Arizona State could start fourth-string QB after Brady White injury
The Arizona State offense is in a precarious spot.
ASU coach Todd Graham announced Monday that quarterback Brady White is out for the season after injuring his foot in the win over UCLA over the weekend. Per AZCentral.com, the injury is “serious” and “will likely require 10 to 12 months of recovery.”
White’s injury means the Sun Devils, now 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play, may be forced to start their No. 4 quarterback — true freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole — Saturday at Colorado.
[Visit Dr. Saturday on Facebook for stories you might have missed and chat with the writers]
There were three quarterbacks ahead of Sterling-Cole when preseason practice began. Those three — Manny Wilkins, White and Bryce Perkins — are now all out with injuries. Wilkins won the starting job but suffered a high ankle sprain in the Oct. 1 loss at USC. Wilkins’ injury moved White, a redshirt freshman, into the starting role against the Bruins until he left the game in the fourth quarter.
With Wilkins and White out, along with Perkins who has been nursing a neck injury since preseason practice, ASU was forced to burn Sterling-Cole’s redshirt late in the game. He played only two snaps and threw an interception in the end zone on one of them. On their final drive, the Sun Devils used running back Kalen Ballage as a Wildcat quarterback while trying to run out the clock. Sterling-Cole was lined up as a receiver on one of those plays.
[Cast your vote for Dr Saturday’s catch of the week]
For now, Graham is expecting Wilkins to be ready to go Saturday in Boulder.
Entering this week, Graham said he expects sophomore Manny Wilkins to start against Colorado. Wilkins started the season’s first five games but suffered a high-ankle sprain in an Oct. 1 loss at USC. Wilkins didn’t practice last week and watched last Saturday’s contest from the sideline, wearing a protective boot as White started against the Bruins.
A positive: Wilkins started running last week in the swimming pool.
“I fully intend on Manny being back,” Graham said. “Our plan is for him to practice by Thursday.”
If Wilkins can’t go, Sterling-Cole will likely get the nod in an important game versus the Buffs. The Sun Devils are tied atop the Pac-12 South standings with Utah right now, with Colorado a game behind.
“We’re working hard with Dillon to get him ready,” Graham said.
For more Arizona State news, visit ASUDevils.com.
– – – – – – –
Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
