GOAZCATS - PREVIEW: Four players to watch as Arizona opens spring practice
Arizona will be looking to turn things around for the 2022 season and here are players to watch during spring practice.
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Spring practice has arrived! We will be out there in full force today to bring you coverage of the first day of practice as the Wildcats take the field for the second year under head coach Jedd Fisch. Troy has put together a list of players to watch, but there will be of course a lot to be seen later today and in a couple weeks once things pick up. You can listen to our podcast for some updates about spring ball, but here are some notes to hold you over until we get our first glimpse of this year's team.
Also, if there's anyone you want us to pay special attention to today or things you want us to report back on specifically drop them below and we will make sure to get you some answers.
SPRING BALL PRIMER
* A couple personnel notes
- The two major position switches have already been known about but James Bohls' move to linebacker has been made official as has Shontrail Key's move to the offensive line.
- WR Jamarye Joiner and DT Kyon Barrs will not be participating in spring practice at all as they go through the process of having foot surgery. The expectation is that both players will be ready in a few months and should be just fine for the start of training camp. This is the third foot surgery for Joiner.
- Freshman offensive lineman Jacob Reece has not yet arrived on campus but he could end up as someone who does get to take part in spring ball. The staff hasn't cleared things up totally just yet, but Reece could join the team soon.
- Baylor transfer offensive lineman Davis DiVall is going to be kept out of practice for potentially a couple weeks while he deals what is being termed a "personal" matter. He missed all of last season while being forced to sit out of his transfer and there has been some good buzz about him, but at this point it doesn't sound great. Obviously missing a couple weeks of spring ball could end up setting him back.
- There will be 22 players on the field today that were not with the team last year, and there will be 41 new players total as it stands right now once training camp begins.
- Quarterbacks Jordan McCloud and Gunner Cruz are set to return from their injuries and should be full participants in spring ball. The Wildcats will have six quarterbacks on hand for spring practice with Jayden de Laura and Noah Fifita ready to go. Fisch's goal is to have a decision on the starting quarterback mostly figured out by the end of spring ball.
- Anthony Ward is part of the spring ball roster after transferring in from Washington. He is the older brother of incoming freshman pass rusher Isaiah Ward.
* The official reason for the team having one practice and then taking a big break is that it allows the staff to manipulate the rules a bit. By having one practice this week it allows the team to have an extra full 20-hour work week instead of an 8-hour "offseason" work week, which Fisch values. It allows for more meeting time. On the back end, the team will then have two full weeks of mandatory lifting time before the team is forced to go back into a "voluntary" time. If spring ball would have been pushed back to start after spring break that time would have been cut down by a lot.* Arizona is going to run with a base 4-2-5 look under Johnny Nansen, and that means there will be a bigger DB group since some of what was the Viper position players are now mostly playing safety. The nickel position is going to be a big part of what the Wildcats do, and right now there is a solid battle shaping up for that job. With that, Arizona expects to have Malik Reed and Anthony Solomon as its two starting linebackers to open up spring ball. Jerry Roberts would normally hold one of those spots but he is still working his way back from his offseason surgery. He will be present at practice but will mostly be working off to the side for the first couple weeks. Hunter Echols will be playing the "Cat" position, which is the weakside defensive end spot in the defense. Jaxen Turner and Christian Young are expected to begin the season as the starting safeties as it stands right now. UCLA transfer DJ Warnell is likely to step into a role as a nickel back along with G7 Celestine and Gunner Maldonado. Jaydin Young has also moved into that role.
* Roberts is one of the players gaining a considerable amount of buzz this offseason, but there are several players that we have been told to watch out for this spring. Among that group are Ma'jon Wright, Treydan Stukes, Drake Anderson, Jason Harris (has gained 30 pounds) and Dorian Singer.
* Jordan Paopao is taking over as the team's sole special teams coordinator after splitting time with Keith Dudzinski last year. At this point the players in the mix to be the punt returner include Jacob Cowing, Roland-Wallace, Celestine and Singer are going to be in the mix and fighting it out for the that job at this point.
* The offensive line has not been settled and it sounds like there is some concern for the team right now. Jordan Morgan and Paiton Fears are expected to be the starting tackles and are not likely to be moved by anyone from the sounds of it. The other three spots are completely up for grabs as it doesn't sound like there are not many players creating a ton of separation at those spots.
