AZTEC UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Injuries Might Force Duncan to Remain at Defensive End

SAN DIEGO —  Nose tackle Eric Duncan moved to defensive end during part of Thursday’s game against UCLA and, because the Aztec defensive line has been hurt by injuries, will likely play there in Hawaii Saturday.

Starting defensive ends Turaj Smith and Ramondo Stallings each suffered sprained right ankles at Air Force Sept. 21, and trainer Brian Barry ruled out Smith for the Hawaii game. Barry said Stallings will return to practice this afternoon.

Tyrone Morrison, another defensive end with a sprained right ankle, has also been ruled out of Saturday’s game by Barry.

If Stallings can’t play, SDSU is left with five defensive linemen. Duncan can swing between end and nose tackle, and George Glaze and Sebastian Glaze would likely start--Sebastian at nose guard and George at end.

Duncan said it is no big deal to him.

“After a couple of series’ (against UCLA), I started getting the feel of it,” Duncan said. “I started making some plays, and I think that’s the key. Once you start making plays, you start feeling comfortable at the position.”

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill, who has been concerned with the rash of injuries that have plagued his team since the beginning of fall camp, had a new theory for some hamstring injuries.

“The only tie-in we can find with our wide receivers’ hamstrings is that some of them were working out with the track coach over the summer,” Luginbill said. “Maybe their muscles are tired.”

Receivers Patrick Rowe, Keith Williams and Will Tate and defensive back Gary Taylor all worked out under the direction of track Coach Rhan Sheffield over the summer. Rowe and Taylor suffered minor hamstring injuries. Williams and Tate each pulled hamstrings during fall camp and essentially have not played all season.

“I’m not putting any blame there,” Luginbill said. “It’s the only common denominator we can find.”

Luginbill said he will not necessarily stop players from working out with the track team in the future, but that he will monitor it more closely.