Report: Door still open for Jaxon Hood's return

According to Doug Haller of AZ Central, the door is still open for Jaxon Hood to return to the Sun Devils next season.

ASU coach Todd Graham says DT Jaxon Hood (personal issues) will not participate in spring practice but it's possible he could return in fall

— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) February 20, 2015

Hood's case is a curious one. He missed most of preseason camp leading up to Camp Tontozona last season, but returned in time and joined the team at Camp T. He then missed every game after the Nov. 1 date with Utah with what Graham deemed, "personal issues." He recorded 10 total tackles last season, 2.5 for loss along with two passes defended. Graham definitively said Hood would likely miss the rest of the 2014 season (which he did) on Nov. 18 after the loss to Oregon State.

If Hood does return, it would be his senior season in 2015. He showed promise as a freshman and was named a freshman All-American in 2012, a campaign he finished with 26 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks. In 2013, he logged 17 tackles with three tackles for loss in 12 games.

Hood's return could weigh heavily on how the defensive line depth chart plays out next season. Tashon Smallwood is returning for his sophomore year and big man Mo Latu will be a redshirt senior. ASU will also have a couple younger options available in redshirt freshman Connor Humphreys and newcomers George Lea and Joseph Wicker.

As of Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. the official roster found here on the Sun Devils website does not list Hood's name.