Arizona Desert Swarm - Arizona football depth chart: 2016 position group previews for the WildcatsYour No. 1 free source for all things Arizona Wildcatshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46873/ds-fave.png2016-08-27T12:07:06-07:00http://www.azdesertswarm.com/rss/stream/122421912016-08-27T12:07:06-07:002016-08-27T12:07:06-07:00Will Wildcats use two quarterbacks in 2016?
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<figcaption>Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Arizona coaches seem confident they have two QBs they can win with</p> <p id="dXaGay">Every year under Rich Rodriguez, it’s the same preseason headline....a quarterback competition.</p>
<p id="h8StkZ">Even with a quarterback set to begin his third year as the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> starter, it happened again, and will likely continue through at least the first part of the regular season.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key losses: Jerrard Randall</p>
<p>Key returners: <span>Anu Solomon</span>, <span>Brandon Dawkins</span>, <span>Zach Werlinger</span></p>
<p>Key newcomer: Khalil Tate</p>
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<p id="E73ghh">While it’s true that both <span>Solomon</span> and <span>Dawkins</span> have been splitting first-team reps evenly throughout fall camp, it would be shocking to see someone besides Solomon getting the start in the season-opener barring some sort of injury.</p>
<p id="QJI8Ui">"I know we have two good ones, probably both ready to play," quarterbacks coach <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmS5pTcCdy0">Rod Smith said after the team’s final practice</a> of fall camp. Rich Rodriguez has echoed those sentiments throughout the last month as well.</p>
<p id="IZ1fuu">In the spring, <span>Dawkins</span> received a bit of a boost after Solomon missed several practices with a hamstring injury. This allowed the redshirt sophomore to take consistent reps with the first team, and to get more comfortable in the system.</p>
<p id="hdUJ5v">"It’s given <span>Brandon Dawkins</span> a chance to run with the ones for three-quarters of the spring, and not just because Anu’s hurt," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QduDU8H8npU">Smith said way back in March</a>. "I’d put Brandon in with the ones to create some competition. He’s better than he was in the fall."</p>
<p id="jSiUQR">The ability for Dawkins to be more comfortable with the first team may prove to be invaluable at some point in the season. Solomon has dealt with injuries in each of his first two years as the starter, which resulted in decreased production at the end of the 2014 campaign, and two missed starts in 2015.</p>
<p id="y88DhY">One of those missed starts was the final regular season game against ASU. Jerrard Randall started that game, but Dawkins came in and threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns while trying to lead an Arizona comeback.</p>
<p id="JNnD8p">That comeback fell short after a couple of late interceptions, but it at least made people wonder if Dawkins was a legit starting threat.</p>
<p id="fkWtLF">And thus the competition was born.</p>
<p id="HsBpN6">"The competition is more than what people perceive," Dawkins said about his relationship with Solomon. "People hear ‘Oh we’re best friends and this and that’, and we are, but at the end of the day we’re both out there on the field competing to win this job and do a lot better than we did last season."</p>
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<p id="cpWei0">But it’ll take a lot for Dawkins to beat Solomon out.</p>
<p id="uzGOh6">"Obviously the one thing Anu has is he’s battle-tested," Smith added after a spring practice in March. "He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s had a lot of success, plus he understands what we’re doing offensively. It’s going to take someone coming in who’s as smart as Anu, make as smart or better decisions than Anu, and be able to function with what we’re doing on offense and score points."</p>
<p id="AxCbP2">"Brandon proved to me he could do that against Arizona State," continued Smith. "Some people don’t think he had the greatest game, but for such a tough situation, I thought he came in and played very well, particularly in certain spots. He kept us in the game, and to me he proved he’s worthy to get in the competition."</p>
<p id="ZQ4ZDO">"Can he overtake it? We’ll see."</p>
<p id="iTKKt0">For what it’s worth, Solomon was the first quarterback on the field during Arizona’s Beanie Bowl this past Thursday.</p>
<p id="pvjIsI">Behind the two is highly-regarded true freshman Khalil Tate. Although Tate was on campus during the spring, that’s still not quite enough time to allow himself to get in on the quarterback competition heading into the opener. Several times throughout fall camp, Rodriguez has said that his freshman QB’s head is still spinning trying to piece together the offense.</p>
<p id="cpbKvI">Tate is so athletic that there’s a slight chance we actually see him at wide receiver at some point this year, but I get the feeling the coaching staff would rather redshirt him instead of burning a year of eligibility for that.</p>
<p id="iuSej4">Behind them will be a couple of walk-ons. Redshirt sophomore <span>Zach Werlinger</span> scored a touchdown against NAU last year, and true freshman <span>Gunther Johnson</span> will get serious work with the scout team this year.</p>
<p id="XDpFa8">But it appears the Arizona coaches feel confident in two guys right now and their ability to win games. Solomon will probably start, but should anything happen, there’s a competent backup waiting in the wings.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/27/12616886/arizona-wildcats-football-depth-chart-quarterbacks-preview-anu-solomon-brandon-dawkins-khalil-tateJason Bartel2016-08-25T16:05:02-07:002016-08-25T16:05:02-07:00UA LBs look to rebound from injury-riddled 2015
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<figcaption>Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>What will the Wildcats look like in the middle of the field this year?</p> <p id="oOIi78">Last season will, for a while, live in infamy for most <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona</a><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/"> Wildcat</a><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">s</a> fans. It mostly has to do with the woeful injury luck, and no position group was hit harder than the linebackers. In 2014, the three starters who saw most of the action were Scooby Wright, <span>Derrick Turituri</span> and <span>Cody Ippolito</span>. In my opinion, the most encouraging part of their collective performance was that they were all returning for an encore in 2015.</p>
<p id="IVHKVj">Unfortunately, we all know how that played out. However, the silver lining was those injuries forced a couple of inexperienced backups (DeAndre’ Miller and <span>Jake Matthews</span>) into substantial playing time and a position change (Paul Magloire) that now has <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/7/5/12097460/arizona-football-wildcats-linebacker-paul-magloire-jr-named-to-bednarik-award-watch-list">the whole nation watching</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Key Losses: Scooby Wright, </em><span>Derrick Turituri</span></p>
<p><em>Key Returners: Paul Magloire, DeAndre’ Miller, </em><span>Cody Ippolito</span><em>, </em><span>Jake Matthews</span></p>
<p><em>Key Additions: </em><span>Michael Barton</span><em>, </em><span>Kahi Neves</span><em>, </em><span>Jacob Colacion</span><em>, </em><span>Jalen Cochran</span></p>
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<p id="gWNq4C">The losses of Scooby and Turituri should have marginal impacts after their absence from most of 2015. Don’t misunderstand me, though. I would love it if they were back for this season, but there is plenty of talent within the group to get the job done.</p>
<p id="NIb7mW">Magloire and Miller are poised for big performances this season. <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/4/22/11455358/arizona-wildcats-football-deandre-miller-ready-to-take-on-new-role-edge-rusher-marcel-yates">DeAndre’ seems especially poised to breakout</a> under the new defensive staff and scheme.</p>
<p id="C4dcUi">"It’s been fun to learn our new scheme and be coached by our new staff." Miller said about the key to a successful transition to the new scheme. "We need to buy in, be savages and have a hard edge."</p>
<p id="bkPN5v">DeAndre’ also emphasized his offseason focus on improving his pass rushing skills. This summer, he took advantage of his free time by studying film of NFL pass rushers and constantly working on his technique at the UA facilities. This is an essential skill set that will be heavily utilized in Yates’ scheme, as he will likely fill the role of the hybrid defensive end/linebacker position A.K.A. the "Stud."</p>
<p id="V49NyO">On the injury front, Ippolito has fully recovered from his <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2015/8/28/9222925/arizona-wildcats-injury-report-cody-ippolito-out-for-season-acl-griffey-johnson-wood">ACL injury</a> and <span>Matthews</span> is also back from a <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2015/11/16/9741898/arizona-football-jake-matthews-out-for-the-year-with-a-foot-injury">Lisfranc injury</a> to his left foot. This is tremendous news as these two will play important roles not only from a production standpoint, but also as senior leaders.</p>
<p id="YsiTE0">As for the newcomers, <span>Michael Barton</span> is a graduate transfer from Cal who has plenty of experience at this level and in the Pac-12. He was able to immediately add value during Fall Camp.</p>
<p id="bI1h9O">"Being older and wiser has helped me helped these younger guys," he acknowledged. "If they were having trouble with the playbook, I was able to help them get through it."</p>
<p id="tTxwj5">Barton chose UA for his final year because it was a "perfect fit for a fresh start" and he has a good relationship with Marcel Yates. Also, <span>Freddie Tagaloa</span> (former Cal roommate) and <span>Kylan Butler</span> (former high school teammate and current UA graduate assistant) were strong influences on the decision.</p>
<p id="0d3gN4">The other newcomers (Kahi Neves, Jacob Colacion and Jalen Cochran) are three freshmen who are surrounded by high hopes from the coaching staff.</p>
<p id="DqENlK">Neves had originally committed to Utah as a quarterback, which was the position he played during his senior season in high school. During his junior season, he wound up being a key player on the other side of the ball as a linebacker. Despite being a standout at the quarterback position, he told me, "I always had defense in the back of my mind."</p>
<p id="b8KmOP">As a Wildcat, he is on the defensive side of the ball. Former defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was a major reason Neves committed to UA. After Casteel’s departure, Neves still felt comfortable with his decision because he trusts Rich Rodriguez and the new defensive staff. His goal is to play defense at the next level and after seeing the success Scooby had, he’s confident this program can get him there.</p>
<p id="OV6GJ1">Colacion suffered an ACL injury last season. He may not see much action this year for a couple reasons, the first being the coaching staff wants to make sure he has fully recovered. He has plenty of potential to be a star at the collegiate level and it would be a shame if he were sidelined with another injury. Secondly, the Cats have decent depth at the position right now.</p>
<p id="4Lsa9I">Cochran signed with UA despite <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/recruiting/2016/2/3/10904722/jalen-cochran-to-arizona-linebacker-picks-wildcats-over-michigan">an offer from Michigan State</a> in the 11<sup>th</sup> hour. This was an eye-opening moment for many Wildcat fans as he chose Arizona over MSU, a top national program in his home state. He was a top priority of the new defensive regime and clearly bought into their vision. It will be interesting to see what his role will be this season.</p>
<p id="GBLxdl">Healthy redshirt candidates can be difficult to predict and typically seem to be pure speculation. At this point, there is really no telling how many of these freshmen, if any, will redshirt. It appears Magloire, Miller and Ippolito will likely be the starters of the unit. However, expect Matthews, Barton and Neves to see a considerable amount of playing time as well.</p>
<p id="RYdLfw"> </p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/25/12633030/arizona-wildcats-football-depth-chart-linebackers-preview-magloire-ippolito-miller-matthews-nevesRonnie Stoffle2016-08-23T10:49:10-07:002016-08-23T10:49:10-07:00Offensive line returns several key players in 2016
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<figcaption>Jason Bartel</figcaption>
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<p>The Wildcats' o-line is striving to be a top-15 unit in college football</p> <p>When asked to describe the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a>' offensive line personnel, o-line coach Jim Michalczik used one word: "workers".</p>
<p><span>"I think this is probably the hardest working unit [I've had]," he said at Arizona's media day. </span></p>
<p>Arizona's offensive line likely isn't the most talented unit in the Pac-12, and it certainly isn't the biggest, but they'd like to think they outwork — and outsmart — the competition.</p>
<p>That type of mentality is a direct reflection of Michalczik himself.</p>
<p><span>[He's] just a football genius," center <span>Levi Walton</span> said. "He lives for football. </span><span>He'll come into our meeting and watch the film and he'll have already watched the film two, three times, has notes on it, and we meet longer than anyone else on the team."</span></p>
<p>"Any problem you have, [Michalczik] will figure it out," added center <span>Nathan Eldridge</span>. "He's a guru."</p>
<p>And before fall camp started, Michalczik made it clear what his expectations are for the hard-working unit this season. He handed out an article, which listed the top-15 offensive lines in college football, to each member of the offensive line.</p>
<p>Arizona was nowhere to be found on that list, and Michalczik's message was clear.</p>
<p>"He was trying to say 'why not us? Why can't we be up there?'," said guard <span>Jacob Alsadek</span>. "We can. I think this year we can. It's important to every one of us. We want to be the best offensive line in the country, and I really think we can do that."</p>
<p>Last season, Arizona's offensive line was inconsistent and certainly wasn't a top-15 caliber unit, to say the least. The Wildcats' running game wasn't as effective as years past and the quarterback play regressed as well, with part of that being the o-line's fault.</p>
<p>On a positive note, the Wildcats return a good number of players from last year's line, some of whom were key contributors, so an improvement seems to be highly possible. Head coach Rich Rodriguez even said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUCcZFJ4YrY">he could see the unit being a strong point of the team.</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key losses: <span>Zach Hemmila</span>, <span>Cayman Bundage</span>, <span>Lene Maiava</span></p>
<p>Key returners: <span>Jacob Alsadek</span>, <span>Freddie Tagaloa</span>, <span>Layth Friekh</span>, Gerhard de Beer, Nathan Eldridge, <span>Levi Walton</span></p>
<p>Key newcomers: <span>Michael Eletise</span>, <span>Keenan Walker</span> (possibly?)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While coaches and players insist there's no depth chart, by now we have a pretty good understanding of what Arizona's starting offensive line will look like — at least at the beginning of the season.</p>
<p><span>Layth Friekh</span>, who started the last nine games of the 2015 season at left tackle, will likely be starting at that position in 2016. Same goes for Jacob Alsadek, who is about to become a third-year starter at right guard.</p>
<p><span>Freddie Tagaloa</span>, who initially started at left tackle and then moved to guard last season before injuries ended his year, has permanently moved to guard and figures to start on the left side next to Friekh. Michalczik feels Tagaloa is best as an inside lineman because of his strength and power, hence the move to keep him at that position.</p>
<p>Given the differences in style between Friekh and Tagaloa, it makes for an interesting dynamic on the left side of the line.</p>
<p><span>"You have Layth, who’s like a finesse player," Alsadek said. "Then you have Freddie who’s like ‘I’m way stronger than you so I’m going to bully you. '" </span></p>
<p><span></span>Health-wise, Tagaloa says he's at 100 percent, and Michalczik says it's just a matter of knocking the rust off right now.</p>
<p>At right tackle, Gerhard de Beer, whose work ethic was praised by Michalczik, appears to have a hold on the starting job. The South African started the final four games of the 2015 season at guard, and he's moved to tackle since then.</p>
<p>By all accounts, the transition is going well and he's been running with the first unit throughout the duration of fall camp.</p>
<p>That essentially makes the starting tackle and guard spots locked down, but the center spot remains a question mark.</p>
<p>It wasn't going to be this way, but the unexpected death of <span>Zach Hemmila</span> has put the position in flux once again. Hemmila was in line to start, and now it's a 'next man up' scenario at center for a second-straight year.</p>
<p>And that 'next man' isn't going to be a player with much — if any — real-game experience at the collegiate level.</p>
<p>Michalczik said redshirt freshman Nathan Eldridge and redshirt sophomore Levi Walton are "pushing each other" for the starting job. Eldridge, having redshirted last year, hasn't appeared in a game yet, while Walton has played in just two games.</p>
<p><span>According to Eldridge, Michalczik immediately had him practice with the first unit following Hemmila's death (something Eldridge admitted was shocking for him given that he's never played in a game before), so I'd expect he'd be the one to start against BYU on September 3, though it's still up in the air.</span></p>
<p>Of course, there's the question every Arizona fan wants to ask — can either one reliably snap the ball?</p>
<p>Considering what Arizona went through last year — with <span>Cayman Bundage</span> having snapping issues after transitioning from guard to center — it's understandable to ask that question.</p>
<p>Unlike Bundage though, Eldridge was brought in as a center and has been at the position since setting foot on campus in 2015, so it's not like he's learning on the fly.</p>
<p>Walton, on the other hand, admitted that snapping has been an issue for him in the past, but he's changed the way he grips the ball and he's improved since.</p>
<p>The centers snap 'nearly every day after practice', according to Michalczik, and a baseball-like drill has been implemented to evaluate how accurate the snaps are.</p>
<p>A graduate assistant, pretending to be a quarterback, wears a shirt marked with a bullseye on it. The centers snap the ball and if they hit the bullseye, it's a strike. If not, it's a ball. If they snap one out of the graduate assistant's reach altogether, it's a 'wild'.</p>
<p>At the end of the drill, the coaching staff tallies up the number of strikes each center had and the results have an influence on the competition for the starting job.</p>
<p>As far as newcomers on the offensive line go, there are two to keep an eye on (and for different reasons) — freshmen Michael Eletise and Keenan Walker, a pair of former four-star recruits.</p>
<p>Eletise was the prize of Arizona's 2015 recruiting class, and Michalczik believes he may contribute in some fashion this season. Eletise has moved all around the line in fall camp, taking reps at both guard and center.</p>
<p><span>"I do [like his versatility], but it’s also a downfall," Michalczik said. "As a young guy, you should keep him in one spot. I’ve moved him around, which makes it a little bit harder for him....</span><span>Getting up to speed in the offense is always an issue for a true freshman. It’s kind of rare that they play, but he has a chance to help us this year."</span></p>
<p>Eletise, Michalczik said, will be sticking at guard for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>For Walker, injuries (namely the recovery from a torn ACL) and off-the-field issues kept him off the 105-man fall camp roster, <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/5/12389186/arizona-football-ot-keenan-walker-arrest-future-with-the-wildcats-is-unclear" target="_blank">and it's still not clear if he'll be back with the team.</a></p>
<p>Walker is the highest-rated recruit Rodriguez has landed at the UA, so his status is certainly worth watching. At this point, it seems unlikely that Walker would make an impact this year even if he does return to the team, considering the amount of time he's missed.</p>
<p>Still, a talent like that would be a nice option to have down the road.</p>
<p>Finally, other linemen that could wind up getting playing time are redshirt freshmen <span>Cody Creason</span> and <span>Alex Kosinski</span> (both of whom Alsadek said could be breakout players), as well as redshirt sophomore <span>Christian Boettcher</span>.</p>
<p>Those three project as backups right now, but as Michalczik notes, the offensive line could look far different at the end of the season than it does at the beginning of the year. Who knows, maybe one or two of them wind up in the starting lineup at some point.</p>
<p>But for now, it looks as if Friekh, Tagaloa, Eldridge, Alsadek, and de Beer will be the starters for the season-opener versus BYU. It's a fairly experienced group, and whether they become a top-15 unit in the country or a strong point of the team remains to be seen, but at minimum, there are reasons to be optimistic.</p>
<p><i>You can follow this author on Twitter at <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/rkelapireua">@RKelapireUA</a></i></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/23/12588626/arizona-wildcats-football-2016-depth-chart-offensive-line-alsadek-tagaloa-eldridge-friekh-de-beerRyan Kelapire2016-08-20T11:36:51-07:002016-08-20T11:36:51-07:00Arizona’s D-line looks to be more aggressive
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<figcaption>Arizona’s defensive line | Jason Bartel</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona’s d-line is thin but there is hope</p> <p id="jy9lMQ">With the 2016 season around the corner, the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> have a few questions that have hopefully been answered during fall camp. The biggest question of course is the defense, and to take it a step further, the defensive line.</p>
<p id="By0qlf">Last year the defensive line struggled. They weren’t effective at putting pressure on the quarterback or getting into the backfield for negative yardage plays. One reason could’ve been the "bend, don’t break" style of defensive play. That, however, will not be the case this year.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key Losses: <span>Reggie Gilbert</span>, <span>Anthony Fotu</span>, <span>Jeff Worthy</span>, <span>Sharif Williams</span>, Josh Allen</p>
<p id="QckfiA">Key Returners: <span>Luca Bruno</span>, <span>Justin Belknap</span>, <span>Jack Banda</span>, <span>Finton Connolly</span>, <span>Parker Zellers</span>, <span>Calvin Allen</span>, <span>Marcus Griffin</span>, <span>Sani Fuimaono</span>, Aiulua Fanene</p>
<p>Key Additions: <span>Justin Holt</span>, Darrell Cloy Jr.</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="YocHOR">After the 2015 season, Rich Rodriguez decided to revamp the defense. He fired the defensive staff and hired younger, more aggressive coaches. This is where Vince Amey comes in.</p>
<p id="nXNvT2">Coach Amey was hired as the defensive line coach in February 2016 after serving as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and a football analyst at Arizona. He is already starting to have an impact as the DL coach.</p>
<p id="G52AiY">"Toe-to-toe no," Amey said when asked if Arizona’s undersized d-line can match up against bigger o-lines. "We have Fish (Fanene) that’s a bigger guy who knows that he’s got to compliment Zellers. A lot of movement. But if we go toe-to-toe, we won’t be able to hold up with the bigger guys. So we have to move around a lot, stem, and stuff like that."</p>
<p id="lLTatn">Due to his coaching style and what he wants from his players, I believe that most if not all the DL will benefit.</p>
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<h1 id="V3dIpM">Darrell Cloy Jr.</h1>
<p id="AOJFaX">The 6-foot-2, 259 pound sophomore made the switch from tight end to defensive line during the spring. For the most part, Cloy has had himself a quiet fall. However, I do expect him to see the field this year even though it might not be as a starter.</p>
<h1 id="N9A8EY"><span>Luca Bruno</span></h1>
<p id="YPDGIX">Bruno played and started 11 games last season. He racked up 29 tackles including 1.5 TFL and a sack. Even though he has been limited during fall camp due to injury (for example he’s been wearing a walking boot), he will be a pivotal part of this year’s line. The redshirt junior has the size (6-foot-4, 295 pounds) and experience that Arizona needs.</p>
<h1 id="7dauuV">Aiulua Fanene</h1>
<p id="DcsrvB">The 6-foot-5, 308 pound redshirt senior made the transition from offensive line over to the defense this spring. He wasn’t being used much on the OL so the staff decided his size and skills could be more effective on the DL. During fall camp, he has been making steady progress and is one of the players that is able to get into the backfield multiple times. He may not be a starter right away, but he’ll definitely make an impact this season.</p>
<h1 id="HheKO9">Justin Belknap</h1>
<p id="abrm67">The redshirt freshman walk-on has been the talk of the defensive line the entire camp. At 6-foot-2, 247 pounds, he may be considered undersized, but that doesn’t stop him. RichRod, Amey, and Marcel Yates have <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/16/12511910/arizona-football-justin-belknap-set-to-play-a-ton-on-the-wildcats-defensive-line">all been impressed by his motor and football IQ</a>. Let’s not forget the numerous compliments he has received from his fellow teammates. Justin Belknap is a name Arizona fans should get familiar with this year.</p>
<h1 id="wCIeSc">Finton Connolly</h1>
<p id="H97FnU">Connolly is a redshirt freshman who has had himself a pretty quiet fall camp. He has much-needed size, checking in at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds. If he can have a solid finish to camp, he should see himself on the field this year.</p>
<h1 id="OHcdlW"><span>Jack Banda</span></h1>
<p id="YK6oZB">Banda, who is 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, is no doubt going to be a contributor in his redshirt junior year. He has a high motor and was one of the few linemen last year to disrupt plays in the backfield. He played in 13 games with one start and finished the season with 7 tackles, 4.0 TFL, and 3.0 sacks.</p>
<h1 id="OCvegm"><span>Parker Zellers</span></h1>
<p id="o0oGfA">Zellers, 6-foot-1, 247 pounds, is another high-motor, smart football player. Last year he played in 12 games and racked up 17 tackles with one TFL. The redshirt junior is someone I believe will benefit even more with the new defensive playing style. Just like Belknap, he may be undersized, but he plays a lot bigger.</p>
<h1 id="9U07qN"><span>Calvin Allen</span></h1>
<p id="WhTc1p">Allen has been either limited or not participating in a good chunk of fall camp this year. He has an undisclosed injury and has been working to get healthy. I like Allen’s size (6-foot-6, 281 pounds) and believe he will be a contributor once he is healthy. He had six tackles, 1.0 TFL, and 1.0 sacks in 12 games last year.</p>
<h1 id="Na7uds"><span>Marcus Griffin</span></h1>
<p id="iTmvQl">Over the summer <span>Griffin</span> has slimmed down from 302 pounds to around 289. This is due to his move from nose guard to tackle. He is a player who has been rejuvenated with the staff and style changes. He has shown a lot of hustle during camp and has put himself into a great position moving into the season. He recorded two tackles in three games last year.</p>
<h1 id="aocw3B">Sani Fuimaono</h1>
<p id="vXTu7e">Fuimaono is not only a leader on the defensive line but also in the locker room. He too has transitioned from nose guard to defensive tackle and as a result slimmed down. At 6-foot-1, 271 pounds, the senior lineman has said that he feels great after losing weight and has noticed the recovery process is significantly shorter. Fuimaono will be the anchor for this defensive line. He recorded 24 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in 13 games (12 starts) last season.</p>
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<h1 id="lLh75b">Justin Holt</h1>
<p id="5NeT0J">The freshman broke his fibula last November and has been working to get back in shape. In fact, his first practice was last Saturday at Fort Huachuca. Since then he has shown signs of progress, however, he most likely will not see the field this year. A redshirt year would do wonders for him and hone the skills that drew Arizona to him. It should be noted that if he does put in the work and learns the defense, he could see playing time later this year.</p>
<p id="sioqUg">Two other players to keep an eye on are freshmen <span>Jalen Cochran</span> and Francisco Nelson. Both have worked with the linebackers and the defensive line. They both will likely be hybrid LB/DE, better known as STUD in Marcel Yates’ defenses.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/20/12540630/arizona-football-depth-chart-wildcats-defensive-line-preview-zellers-bruno-fuimaono-belknapBrandon Combs2016-08-18T18:20:03-07:002016-08-18T18:20:03-07:00Will Arizona’s WRs have enough height?
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<img alt="Washington v Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/plDqa1OvnflKX8T-5Nz2DS6Lc3A=/0x0:2328x1552/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50445035/459048438.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Rich Rodriguez will have a nice group of slot receivers to work the inside</p> <p id="ReQj9t">There's going to be a new wave of receivers coming in 2016 for the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a>, as they'll be without three of their top four pass catchers from last season. Arizona will now be loaded up on shifty slot receivers, with only two projected starting receivers listed over 5-foot-11.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key losses: <span>Cayleb Jones</span>, <span>David Richards</span>, Johnny Jackson</p>
<p id="RKFagF">Key returners: <span>Trey Griffey</span>, <span>Samajie Grant</span>, <span>Nate Phillips</span>, <span>Tyrell Johnson</span>, <span>Shun Brown</span>, <span>Tony Ellison</span></p>
<p id="tylyJx">Key newcomers: <span>Cam Denson</span>, <span>Shawn Poindexter</span>, <span>Zach Benjamin</span>, Devaughn <span>Cooper</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p id="8qrQbG">Height is the big concern for this group going forward without <span>Jones</span> and <span>Richards</span>, two top targets from last season. U of A will have to replace the production of Jackson in the slot, who had a career season after switching from receiver to safety and back to receiver.</p>
<p id="uxa3Kz"><span>Griffey</span> has been one of the most sure-handed receivers under Rich Rodriguez, but after being more of a situational deep ball receiver, hauling in 56 catches for 859 yards in his career, he'll be taking on a much bigger role as a redshirt senior. At 6-foot-3, he'll be a solid go-to option for the quarterback.</p>
<p id="oxRgtG">Rodriguez landed some much needed size towards the final days of the 2016 recruiting class in 6-foot-5 Glendale Community College transfer Shawn Poindexter. He’s been <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/7/12391298/arizona-football-shawn-poindexter-turning-heads-early-in-wildcats-camp">catching plenty of attention and footballs this fall camp</a>, and figures to be a huge outside presence for the Wildcats.</p>
<p id="yq7fYh">There’s a big question mark at receiver concerning a transfer who checks in at 6-foot-4. <span>Zac</span><span>h</span><span> Benjamin</span> is a guy <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/5/12388634/arizona-football-wildcats-awaiting-word-on-zach-benjamin-eligibility-usf-transfer-wide-receiver">who's eligibility we're still unsure of</a>, just two weeks out from the first game.</p>
<p id="DrPP9R">He committed to Arizona this summer as a walk-on. He was once at USF and saw limited action before opting to leave the program. Because he's had a year away from football and has chosen to walk on at Arizona, it leaves Rodriguez — and myself — baffled as to why there is an eligibility concern.</p>
<p id="lt8hDG"><span>Denson</span> is another guy who will be playing on the outside. While he only measures up to be 5-foot-11, he has a reported 36-inch vertical, which gives him some height to match his speed downfield.</p>
<p id="0csmha">Lastly on the outside is <span>Tony Ellison</span>, who has had two productive off seasons and Rodriguez said this past spring that there's a 99.99% chance that he starts at one point this season.</p>
<p id="LS9e5K">The slot is where a lot of the first down production will come, with veterans <span>Samajie Grant</span> and <span>Nate Phillips</span> occupying those roles. Both have battled their share of injuries, but figure to be 100% for the season, ready to roll for their senior campaign.</p>
<p id="G9ubdK">Arizona will also have a fully-healthy <span>Tyrell Johnson</span>, who is easily the fastest guy on the team. His speed hasn’t quite matched his production, but his injuries have held him back a bit. So far we have seen him mainly on kickoff returns.</p>
<p id="9AkzCk">Shun Brown didn’t see too much action last season, burning a year of eligibility on four receptions for 24 yards and four kickoff returns for 82 yards. He had some nice plays this spring in the slot and he’s another viable option.</p>
<p id="osihms">Lastly, there’s true freshman Devaughn Cooper, who is another speed demon. He’s been getting worked in on kickoff return himself, so should he find a role there he is likely to find himself on the receiving end of a few passes this season.</p>
<p id="yufN8z">This gives Arizona ten solid pass catchers to work with, which doesn’t include the tight ends.</p>
<p id="OlPNCx">While RichRod continues to add to the tight ends in each recruiting class, they haven’t been used as much as you’d think. But Arizona is working with three of them that are at least 6-foot-2, most notably <span>Trevor Wood</span> and <span>Josh Kern</span>, both at 6-foot-5.</p>
<p id="gqG3Da"><span>Wood</span> seems to be a guy that impressed this offseason, as he is finally at full health. We saw a few appearances from <span>Kern</span> last season as well, so maybe now they’ve gained more trust from the coaching staff and they can continue to serve as much-needed wrinkles to the Arizona offense, especially in the redzone.</p>
<p id="umpQv1"> </p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/18/12523676/arizona-wildcats-football-depth-chart-griffey-poindexter-denson-benjamin-grant-phillips-johnsonGabe Encinas2016-08-17T16:09:03-07:002016-08-17T16:09:03-07:00Wildcat secondary looks to make big strides in '16
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Utah at Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sdB62opnaAI6i2CdaSeij1a-dwU=/0x0:4435x2957/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50426569/usa-today-8927586.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona looks to improve one of the weaker spots on the defense last year</p> <p id="Kon9uT">With a whole new defensive staff, the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> are now looking to become more aggressive and cause more turnovers. The secondary was one of the weaker parts of the defense last year and the new staff is looking to change that.</p>
<p id="Ikj4ZY">Look for DaVonte’ Neal and <span>Dane Cruikshank</span> to hold down the corner spots, with <span>Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles</span>, <span>Tellas Jones</span>, and then a possible newcomer to fill the safety spots in the new look Wildcat defense.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Key Losses: <span>Will Parks</span>, <span>Anthony Lopez</span>, Jamar Allah</p>
<p>Key Returners: Dane Cruikshank, <span>Anthony Mariscal</span>, Jarvis McCall Jr., DaVonte’ Neal, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, <span>Tellas Jones</span>, <span>Jace Whittaker</span>, <span>Kwesi Mashack</span>, <span>Devon Brewer</span>, <span>Devin Holiday</span></p>
<p>Key Newcomers: <span>Antonio Parks</span>, Gavin Robertson, <span>Lorenzo Burns</span>, <span>Chacho Ulloa</span>, <span>Jarrius Wallace</span>, <span>Tristan Cooper</span>, and <span>Isaiah Hayes</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p id="hG05it">An improved secondary starts with the seniors. Jones, Neal and possibly Paul Magloire need to have big seasons for the secondary to improve. Magloire could play the spur position in the new defense since it is a safety/LB hybrid and should fit his strengths well.</p>
<p id="ji1LKn">It seems like it might be filled by Jones though. He showed how versatile he was last year, and was one of the better pass rushers at the end of the year. He’ll have some big shoes to fill with Will Parks gone though.</p>
<p id="dIU7zz">Flannigan-Fowles seems poised to take over the bandit position in 2016. He had two INT’s in the open practice at Fort Huachuca and Rich Rodriguez has taken notice of his improvement. Rodriguez had this to say about Demetrius "He has all the stuff that we’re looking for in a safety in our defense." The Tucson native is looking to have a big year.</p>
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<p id="bAXMGj">Neal left a lot to be desired last year, but has now been in the secondary for two camps. He should be well-adjusted for a big senior year, and has been praised by the new defensive staff for the work he’s put in to get better in pass coverage.</p>
<p id="RiawnR">The other corner spot will likely be a battle between Jace Whittaker and Dane Cruikshank. Whittaker has some experience under his belt, but <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/6/12394028/arizona-wildcats-football-dane-cruikshank-size-makes-him-a-unique-corner-option">Cruikshank has been getting a lot of positive buzz</a> after a redshirt year out of Citrus College. He has great size for corner at 6-foot-1, but Whittaker is trying to make a battle of it.</p>
<p id="jVw3Lk">Watch out for <span>Kwesi Mashack</span> as well. He may be small at 5-foot-8, but has enough muscle at 206 pounds to stay with the big boys at receiver. <span>Devin Holiday</span> will also be looking for some playing time in his senior season. He has been a solid depth and special teams guy for Arizona in his four years.</p>
<p id="jaUU8u">McCall Jr. hasn’t been 100% healthy in a long time. He battled a shoulder injury his freshman year and a hamstring issue his sophomore campaign. He made the move to safety this spring and is getting overlooked by some. With his 6-foot-2 frame and experience at cornerback, I feel that he could be a great fit at safety. He may not start, but he will be crucial for depth and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him on the field quite a bit.</p>
<p id="i6JtJW">Another person I feel that is getting overlooked is Anthony Mariscal. He’s a guy that has a similar build to <span>Jared Tevis</span> and is looking for some playing time following his redshirt year. Devon Brewer will be in his second year out of Milford Academy and could have redshirted last year, but the staff elected to play him instead. He could be in line for playing time at safety as well.</p>
<p id="otNowp">Arizona has a solid core in the secondary, but the depth overall is a little concerning. The Wildcats need newcomers like Lorenzo Burns, Isaiah Hayes, Chacho Ulloa, and Gavin Robertson to be ready. Burns is a great athlete who was a do-it-all guy for his high school and is athletic enough to play at corner this year. Hayes and Ulloa were highly-ranked recruits and have made a good impression since they’ve been on campus. Gavin Robertson passes the eye test at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and is a physical player.</p>
<p id="j7Ziuk">The secondary has some work to do before it can be considered a strong point of the defense. It has some pieces in place, but needs some of the younger guys to step up. It will have some growing pains, but should improve as the year goes on.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/17/12433166/arizona-wildcats-football-depth-chart-secondary-jones-flannigan-fowles-neal-cruikshank-mariscalDrake Horner2016-08-14T12:06:05-07:002016-08-14T12:06:05-07:00Wilson and Bradford to lead Wildcats’ running game
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<img alt="Arizona State v Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9lGz2jri7bUWkvD8DSikVC5u3Cc=/190x0:4276x2724/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50379739/459691972.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A one-two punch out of the backfield for Arizona</p> <p id="Std0tk">The <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> have had a top-25 rushing attack in all but one of Rich Rodriguez’s four seasons in Tucson. With two powerful runners returning in the backfield in 2016, that success is expected to continue in Rodriguez’s fifth year.</p>
<p id="quPDVk"><span>Nick Wilson</span> and <span>Orlando Bradford</span> will headline the running back depth, serving as a dynamic one-two punch. The two will take the pressure off whomever the starting quarterback is.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="ZDjSyw">Key losses: <span>Jared Baker</span>, Jonathan Haden</p>
<p id="VwNX97">Key returners: <span>Nick Wilson</span>, Orlando Bradford, <span>Brand</span><span>e</span><span>n Leon</span>, Zach Green</p>
<p id="4NskhZ">Key additions: <span>J</span><span>.</span><span>J</span><span>.</span><span> Taylor</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p id="eqwarr">Arizona will be without two running backs from last season: <span>Baker</span>, who became an extremely reliable back when <span>Wilson</span> went down to injuries, and Haden, who announced that he would be transferring from the program after seeing limited time on the field.</p>
<p id="yPHi3A">Of course, various ankle, knee and foot injuries have kept junior running back <span>Nick Wilson</span> from having even more success than he’s had in his two years at the college level. He’s a violent downhill runner who can carry a large bulk of the workload.</p>
<p id="LzEPcF">Throughout the 2015 season, we saw glimpses of Orlando Bradford, who proved to be just as vicious as Wilson. He had 47 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns in six games, with most of his work coming in the Oregon State and New Mexico games. Bradford is a bowling ball of a back, with a 5-foot-8, 206 pound frame.</p>
<p id="sr3qX9"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDE5C4_Xypw">This was Orlando Bradford</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDE5C4_Xypw">’</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDE5C4_Xypw">s first carry of his collegiate career, good for 33 yards</a>.</p>
<p id="jgRRC8">Wilson is still going to get his carries, and it likely won’t be a situation where the staff micromanages his number of touches simply because he’s been injury-prone. But having Bradford there to spell Wilson from time to time will certainly help the longevity of both backs.</p>
<p id="Fah3Py">My guess is that Wilson will be the feature back, tallying around 17-23 carries a game, with Bradford getting around 10-15. But Rodriguez does like to go with the hot hand at running back, so obviously those numbers can fluctuate.</p>
<p id="Ik6R6u">As for the third running back spot, that’s a big question mark. First, there’s sophomore walk-on Branden Leon, who received high praise this past spring from Rodriguez. I enjoyed watching him this spring and would like to think he has the edge as the third-down back for now.</p>
<p id="97gzLt">And then there’s redshirt junior Zach Green. He’s had some conditioning issues throughout his career but finally seems to have things going in the right direction. <span>Brandon Dawkins</span> had good things to say about him this past spring.</p>
<p id="8bTWVh">Arizona came away with an absolute steal in the 2016 recruiting class, landing J.J. Taylor, the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-times-football-back-of-year-20151223-story.html">LA Times High School Running Back of the Year.</a> He is an absolutely electrifying playmaker who is <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/13/12442606/arizona-football-depth-chart-wildcats-special-teams-pollack-taylor-morin-phillips-ragle-rodriguez">already being tested out in the return game</a> by special teams coach Charlie Ragle.</p>
<p id="agr0eJ">Taylor is on the shorter side, checking in at 5-foot-6, 155 pounds, but Rodriguez has said himself before that Taylor isn’t necessarily small, just short. He has a pretty decent build to his frame, so durability shouldn’t be a concern, especially when you consider having him surrounded by Bradford and Nathan Tilford in the future.</p>
<p id="f0OUbx">There is a possibility that Taylor redshirts, <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelJLev/status/763794025224613888">but it appears unlikely right now.</a></p>
<p id="YwaYnI">That third running back spot — whether it’s Leon, Green or Taylor — would likely be situational, with Taylor having a bit more versatility, particularly in the passing game. But for Taylor, it will be all about learning the playbook and making that transition to the next level this fall.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/14/12399160/arizona-wildcats-football-depth-chart-nick-wilson-orlando-bradford-running-backs-leon-green-taylorGabe Encinas2016-08-13T12:05:04-07:002016-08-13T12:05:04-07:00Wildcats’ special teams has a lot of new faces
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<figcaption>Josh Pollack | Jason Bartel</figcaption>
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<p>Who will kick, punt, and return those things for Arizona in 2016?</p> <p id="tMNOiQ">The recent history of special teams for the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> is not exactly a great one, but the past couple of years have been the exception to the rule, with two guys showing great consistency in the punting and kicking games.</p>
<p id="gA8z3L">In 2016, UA will look to continue that trend while replacing both outgoing seniors, and also turn the return game into an actual threat.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong><em>Key losses: </em></strong><span>Casey Skowron</span><em>, </em><span>Drew Riggleman</span><em>, </em><span>Jose Romero</span><em>, Jared Baker</em></p>
<p id="EqvkhL"><strong><em>Key returners: </em></strong><span>Josh Pollack</span><em>, </em><span>Nick Reinhardt</span><em>, </em><span>Tyrell Johnson</span><em>, </em><span>Nate Phillips</span><em>, </em><span>Samajie Grant</span><em>, </em><span>Shun Brown</span></p>
<p id="IzknYy"><em><strong>Key newcomers: </strong></em><span>J.J. Taylor</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p id="oU36rE">Let’s start with the main attraction on special teams, the kicker and punter. It seems there will be a pretty good chance that redshirt sophomore <span>Pollack</span> does both, although both special teams coach Charlie Ragle and head coach Rich Rodriguez would rather that not happen.</p>
<p id="1aGRnt">"Well, we would prefer not," Rodriguez said on Friday. "But if he’s the best punter and kicker, he will do both. We’ll just try to find someone else to do kickoffs. The competition’s still ongoing."</p>
<p id="A7xWEv">"In a perfect world, we would probably wish that he doesn’t do both," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztKQEYfbvGQ">Coach Ragle also said</a>. "Right now we have some good competition for that kicking spot."</p>
<p id="OPGcd1">One person that came out as an option for kickoff is redshirt sophomore Edgar Gastelum from Arizona Western CC and Cibola HS in Yuma. In the limited time that we’ve been able to watch the kicking drills in practice, Pollack seems like he has by far the best leg and accuracy of the group, while Gastelum struggles with chunking the ball on field goal opportunities.</p>
<p id="ECiho2">Pollack did kick off twice last year and made his only extra point attempt in blowout game situations, so he’s not entirely new to the situation. Of course there weren’t any pressure on those particular kicks either.</p>
<p id="Nsayyw">Whoever ends up being the place kicker, former quarterback and current tight end <span>Matt Morin</span> seems like the frontrunner to be the holder.</p>
<p id="JUtn8x">"I don’t know how accurate he is, he’s kind of throwing it all over the place, but he’s got a strong arm and he can run," Rodriguez explained of the decision to put Morin there. "He’s a big physical guy and he’s got good hands."</p>
<p id="8J0Vj2">Coach Ragle said that <span>Morin</span> had never been a holder before, but did work on it the entire summer. Snapping the ball to Morin will be <span>Nick Reinhardt</span>. Backing him up will be <span>Donald Reiter</span>, a walk-on from Brophy (Glendale, AZ). The backup holder right now appears to be walk-on quarterback <span>Zach Werlinger</span>.</p>
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<h2 id="73f9W9">Return game</h2>
<p id="wCOXjV">This has been a huge weakness for the Wildcats the last few years. Arizona has only returned one kickoff for a TD the last two years, and that was an onside kick that <span>Cayleb Jones</span> took to the house against Washington State in 2014.</p>
<p id="JmVKEX">In 32 kick returns in 2015, the average yardage the ball came back was only 22.8 yards. <span>Tyrell Johnson</span> was responsible for the longest return of the year by far, taking back a 56-yarder against USC. However, on four other returns in that game, he only averaged 21 yards.</p>
<p id="CDdRUz"><span>Johnson</span> figures to be in line to be the primary returner this year along with guys like <span>Nate Phillips</span>, Shun Brown, <span>Samajie Grant</span>, DaVonte’ Neal, and possibly true freshman J.J. Taylor.</p>
<p id="OS3TGt">Rodriguez has said that Taylor will <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelJLev/status/763794025224613888">likely not redshirt this year</a> and that he’s one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelJLev/status/763852529931161600">best open-field guys on the team</a>.</p>
<p id="0gILkE">"J.J. Taylor is a guy that I think is going to turn some heads," Coach Ragle said of the freshman. "There’s some other guys besides the usual suspects, but obviously having some veteran guys that have some experience is a beneficial piece of it as well."</p>
<p id="Kv55vk">The Wildcats certainly have no shortage of quick, shifty, smaller guys that could be dangerous in the return game, if they ever got the blocking they needed.</p>
<p id="d2DzBZ">"We gotta get guys in there that can execute the scheme and we gotta pay attention more to the detail of it," explained Ragle. "It’s just getting the right personnel in there and really focusing on the details, but it starts with personnel."</p>
<p id="f8NIuE">"I think it’s just effort," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2C89tfXfd8">Phillips added</a>. "Kickoff return is a big effort thing, and we’re going to take pride in making this a unit where we’re going to see some bigger returns. We’ve got guys like J.J. Taylor coming in who’s very explosive. And TJ Johnson, we know how fast he is with the school record in the 60."</p>
<p id="v2jr2G">"So we’ve got guys that can go the distance and I think it’s just everybody else just needs to put in a little more effort and we’ll be there."</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2016/8/13/12442606/arizona-football-depth-chart-wildcats-special-teams-pollack-taylor-morin-phillips-ragle-rodriguezJason Bartel