ASU notes: Kelly's return aids receivers
CAMP TONTOZONA, Ariz. -- Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly returned to full practice duties Wednesday, and it was his receivers that benefited most.
Kelly missed Monday's scrimmage in Tempe and was limited in Tuesday's first practice at Camp Tontozona due to a gash on his forehead suffered in a walkthrough on Sunday. The cut required 11 stitches and made it painful for Kelly to put on a helmet.
In regular duty Wednesday, Kelly showed no signs of discomfort.
"It's just throbbing," Kelly said of his forehead after the morning practice.
With Kelly behind center, sophomore Richard Smith and junior college transfer Jaelen Strong both had good days, perhaps their best of the fall.
Smith caught a deep touchdown of about 45 yards from Kelly during one 11-on-11 period, leaving coach Todd Graham impressed.
"Rick is the most improved guy on offense," Graham said. "He's going to be a dynamic receiver. Home-run shot today, and if you've been around here for the last year and a half you ain't seen a lot of those."
Smith, who played in all 13 games of his freshman season, appears to have a solid hold on a starting job at the "Z" receiver position.
Strong, who got started a few days late because he was not academically cleared when ASU opened camp, looked as if he has made quick strides adjusting to going against a Division I defense.
"I think he was going against some very, very experienced corners (early in camp), and he kind of didn't know what to do," Graham said. "He's starting to figure that out. ... Today you could start to see a little bit of his potential, but he's still got a long way to go to be where he needs to be."
Strong has been running with the first-team offense all week and looked better with each day, though he's still adjusting to the way ASU does things.
"I fee like I've been a little shaky getting adjusted," Strong said. "These guys are coached, very good techniques, so I can't cheat anything out there."
The Pac-12 Network had a big presence at camp Wednesday, with one crew already on hand filming ASU for "The Drive" and another arriving as part of the Network's fall camps tour.
Analyst and former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was part of the Pac-12 Network team on hand and watched attentively as ASU practiced. He took a few moments to share his thoughts with reporters. A few highlights:
-- Neuheisel ran through all of ASU's offensive pieces -- Kelly, D.J. Foster, Marion Grice, Chris Coyle -- and finished it with this: "If Jaelen Strong turns out to be what I think he can be, they're going to be tough to stop."
-- On ASU's game against Wisconsin: "That Wisconsin game at home will be huge, but I expect them to win because they're going to be jacked. They're playing a physical team, but they're practicing physically, practicing against two-back (formations), and they're going to have a home crowd."
-- On Kelly among Pac-12 quarterbacks: "I think he's the forgotten one. And I think it's only those who don't (watch Kelly) all the time that forget it."
Freshman linebacker Chans Cox has already moved around a few times in camp, going from Devilbacker to Sam linebacker and even lining up at defensive end. But Wednesday brought a much different move: Cox worked with ASU's tight ends.
Graham said coaches just want to see Cox at the position, and he will return to defense Thursday, but it sounds as if they might take another look later on.
"Right now it was just something I was trying for the day," Cox said. "There might be more times I go over to the offensive side of the ball. I just wanted to get used to it. Coaches just wanted me going over there a few times to get some reps so if they ever need to switch over I could."
Cox played fullback in high school and said ASU's H-back position has similarities.
-- Defensive lineman Mo Latu was not with the team Wednesday. He returned to Phoenix on Tuesday night and traveled to California to deal with a family emergency. He is expected to be gone for the next few days.
-- ASU president Michael Crow attended Wednesday's practice. He was to climb "Mount Kush" with the team later in the day.
-- Defensive back Damarious Randall, running back Kyle Middlebrooks and receivers Joe Morris and Cameron Smith were limited due to injuries.
-- Freshman Marcus Ball got first reps with the first team at field safety position during the first 11-on-11 period. He and Laiu Moeakiola are still sharing time with the first team. Graham said Ball may get a look at the Spur linebacker spot once Randall is able to practice at field safety.
-- Walk-on punter Dom Vizzare continues to outshine freshman Matt Haack. He pinned most of his kicks inside the 20-yard line Wednesday, though he still has to get kicks off faster. Haack had a better day than Tuesday but continues to be inconsistent.