SPORTS

ASU football's Jaxon Hood never doubted he would return from absence

Doug Haller
azcentral sports
Arizona State defensive lineman Jaxon Hood rushes during a drill at practice in Tempe on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014.

Jaxon Hood was away from the Arizona State football team for 26 days, but not once did he doubt his future with the Sun Devils.

"No, never," the junior defensive tackle said. "That was never in the picture."

Hood on Tuesday talked with news reporters for the first time since rejoining the team Thursday at Camp Tontozona. He had missed the first two weeks of preseason camp because of a personal issue. Throughout Hood's absence, coach Todd Graham maintained that Hood remained in good standing within the program.

Asked if he could shed light on the situation, Hood said: "No, I can't. It was a personal issue. And I'm just going to leave it at that."

He's just glad to be back on the field.

"I wanted to be here, but I had to take care of my business,'' Hood said. "It's great to be back. It was great motivation, and it kept me sane, knowing that I was going to come back to my team."

It hasn't taken Hood long to earn back a spot on the first team.

Since the Sun Devils returned from Camp Tontozona, he has lined up with the first-team defensive line. Hood — listed at 6 feet 2 and 300 pounds — admits he's not in game shape but added he's already lost 11 pounds since starting practice.

"When the lights come on, I'll be ready,'' he said.

With 17 career starts, Hood is ASU's most experienced defensive player. In 2012, he became the sixth player in school history to start his first game, the first of 12 starts he made that season. Last year, Hood battled a hamstring injury and ultimately lost his starting job to then-senior Davon Coleman. He finished with 17 tackles, including three for a loss.

"I got cleared, but I was playing on a leg and a half,'' Hood said. "You know, it's rough, but that's a part of football, injuries and stuff. If you ask me, I was primed for a pretty big season. You guys saw my play against Wisconsin. It wasn't a matter of losing my job; it was a matter of getting hurt."

Being away from the team was difficult, Hood said. He missed his teammates. He missed the competition. He said he no longer would complain about long practices or hard coaching. He also said he's grateful for his relationship with Graham.

"Coach Graham means everything to me,'' Hood said. "He's the father I never had. I look up to him. I believe everything he says, good and bad. He's an awesome leader. He has so much ambition and passion … when I'm 50 years old, that's who I want to be. I can't say enough good things about him."

Extra points

Graham wasn't pleased with Tuesday's practice, particularly the defensive effort. "It was just the way it started off,'' he said. "The body language. A little immaturity here and there. That's where we're showing our inexperience."

• Freshman running back Kalen Ballage — who missed last week because of a back issue — is starting to do more. Before getting banged up, Ballage was of the more impressive newcomers in ASU's preseason camp.