While not quite at the same level as their in-state rivals, Arizona State has suffered their share of injuries over the past few months.
From All-Pac-10 cornerback Omar Bolden and starting wide receiver T.J. Simpson sidelined by season-ending knee injuries earlier this offseason to a mini-spate of injuries at various positions of late, the Sun Devils have been nicked fairly hard and their depth will be tested in 2011 regardless if they suffer another... oops. They did it again. And, unfortunately, in a very, very bad way.
Senior linebacker Brandon Magee, who along with Bolden was the heart and soul of the Sun Devils’ defense, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon on the eight play of Saturday’s scrimmage. Suffice to say, Magee will be on the shelf for the entire 2011 season.
The loss of Magee was, obviously, hitting his coaches and teammates hard.
“I feel extremely bad for him,’' Erickson said. “The guy’s a good football player. You lose somebody like that, that’s damaging to your football team.”
“It’s just huge, man,” senior defensive tackle Bo Moos told the Arizona Republic. “I think at this point we have to really start focusing on what we need to do to stay healthy because that’s a huge loss. He is probably our biggest leader on defense. He’s vocal. He does the right things. That’s just huge, man. I don’t even know what else to say about it.”
Magee will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by either Oliver Aaron or Colin Parker. Both of those players are seniors.
Last season, Magee started 11 games for the Sun Devils.
