Five San Diego Players Could Start for ASU

The Bruce Snyder era at Arizona State could begin this fall with a distinct San Diego flavor. After two weeks of spring football practice, it appears that five San Diegans could be in the Sun Devils’ starting lineup.

Snyder said Lenny McGill, a junior redshirt from Orange Glen, will start at left cornerback; Bob Brasher, a senior from Point Loma High, has the tight end spot; and Jeff Kysar, a redshirt sophomore from Serra, will be a starting offensive tackle.

Israel Stanley, a senior from Point Loma High, is vying for a starting spot at defensive tackle and Troy Martz, redshirt sophomore from Orange Glen, is pushing for the starting center position.

Although the five players were recruited by former ASU Coach Larry Marmie, Snyder said he expects to have a continuing San Diego presence in Tempe.

“That should be a real fertile ground for us to recruit,” said Snyder, who coached five years at Cal before coming to ASU. “It’s a natural. There’s no Pac-10 team in that area. We’re going to make a real firm commitment to recruiting there.”

Apparently, Snyder has already acted on that commitment.

He signed defensive tackle Darius Benford and linebacker Glenn Steele from Morse High this spring. Steele is a 6-2, 225-pound linebacker Snyder said has a chance to play inside linebacker and some special teams this season. Snyder said Benford, a 6-5, 270-pound defensive lineman, might be redshirted.

Snyder was already familiar with McGill, Brasher and Stanley after attempting to recruit them at Cal.

McGill, the 1989 San Diego Section triple jump champion, played all 11 games last season, starting two games at cornerback. He had one interception.

“He’s going to be an excellent cover guy,” Snyder said. “We play a lot of man to man and with his athletic ability, leaping ability, he’s perfect for us.”

Brasher started all 11 games at tight end last season, catching 22 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Kysar, 6-foot-7, 297 pounds, played sparingly last season.

Stanley missed last year after injuring his knee in the last game of the 1990 season. Martz played guard last season, but has impressed Snyder with his play at center in spring practice.

“He looks healthy and explosive,” Snyder said. “He’s so athletic. If he can remain healthy, he could be the starter or at least our No. 1 pass rusher on passing downs.”

But even with seven San Diego players at ASU, the recruiting war between Arizona and San Diego State is not totally one sided. SDSU Coach Al Luginbill, who coached at ASU for seven years, had four Arizonans on his roster last season, including starting free safety Damon Pieri from Glendale, Ariz.

“He’s over here a lot,” Snyder said. “We have to chase him out of here.”

More desert migration: Todd Cady, the 1991 San Diego Section baseball player of the year from Grossmont High, has cooled off after a fast start with the Sun Devils. Cady, who was hitting over .300 for the first month, is hitting .244 with two home runs and 22 RBIs as a designated hitter and first baseman.

Jeff Matranga, a transfer from U.S. International who played at Santana High, has been one of ASU’s most consistent starting pitchers. In 12 starts, he is 7-3 with a 3.87 ERA. Matranga has 73 strikeouts in 93 innings.

Price not right yet: Grossmont College’s Jerome Price won the state community college long jump championship last year with a leap of 25-6. But Saturday at the UC San Diego Invitational, Price was clearly not in peak form. He finished third with a jump of only 23-11 1/2.

After fouling two consecutive times, Price turned to one of his friends and considered some alternatives to jumping from the take-off board.

“I’m about ready to take off before the board, from the rubber,” he said. “Can you dive and land on your hands? Would they consider that a legal jump?”

Price, who averaged more than 20 points a game for Grossmont’s basketball team, said he is being recruited for track and basketball by Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State and San Diego State.

His choice from among the three?

“I’d like to go to Arizona State,” he said.