San Diego State has developed several true freshmen in time to make the two-deep roster entering the season, but the Aztecs may be without two of those freshmen when they travel to Arizona State on Saturday.

On Wednesday, head coach Rocky Long revealed that backup edge linebacker Andrew Aleki and backup interior lineman Dominic Gudino will likely not travel with the team due to an unconfirmed illness.

Neither took part in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Both will be evaluated on Thursday, and if they are cleared and make it through practice without any issues or further symptoms, there is a chance one or even both of them will make the trip.

What is especially interesting is the timing of it all.

During fall camp in August, five players were held out from practices with confirmed cases of chickenpox - while several other players reported symptoms and were held out for precautionary reasons (the number of confirmed cases remained at five).

Since the virus, in most cases, takes a few weeks to really show its true symptoms, the timeline between then and now in regards to these two new cases seems a little suspicious.

The fact that Aleki and Gudino are both roommates also points toward another case of chickenpox, yet nothing has been confirmed since the initial five players were diagnosed (all returned to practice within a two-week span).

When pegged about what type of symptoms the two freshmen have shown, however, Long wasn't very into revealing any details.

"I'm not saying. No comment," he said. "They happen to be roommates. But I didn't say what it was. They just happen to both be sick."

Long said he wasn't aware if either of the two were "quarantined" but he did say that they were sent home by the team doctor on Tuesday after being 'deemed' as sick.

"[The team doctor] is not sure what it is," Long said. "If it was confirmed, I'd tell you. If he told me it was the flu, I'd tell you. What he said is 'they're sick.' But he doesn't know what it is."

When asked if either Aleki or Gudino had culture tests done back when the initial spread of chickenpox began, Long said he didn't know and that the team doctor hasn't informed him of anything.

Not that Long would want to know about team sicknesses, anyway.

"I told the doctor I didn't want to know anything - just which ones can play and which ones can't," he said. "They're suspecting that they're sick, and they got it from somebody else. It's contagious. But it's a privacy deal."

When asked if he had a guess on what the unconfirmed cases may be, Long said he had an idea, but...

"But I'm not telling you," he smirked.

While SDSU awaits the status of Aleki and Gudino for Saturday's game, the depth of the LB and OL positions is now in question.

Gudino was slated to come in and play if one of the starting centers or guards went down to injury.

If Gudino isn't available, Nick Gerhard or Garrison Young will have to be the replacements at center, while Gerhard will likely be the backup swing guard.

At OLB, senior Jay Henderson's already heavy playing time duties will be even greater with the absence of Aleki. (There is a possibility that DE Randy Ricks could participate in some drives at OLB.)

Not only that, but Aleki was playing on three of four special team units for the Aztecs.

Aztec scout teams prepare for ASU

Against a fast-paced, high caliber offense, you would think that SDSU's offensive scout team will be utilizing players that best mimic the Sun Devils star athletes like dual-threat quarterback Manny Wilkins, monster receiver N'Keal Harry and freak athlete running back Kalen Ballage.

But for SDSU's young defense, Coach Long hasn't even thought too much about specific gameplanning against ASU's personnel.

Instead, the Aztecs will be worrying about themselves before they even think about what the opponent is trying to do.

"It is purely based on formations, not on which players are where," Long said when asked about defending ASU's top skill players. "When you have an experienced team, we have ways to double cover certain guys. This group is way too young for that. They can't even get lined up right, so worrying about no. 7 [Ballage] is the least of our problems."

He's still a big problem, though. Ballage is as big and physical as former Hawaii back Joey Iosefa, but faster.

He's also as skilled as Rashaad Penny, but taller.

"This guy catches the ball well," said Long. "He's a lot like Penny, except he's 6-2."

Because of this, particularly during scout team periods, SDSU doesn't have anyone on the roster that can replicate Ballage's athletic ability even though they expect the Sun Devils to get him the ball early and often.

"So we do it by committee," Long said. "We'd love to [dedicate one scout team player to act as Ballage], but we don't have a guy."

The Aztecs scout team defense will sometimes have its members wear numbers of opposing star defensive players so that the first-team offense gets an idea of where he/they will be lining up (example: ASU linebacker Koron Crump, No. 4, lines up in a number of spots).

But that is as far as the coaches will go.

"On our first team defense, we don't make the scout team offense wear numbers," said Long, no matter their talent level. "We're training our defense to run our own stuff, not reacting to who the other guys are.

"With a veteran team you can do that. With a non-veteran team, you can't because all that does is confuse them even more."

In regards to Harry, a former freshman All-American and five star recruit, SDSU can't really key in on him when the Sun Devils have many capable pass-catchers in their arsenal.

"They have three receivers that can all beat you deep," he said. "You need a pass rush with four guys. If you [can't get any pressure] with four, they're going to complete 90 percent of their passes.

"Against New Mexico State, No. 12 [John Humphrey] ran right by two safeties in zone coverage and caught the ball for a 65-yard pass because the quarterback sat back there and could throw it that far.

"But if you can get a pass rush with four guys, you can do things to make it harder on them with your coverage."

Can't keep him off the field

Dakota Turner recently had his second major knee surgery (ACL/MCL) of his collegiate career when he left the Aztecs fall scrimmage in the first quarter last month.

Following test results, his career at SDSU seemed to be nearing its conclusion. But don't tell Turner that.

The senior defensive end is doing everything he can to make his return to the field during what potentially will be his last chance to play competitive football.

Earlier this week during his walk over to view practice, Turner joked that he was looking forward to playing against Arizona State.

Using crutches and all, that statement was clearly in jest.

But is a bowl game appearance out of the question?

Team doctors felt his knee was stable enough following analysis to "maybe" see the field at some point this season.

"When the doctors feel he's ready, he'll go practice," Long said on Wednesday. "Because of his mentality, I'm not surprised at all."

During both knee injuries - the first occurring during a kickoff return against Hawaii - Turner didn't remain on the field and wait for medical attention.

Instead, he got up on his own and walked his way over to the trainer's table.

His attitude entering surgery was no different.

"He told the doctor to do whatever he thought was best, but that he would like to return and play this year," Long said. "The doctors aren't saying they're sure about it, but they think there is a chance."

Notes

-Tight end David Wells (foot) may not return to the field for the Arizona State game.

Long is skeptical for Wells' return after watching him run during practices this week.

"He's not quite full speed yet," Long said.

The TE group may be SDSU's deepest position on the roster but that shouldn't take away from Wells' importance to the offense.

"We miss something with him not in there," Long said. "He's a really good player. "

-Long said that ASU QB Manny Wilkins sort of reminds him of former Cal QB Davis Webb, although that may have more to do with ASU's spread offensive scheme. Wilkins' is more of a typical spread quarterback who reads one side of the field before taking off and running.

Long thinks Wilkins' is more mature about his running ability this season compared to last year.

"He throws it well when he's under pressure and he's good at getting out of trouble. Last year he tried to get extra yards, this year he's sliding or getting out of bounds."

-True freshman quarterback Mark Salazar is now listed as the No. 3 quarterback, meaning he will travel with the team, joining Christian Chapman and Ryan Agnew.

One story to follow is the emergence of fellow frosh Cam Roane. Roane is no longer on the scout team, surpassing walk-on Neil Boudreau. There's a chance he takes over the No. 3 at some point this season.

-Long said on Wednesday that he has no problem with the reported NCAA proposal regarding transfers, which would allow student-athletes to transfer without penalty.

"You can transfer one time without any penalty. I'm for that," he said."

When asked if the passing of the proposal would lead to big programs poaching away star players at smaller schools with less concern about having to sit the player out for the year, Long made a great point.

"I think they already do. People are going to recruit a great player anyway because we're going to play a great player as a freshman. So it doesn't hurt them one bit to convince him to go there and redshirt.

"I'm sure the Power 5 guys will approach young players, yes."