We are inching closer to fall sports getting fully back into the swing of things and that means we are still in the thick of recruiting season as July continues to play out. It is an important time for Arizona and soon things will be moving full speed ahead for the football and basketball programs along with the others in the coming weeks and months. Let’s get right into this week’s War Room.
Football
On the football side of things Rich Rodriguez and his program are inching closer to the start of camp. There is ongoing work with the summer workouts but soon it will be time to flip the switch and put the pads back on. Camp is set to begin in exactly two weeks and Report Day is a day before that. So things are nearing the end of the summer for UA and the preparation for the season will soon be kicking off.
* Every season presents a new opportunity to turn the page and continue development from the previous year. Arizona has a number of players who are looking to build off a solid season and others who need to step things up for the Wildcats to bounce back as a team from a 3-9 2016. At a certain point, although coaches or players will never admit it, some players just are what they are and what they have shown is what they will be. There are always some, however, who are able to make a jump and turn things around before it’s too late. The Wildcats have certainly run into some cases where players with bigger expectations just haven’t quite been what they should have or what many of those around the program thought heading into it. This roster in particular has a few players in particular who the Wildcats would love to see a jump up in production from.
Since we are getting toward the end of the summer workout season we though it would be a good time to take a closer look at some of those players who still have a chance to turn what have been forgettable seasons into something bigger in 2017. These players we are going to discuss have great opportunities to step into bigger roles and be more productive and now it will be up to them to make it happen. Keep in mind this is not being done to bash any players or call out their lack of production since there have been injuries and other factors that have led to them being in the situations they’re in, but rather just a list of players who have not quite lived up to the expectations just yet.
- Cam Denson: We’ll start with someone who has had a lot of obstacles to overcome over his career. First, Denson was needed on the defensive side of the ball when he first arrived and while it was clear at times that his heart was on offense he made the most of his situation stuck with cornerback for a couple years. Slowly the Wildcats started letting him work more on offense at receiver – a spot at which he shined in high school – and eventually before last season the coaching staff made the move for good. He’s had injury troubles mixed in there with a foot problem getting him just this spring, but heading into the 2017 season he will have a chance to be an impact player for the offense. The coaching staff knows what kind of talent is within him, but it has yet to show itself consistently in college. There have been glimpses of the playmaker we all saw when he was a star at Salpointe but the consistency is what he needs to figure out in his final season. Outside of Shun Brown the receiver group is far from set and Denson is penciled in as a starter for the time being so he will have opportunities this year. The local Tucson star was once flirting with being a five-star recruit early on in the process, but he has yet to show that type of impact at UA.
Career stats (offense): 37 games played, 15 catches, 242 yards, two touchdowns
- Tony Ellison: Another receiver who has been able to build his career off expectations is the California speedy and versatile standout. Ellison, even going back to when he first arrived in Tucson, has been a team favorite with the other UA players picking him out seemingly every spring and fall as the player they believe will break out and become a star for the offense. That has yet to happen so far. He has been a visible piece of the offense to be sure, but not like what you would expect after hearing the glowing reviews you hear during camp. Last season was setting up to be “his year” once again, but another injury meant more missed time and by the time he was back to playing form Arizona had changed its offense to feature much more running because of injuries at that position as well. Again, there was not much Ellison could do in that scenario but it felt like the norm over the course of his career. So here he is again as a likely starter at one of the receiver positions and again his teammates have been talking him up heading into the new season. As a redshirt junior he is beginning to run low on time, however, and while much of the receivers’ success this season will rely on the quarterbacks there is still part of that responsibility on the receivers themselves to make the plays when the ball comes their way. Ellison was someone the coaching staff was excited about as his career began, but he has not quite lived up to that just yet.
Career stats: 22 games played, three catches, 32 yards,
- DeAndre’ Miller: The next couple players coming up are far from green when it comes to their experience, but they have also not been the difference makers we all thought they had the potential to be as their careers unfolded. We’ll begin with the redshirt senior linebacker who, to his credit, has had to overcome quite a bit during his career. Injuries, first and foremost, have hampered much of his career to this point but he has continued to position himself to be an impact player on defense. When he has been healthy there has been a lot of movement and of course Arizona changed defenses in there and expected him to be an even bigger part of the success. It didn’t quite happen last season as he made the move over the new “stud” position in Marcel Yates’ defense. Miller came in as one of the players Arizona expected quite a bit from and when you see him it is easy to understand why. He looks the part of a college linebacker and someone who could thrive in his current position. He has the skill set to be effective as a pass rusher and his speed should allow him to rack up the sacks and tackles for loss. Yet, that didn’t quite happen and some of it does have to get chalked up to it being the first year in a new scheme, but like some of the others he is running low on time now. Injuries and moving to different positions has been the story of his career so far, but this year he will have a chance to be a leader and is again in a position to help the defense tremendously. The rest will be on him to make it happen.
Career stats: 36 games played, 79 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks
- Tyrell Johnson: The other veteran player who has contributed in all his seasons in Tucson, but just hasn’t quite made the impact many fans assume he can is the senior receiver from Florida. He too has been used all over the field and as you have seen as a common theme with this discussion is the injuries that have changed what could have been a different career. Johnson is the fastest player on the team, but at times because of injury the Wildcats have not been able to fully take advantage of that speed. A foot injury kept him in a boot for some time and dings here and there throughout his career have made it difficult for him to put together an entire season of productivity. Johnson has not played a full season since his freshman year, but the team if hopeful that changes in 2017 and that he is able to contribute even more and present the types of mismatches UA has hoped to gain from his speed. Catching the ball has been an issue at times, but the Wildcats have been more dedicated to getting him the ball in a better spot and it will be interesting to see how he is used this year and how often.
Career stats: 27 games played, 36 carries, 185 rushing yards, one touchdown; 23 catches, 206 yards, three touchdowns
- Marcus Griffin: We saved one of the most talked about recruits/players for last. If there was ever a time for the former four-star defensive lineman to step things up it would be now. The Wildcats need more help up front and what better place to find it than on the roster? Griffin is someone fans have been holding out hope for over the course of his career. He came in as a highly-touted prospect who could have played in the SEC. A few years into his career fans are still waiting for him to break that door down and start producing at a higher level. It was clear early in his career that he was fighting an uphill battle with Bill Kirelawich but even after Vince Amey took over the defensive line duties Griffin still struggled to find a consistent place in the rotation. He has the size and ability to get the job done, but technique has continued to be where the staff wants him to get better and it is something that will be a focus heading into the new season. As a redshirt junior his clock is starting to run low, so this will be an important couple of months for the Washington native. Arizona would love to see him make a jump in production, but for now it will be a wait-and-see approach.
Career stats: Six games played, three tackles
Football
On the football side of things Rich Rodriguez and his program are inching closer to the start of camp. There is ongoing work with the summer workouts but soon it will be time to flip the switch and put the pads back on. Camp is set to begin in exactly two weeks and Report Day is a day before that. So things are nearing the end of the summer for UA and the preparation for the season will soon be kicking off.
* Every season presents a new opportunity to turn the page and continue development from the previous year. Arizona has a number of players who are looking to build off a solid season and others who need to step things up for the Wildcats to bounce back as a team from a 3-9 2016. At a certain point, although coaches or players will never admit it, some players just are what they are and what they have shown is what they will be. There are always some, however, who are able to make a jump and turn things around before it’s too late. The Wildcats have certainly run into some cases where players with bigger expectations just haven’t quite been what they should have or what many of those around the program thought heading into it. This roster in particular has a few players in particular who the Wildcats would love to see a jump up in production from.
Since we are getting toward the end of the summer workout season we though it would be a good time to take a closer look at some of those players who still have a chance to turn what have been forgettable seasons into something bigger in 2017. These players we are going to discuss have great opportunities to step into bigger roles and be more productive and now it will be up to them to make it happen. Keep in mind this is not being done to bash any players or call out their lack of production since there have been injuries and other factors that have led to them being in the situations they’re in, but rather just a list of players who have not quite lived up to the expectations just yet.
- Cam Denson: We’ll start with someone who has had a lot of obstacles to overcome over his career. First, Denson was needed on the defensive side of the ball when he first arrived and while it was clear at times that his heart was on offense he made the most of his situation stuck with cornerback for a couple years. Slowly the Wildcats started letting him work more on offense at receiver – a spot at which he shined in high school – and eventually before last season the coaching staff made the move for good. He’s had injury troubles mixed in there with a foot problem getting him just this spring, but heading into the 2017 season he will have a chance to be an impact player for the offense. The coaching staff knows what kind of talent is within him, but it has yet to show itself consistently in college. There have been glimpses of the playmaker we all saw when he was a star at Salpointe but the consistency is what he needs to figure out in his final season. Outside of Shun Brown the receiver group is far from set and Denson is penciled in as a starter for the time being so he will have opportunities this year. The local Tucson star was once flirting with being a five-star recruit early on in the process, but he has yet to show that type of impact at UA.
Career stats (offense): 37 games played, 15 catches, 242 yards, two touchdowns
- Tony Ellison: Another receiver who has been able to build his career off expectations is the California speedy and versatile standout. Ellison, even going back to when he first arrived in Tucson, has been a team favorite with the other UA players picking him out seemingly every spring and fall as the player they believe will break out and become a star for the offense. That has yet to happen so far. He has been a visible piece of the offense to be sure, but not like what you would expect after hearing the glowing reviews you hear during camp. Last season was setting up to be “his year” once again, but another injury meant more missed time and by the time he was back to playing form Arizona had changed its offense to feature much more running because of injuries at that position as well. Again, there was not much Ellison could do in that scenario but it felt like the norm over the course of his career. So here he is again as a likely starter at one of the receiver positions and again his teammates have been talking him up heading into the new season. As a redshirt junior he is beginning to run low on time, however, and while much of the receivers’ success this season will rely on the quarterbacks there is still part of that responsibility on the receivers themselves to make the plays when the ball comes their way. Ellison was someone the coaching staff was excited about as his career began, but he has not quite lived up to that just yet.
Career stats: 22 games played, three catches, 32 yards,
- DeAndre’ Miller: The next couple players coming up are far from green when it comes to their experience, but they have also not been the difference makers we all thought they had the potential to be as their careers unfolded. We’ll begin with the redshirt senior linebacker who, to his credit, has had to overcome quite a bit during his career. Injuries, first and foremost, have hampered much of his career to this point but he has continued to position himself to be an impact player on defense. When he has been healthy there has been a lot of movement and of course Arizona changed defenses in there and expected him to be an even bigger part of the success. It didn’t quite happen last season as he made the move over the new “stud” position in Marcel Yates’ defense. Miller came in as one of the players Arizona expected quite a bit from and when you see him it is easy to understand why. He looks the part of a college linebacker and someone who could thrive in his current position. He has the skill set to be effective as a pass rusher and his speed should allow him to rack up the sacks and tackles for loss. Yet, that didn’t quite happen and some of it does have to get chalked up to it being the first year in a new scheme, but like some of the others he is running low on time now. Injuries and moving to different positions has been the story of his career so far, but this year he will have a chance to be a leader and is again in a position to help the defense tremendously. The rest will be on him to make it happen.
Career stats: 36 games played, 79 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks
- Tyrell Johnson: The other veteran player who has contributed in all his seasons in Tucson, but just hasn’t quite made the impact many fans assume he can is the senior receiver from Florida. He too has been used all over the field and as you have seen as a common theme with this discussion is the injuries that have changed what could have been a different career. Johnson is the fastest player on the team, but at times because of injury the Wildcats have not been able to fully take advantage of that speed. A foot injury kept him in a boot for some time and dings here and there throughout his career have made it difficult for him to put together an entire season of productivity. Johnson has not played a full season since his freshman year, but the team if hopeful that changes in 2017 and that he is able to contribute even more and present the types of mismatches UA has hoped to gain from his speed. Catching the ball has been an issue at times, but the Wildcats have been more dedicated to getting him the ball in a better spot and it will be interesting to see how he is used this year and how often.
Career stats: 27 games played, 36 carries, 185 rushing yards, one touchdown; 23 catches, 206 yards, three touchdowns
- Marcus Griffin: We saved one of the most talked about recruits/players for last. If there was ever a time for the former four-star defensive lineman to step things up it would be now. The Wildcats need more help up front and what better place to find it than on the roster? Griffin is someone fans have been holding out hope for over the course of his career. He came in as a highly-touted prospect who could have played in the SEC. A few years into his career fans are still waiting for him to break that door down and start producing at a higher level. It was clear early in his career that he was fighting an uphill battle with Bill Kirelawich but even after Vince Amey took over the defensive line duties Griffin still struggled to find a consistent place in the rotation. He has the size and ability to get the job done, but technique has continued to be where the staff wants him to get better and it is something that will be a focus heading into the new season. As a redshirt junior his clock is starting to run low, so this will be an important couple of months for the Washington native. Arizona would love to see him make a jump in production, but for now it will be a wait-and-see approach.
Career stats: Six games played, three tackles
