JONESBORO — Arkansas State's defensive line came into fall practice as one of the Red Wolves' strengths.
Not much has changed.
ASU returns plenty of experience on the defensive line, including senior defensive end Alex Carrington, 6-5, 285 pounds, who was recently named the Sun Belt Conference preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Carrington finished last season with 53 tackles and 10 1 /2 sacks.
"Alex has been a model student for us on and off the field," defensive line coach Kevin Peoples said after Monday's practice. "The way he conducts himself and treats people is unbelievable."
Carrington, scheduled to graduate in December with a 3.5 grade-point average, is on the Lott Trophy watch list and Lombardi Award watch list.
"I don't look at the preseason things really because I still have the season to play and prove myself," said Carrington, who was the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after the 2008 season.
Carrington is not the only returning starter on the line. Junior defensive tackle Bryan Hall, 6-1 284, also returns. He had 39 tackles and five sacks in 2008.
"I have been real happy so far this fall camp," said Peoples, who is counting on converted linebackers Justin Robertson, 6-2, 230, and Elroy Brown, 6-2, 232, to complement Carrington and Hall.
"Both guys, clearly, you would think are pass-rush guys, but they really developed into run guys, too, as well as the pass rush," Peoples said.
On the practice field Monday, the Red Wolves held a light two hour practice in shoulder pads and shorts after spending their first day attending class.
"Some of these guys are still trying to figure out what the different buildings are and where the classes are, but overall I thought it was a really good practice," ASU Coach Steve Roberts said.
ASU will return to the practice field at 3:30 this afternoon. The team will begin game-planning for its Sept. 5 opener with Mississippi Valley State on Thursday.
Sports, Pages 20 on 08/25/2009