Myles Jack says he still thinks about last year’s loss to ASU

Myles Jack had to stand on the sideline last year and watch Arizona State clinch the Pac-12 South. He had been moved from linebacker to running back after a slew of offensive injuries, and had to sit and watch the Sun Devils score 38 points and run for 223 yards.

On Monday, three days before this year’s rematch against Arizona State, Jack said that he still thinks about that game.

“That could have changed a lot of games around here,” Jack said. “We could have gone to the Pac-12 championship and competed against Stanford, so yeah, it would have changed a lot of things. I think about that game a lot, me and my offensive carries, I kind of think of that and every once in a while I go back and watch that game, just to see what I did wrong. That was a tough game, a hard game to swallow.”

He added: “There were a couple times where I kind of wished I was out there, I was kind of wondering. But I didn’t know any of the plays they’d put in for ASU that week, I was kind of just watching, but yeah, I definitely wished I could have played in that game last year.”

This year, Jack will mostly be on the other side of the ball. He’s going to have his hands full at linebacker, though, as Sun Devil running back D.J. Foster has already run for 510 yards and five touchdowns this season.

“He’s pretty much their guy,” Jack said. “He does everything ... he’s a total back. And we’re excited for a challenge like that. I think he’s third in the NCAA in rushing right now, so I mean, he’s big time. I’m excited to go against a guy like that.”

As a running back, Jack has just eight carries on the year. He’s entered the game as a change of pace back, but has averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. The offense hasn’t come as easily as it did last year.

“More on reading the blocks, that’s what I’m really working on this year, just following my guys, because last year I could kind of feel my way and make something happen,” Jack said. “Now, teams are filling gaps and I really have to follow my blocks.”

He added: “I definitely feel their presence. I remember in the Texas game I looked up and all three of their linebackers were just staring at me. They knew what was about to happen.”

Defenses, it seems, are figuring out what to expect from Jack, the running back. Jack, the linebacker, is happy just to be off the sideline.

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook