talked about how the team will employ a next-man-up mentality to move forward after Lole’s injury.

“We’re a representation of Jermayne,” Davidson said. “So we’re playing every day as if he was there, and keeping him involved in every film study, just making sure he still feels loved.”

Davidson also said there is no added pressure, but “it’s more of just making sure that we can step into his shoes of what he did. Ultimately just be accountable for what we have to do every play.”

Rodriguez and Davidson both noted that players like redshirt freshman defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott and graduate senior defensive end Shannon Forman have progressed in fall camp.

Forman’s “last dance”

Forman, a Louisiana native, has had a productive career at ASU and now has big goals for his fifth season, while still wanting to just enjoy the experience.

“The Chicago Bulls had their last dance, [and] I got my last dance,” Forman said. “Honestly I just want to have fun. I see my family at LSU, they [are] holding titles like that. I want to do the same thing. Rose Bowl, national championship, I want to do that … bring something to Arizona that’s never been done.”

With Lole out, Forman acknowledged that his role as a leader is now heightened, and is focusing on being humble and uplifting his teammates.

“Game-mode right now” for Davidson

While camp is meant to feel things out and get comfortable as a team, the mindset eventually shifts into preparing for a game environment. Davidson has already made that transition.

“I think it’s game-mode right now every practice,” he said. “We have to make sure that we just are there in every moment envisioning if [the] guard’s pulling, the center’s coming at me … just envisioning those things. It’s every day for me.”

Redshirt junior defensive end Michael Matus said that the defense is “definitely starting to get there” and is focusing on Southern Utah’s offense.

“AP (defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator Antonio Pierce) said the other day – [when] we were running after practice – we got to get in game shape,” Matus said. “I think a lot of people can attest that you can run as many half-gassers you want, but getting on the field and playing 11 snaps in a row is awful. There’s no comparison. Especially the way meetings are run, AP is really taking the reins and I’m all for it. We got a long season ahead of us and we got to get started right.”

Both Matus and Davidson were excited for the return of fans and the bright lights on Sept. 2, but the most memorable line of practice came from Forman.

“Just get your popcorn ready for this year, that’s all I can say,” he said.