Aztec Notebook : Depleted Secondary Going to Pick Up Some Slack at Safety

Ron Slack once thought his legacy might be the answer to a trivia question.

Slack was the San Diego State running back who last season caught the pass that gave quarterback Todd Santos the major-college record for career passing yardage.

Now he may be about to become the answer to a different kind of question: Just who is that new Aztec defensive back, anyway?

As of Saturday, the answer is the same: Ron Slack.

Slack, tied for third on the team in catches last season, was moved to strong safety when the Aztecs held their first full-team workout for the 1988 season. The change was made at Slack’s request. All parties expect the move to be permanent.

“I’m not making a change just to make a change,” Slack said. “I feel I can go over there and help.”

Said Coach Denny Stolz: “I got a look at him in practice, and it looks like a good move already.”

The Aztecs are in need of help in the secondary. Two starters return--free safety Lyndon Earley and cornerback Mario Mitchell--along with strong safety Casey Copeland and cornerback Clark Moses, both part-time starters a year ago. Beyond that, the Aztecs are thin.

The top reserve safeties--junior David Cooper and senior Gary Triplett--both missed time last season because of knee injuries. Johnny Walker redshirted as a freshman last season after coming from Southwest High School.

The remaining backups in the secondary also are inexperienced. Kevin Drayton is a junior transfer from Citrus College. Randy Peterson was switched from receiver in the spring and is awaiting the completion of summer school before he is eligible. Tony Nettles also is a converted receiver.

And William Dixion, a walk-on from Los Angeles who was expected to provide depth, has quit the team.

“Slack looked over there and saw we had a need,” Stolz said. “It was an unselfish move that could really help us.”

Slack, a 5-foot 11-inch, 190-pound junior from Muir High School in Pasadena, was used primarily out of the backfield as a receiver last season. He had more catches (42 for 369 yards) than carries (29 for 175 yards and 1 touchdown).

The move should not hurt the Aztecs’ depth at tailback, Stolz said.

Paul Hewitt, who rushed for 1,001 yards and led the nation with 24 touchdowns, returns at tailback. Also back are Tommy Booker, the team’s second-leading rusher; Lamont Parks, a senior from Oceanside, and Daryl Crawford, who led the San Diego Section in regular-season rushing as a senior three seasons ago at Montgomery High School.

The depth at receiver is so strong that Stolz said he intends to redshirt Robert Claiborne. Claiborne, a senior from Mount Miguel, was third among Aztec wide receivers last season with 26 catches for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns.

“He is too good a player to just be a backup,” Stolz said. “We want to save him and give a full season (in 1989).”

Aztec Notes

Joe Santos, a junior transfer from Contra Costa College, arrived in time for the afternoon workout. Santos, who was awaiting certification of work he did in summer school, will compete with Bill Kushner, a freshman from Fallbrook, for the punting job vacated by four-year starter Wayne Ross. . . . Jason Swaney, a reserve guard, is out several weeks with stress fractures in his foot. . . . Nose guard Pio Sagapolutele, who missed two days of practice earlier in the week with a viral infection, returned to practice.