TEMPE, AZ (CBS5) -
According to teammates, ASU running back Marion Grice is expected to be back with his team at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Saturday. He left Friday to be with his family after sources say his brother was killed over a pair of sneakers.
Teammates tried to stay upbeat during practice Sunday afternoon.
"It's in our minds thinking of him, but you know we have to come out here and focus on our things as well," said ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly.
Grice is one of the driving forces behind ASU's offense, with 17 touchdowns and more than 1,000 all purpose yards.
"Before he left the other day to go home he came to practice and wanted his team to pray for his brother and for him and his family. So you just pick up the slack. We're a family," said ASU head coach Todd Graham.
According to several posts by Grice's teammates on Twitter, Grice's brother was murdered over a pair of sneakers.
Investigators in Houston believe the gunman followed Grice's brother and his friend home from the mall in Houston on Friday morning after they bought the new Air Jordan's. The victim was shot in the head in what police are calling a robbery.
"That's tough for all of us to swallow man cause we're close to Marion so that makes us like brothers. It's hard for all of us," said ASU linebacker Brandon Magee.
"I really appreciate the Sun Devil nation putting their arms around him, we're a family and there are a lot of things a lot more important than football," said Graham.
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