It’s back to it for a number of sports this week as the spring seasons are getting to be in full effect soon. Wildcats all over the field and hardwood are back in action and that means plenty going on. To get you caught up on all the latest here is this week’s War Room.
Football
Arizona begins its spring ball this Saturday and that will be the next chance to see what the team really has to work with for the new season. There will be plenty of questions heading into that first practice and it will also bring a glimpse of some new comers as well including what could be a couple new coaches.
* That is because the Wildcats lost their second coach in a span of a few days last week when tight ends and special teams coach Charlie Ragle decided to take a similar position with Cal and new coach Justin Wilcox. Now on the field the move will not make as big of an impact as it will on the recruiting side as Arizona really had a poor season with the special teams unit. Still, losing a coach this close to the start of spring ball and to a conference opponent is not ideal. It also came just a few days after Tony Dews decided to leave Arizona to go back to West Virginia after five seasons with the ‘Cats.
Ragle made a parting comment via social media Sunday night expressing his gratitude to the fan base and the program.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the well wishes as I head to Cal,” he wrote. “I appreciate every one of you. I want to thank coach Rod and his family for my opportunity and the last 5 years. The great people of the city of Tucson you treated my family and me like gold (much love). Most of all everyone in Lowell Stevens facility, words can not express the love I have for all of you.”
At this point there has been nothing definitive on Arizona’s two hires, but it will be interesting to see if they are made before this Saturday. Logic says they will have to be done by then, but with both departures happening so close to the start of spring ball it would not be a complete surprise to have a couple interim coaches in the short term. It would be strange and a bit different and mean some instability, but it wouldn’t be a total shock. As of now Miguel Reveles remains the leader in the clubhouse to replace Ragle as special teams and tight ends coach. He has coached both positions previously and his ability to recruit would provide another boost in California specifically.
One new name that recently popped up as a possible options for receivers coach is Buffalo’s Rob Ianello. He is the recruiting coordinator there, so he has that element to him that would make him appealing in addition to being the associate head coach and receivers coach. Oh yeah, and he has coached at Arizona before. He was on staff in Tucson from 1994-2002 as a recruiting coordinator and receivers coach. Ianello has head coach experience at Akron and a long list of significant jobs in between all that.
There are several directions Arizona can go for the two open positions, but the likelihood that the program stays in house for at least one of the positions remains fairly high because of the promptness of the decisions.
* As Arizona prepares to open spring ball this weekend it is always going to be about seeing how players look whether returning or new. Here is our look at the five players we’re anticipating seeing most come this Saturday.
- He was the highest-rated signee and the good news is he’s already on campus. Running back Nathan Tilford is someone we have seen in the past, but it is always fun to see people’s reactions of the big running back. He will certainly generate a lot of buzz Saturday because of how much different he is going to look than a lot of other players, but he also has some maturing to do when it comes to his game. He comes to UA a bit on the raw side as a running back and he is someone who could look far different Saturday than he will by the time the season is ready to go with some good work. Saturday’s practice will be the start to what could become a special career for the ‘Cats.
- On the other side of the ball we are anticipating the return to the field of redshirt freshman defensive end Jalen Cochran as well. The big and versatile defensive lineman sat out his first year of college ball but was able to get some good work in and add some good weight to make him look the part of a high-level defensive end. If Cochran can be effective at the position and make a move up the depth chart even though it is still early in his career that could start the change up front that Arizona is hoping for.
- Another young running back we want to see Saturday is redshirt freshman JJ Taylor. The college football world was able to get a glimpse in 2016 of what many of us saw during his high school days. The shifty and slippery running back ended up breaking his ankle against Washington cutting short his freshman season and forcing him into a redshirt year. The good news is Arizona was able to preserve his eligibility for another year so he still has four more to contribute. Durability will be something he will have to prove that he does have after the injury, but he is the change-up that could really help Arizona out of the backfield. Seeing how he looks this spring will be important for his first full season of action later this year. At this point Rich Rodriguez said Taylor will not be limited in the spring.
- Back on the defensive side of the ball Arizona is thin at linebacker and redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion has a chance to make an early impact now because of the depth there. The California native had a serious knee injury in his senior high school season and that meant Arizona taking it easy on him as a freshman. He learned while he sat out the 2016 season, but he also impressed a number of people and most importantly the staff. He still needed to add some weight after last season, but he has the skill set and work ethic to be an impact player this season if he can put it all together. As one of Arizona’s few options who was around last season this spring will be important for Colacion under a new coach.
- This is a bit of cheating but we’re going to lump the two quarterbacks together, because maybe more so than any other position group a lot of the team’s success will depend on Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate and how much they can improve off of last season. Both played and both had things to work on in the offseason. Improving passing and decision making was at the top of the list for both. The change is that it is their show with Anu Solomon out of the picture and headed to Baylor. They won’t have to look over their shoulder and this spring will be the start of what will turn into an open competition for the starting job. The expectation is that Dawkins will run with the first unit to begin things, but that spot is far from solidified.
Football recruiting
As Arizona gets set to begin spring ball it also has to work on the recruiting side of things as well. A number of early offers went out going back to last year for the 2018 class but the program has been more deliberate when it comes to new offers for the current junior class in the days after National Signing Day. Things have remained a bit more quiet in that regard and now with two coaching spots to fill that will need to take place first before the Wildcats can really start to dig into the new group.
* Still there are some names to watch already as potential big targets for the Wildcats. At this point things are still so new and in the early going that a lot is still yet to take place, but there are a good amount of commitments already happening across the country in the 2018 class. Arizona already has one on board and that is where we will start with this list of recruits to keep an eye on as things move forward.
- Cienega quarterback Jamarye Joiner gave Arizona his pledge back in the fall, but that will not be the end of his recruitment. He has left the door open for other programs to come in and he will certainly take visits as he gets more offers to come through. Nebraska has made him a bit of a priority in the 2018 class and that will be one to watch for sure, but others will come calling when all is said and done. The junior class in Tucson has some impact players in it and Joiner is one of the best. The Wildcats are certainly going to work to keep him on board, but his recruitment won’t be over until his National Letter of Intent is signed a year from now.
- Washington-based linebacker Ben Wilson is a recruit to keep an eye on. The Wildcats came in with an early offer for the three-star recruit and that made an impact, but he is going to see his offer list grow in the coming months. Louisville, TCU, UCLA, Utah and Washington State are other programs that have jumped in early as well and pulling him will be no easy task. The Sumner standout is currently rated as the No. 20 inside linebacker in the class. If Washington comes around and offers at some point it could put a quick end to the whole thing but for now Arizona is in play.
Football
Arizona begins its spring ball this Saturday and that will be the next chance to see what the team really has to work with for the new season. There will be plenty of questions heading into that first practice and it will also bring a glimpse of some new comers as well including what could be a couple new coaches.
* That is because the Wildcats lost their second coach in a span of a few days last week when tight ends and special teams coach Charlie Ragle decided to take a similar position with Cal and new coach Justin Wilcox. Now on the field the move will not make as big of an impact as it will on the recruiting side as Arizona really had a poor season with the special teams unit. Still, losing a coach this close to the start of spring ball and to a conference opponent is not ideal. It also came just a few days after Tony Dews decided to leave Arizona to go back to West Virginia after five seasons with the ‘Cats.
Ragle made a parting comment via social media Sunday night expressing his gratitude to the fan base and the program.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the well wishes as I head to Cal,” he wrote. “I appreciate every one of you. I want to thank coach Rod and his family for my opportunity and the last 5 years. The great people of the city of Tucson you treated my family and me like gold (much love). Most of all everyone in Lowell Stevens facility, words can not express the love I have for all of you.”
At this point there has been nothing definitive on Arizona’s two hires, but it will be interesting to see if they are made before this Saturday. Logic says they will have to be done by then, but with both departures happening so close to the start of spring ball it would not be a complete surprise to have a couple interim coaches in the short term. It would be strange and a bit different and mean some instability, but it wouldn’t be a total shock. As of now Miguel Reveles remains the leader in the clubhouse to replace Ragle as special teams and tight ends coach. He has coached both positions previously and his ability to recruit would provide another boost in California specifically.
One new name that recently popped up as a possible options for receivers coach is Buffalo’s Rob Ianello. He is the recruiting coordinator there, so he has that element to him that would make him appealing in addition to being the associate head coach and receivers coach. Oh yeah, and he has coached at Arizona before. He was on staff in Tucson from 1994-2002 as a recruiting coordinator and receivers coach. Ianello has head coach experience at Akron and a long list of significant jobs in between all that.
There are several directions Arizona can go for the two open positions, but the likelihood that the program stays in house for at least one of the positions remains fairly high because of the promptness of the decisions.
* As Arizona prepares to open spring ball this weekend it is always going to be about seeing how players look whether returning or new. Here is our look at the five players we’re anticipating seeing most come this Saturday.
- He was the highest-rated signee and the good news is he’s already on campus. Running back Nathan Tilford is someone we have seen in the past, but it is always fun to see people’s reactions of the big running back. He will certainly generate a lot of buzz Saturday because of how much different he is going to look than a lot of other players, but he also has some maturing to do when it comes to his game. He comes to UA a bit on the raw side as a running back and he is someone who could look far different Saturday than he will by the time the season is ready to go with some good work. Saturday’s practice will be the start to what could become a special career for the ‘Cats.
- On the other side of the ball we are anticipating the return to the field of redshirt freshman defensive end Jalen Cochran as well. The big and versatile defensive lineman sat out his first year of college ball but was able to get some good work in and add some good weight to make him look the part of a high-level defensive end. If Cochran can be effective at the position and make a move up the depth chart even though it is still early in his career that could start the change up front that Arizona is hoping for.
- Another young running back we want to see Saturday is redshirt freshman JJ Taylor. The college football world was able to get a glimpse in 2016 of what many of us saw during his high school days. The shifty and slippery running back ended up breaking his ankle against Washington cutting short his freshman season and forcing him into a redshirt year. The good news is Arizona was able to preserve his eligibility for another year so he still has four more to contribute. Durability will be something he will have to prove that he does have after the injury, but he is the change-up that could really help Arizona out of the backfield. Seeing how he looks this spring will be important for his first full season of action later this year. At this point Rich Rodriguez said Taylor will not be limited in the spring.
- Back on the defensive side of the ball Arizona is thin at linebacker and redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion has a chance to make an early impact now because of the depth there. The California native had a serious knee injury in his senior high school season and that meant Arizona taking it easy on him as a freshman. He learned while he sat out the 2016 season, but he also impressed a number of people and most importantly the staff. He still needed to add some weight after last season, but he has the skill set and work ethic to be an impact player this season if he can put it all together. As one of Arizona’s few options who was around last season this spring will be important for Colacion under a new coach.
- This is a bit of cheating but we’re going to lump the two quarterbacks together, because maybe more so than any other position group a lot of the team’s success will depend on Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate and how much they can improve off of last season. Both played and both had things to work on in the offseason. Improving passing and decision making was at the top of the list for both. The change is that it is their show with Anu Solomon out of the picture and headed to Baylor. They won’t have to look over their shoulder and this spring will be the start of what will turn into an open competition for the starting job. The expectation is that Dawkins will run with the first unit to begin things, but that spot is far from solidified.
Football recruiting
As Arizona gets set to begin spring ball it also has to work on the recruiting side of things as well. A number of early offers went out going back to last year for the 2018 class but the program has been more deliberate when it comes to new offers for the current junior class in the days after National Signing Day. Things have remained a bit more quiet in that regard and now with two coaching spots to fill that will need to take place first before the Wildcats can really start to dig into the new group.
* Still there are some names to watch already as potential big targets for the Wildcats. At this point things are still so new and in the early going that a lot is still yet to take place, but there are a good amount of commitments already happening across the country in the 2018 class. Arizona already has one on board and that is where we will start with this list of recruits to keep an eye on as things move forward.
- Cienega quarterback Jamarye Joiner gave Arizona his pledge back in the fall, but that will not be the end of his recruitment. He has left the door open for other programs to come in and he will certainly take visits as he gets more offers to come through. Nebraska has made him a bit of a priority in the 2018 class and that will be one to watch for sure, but others will come calling when all is said and done. The junior class in Tucson has some impact players in it and Joiner is one of the best. The Wildcats are certainly going to work to keep him on board, but his recruitment won’t be over until his National Letter of Intent is signed a year from now.
- Washington-based linebacker Ben Wilson is a recruit to keep an eye on. The Wildcats came in with an early offer for the three-star recruit and that made an impact, but he is going to see his offer list grow in the coming months. Louisville, TCU, UCLA, Utah and Washington State are other programs that have jumped in early as well and pulling him will be no easy task. The Sumner standout is currently rated as the No. 20 inside linebacker in the class. If Washington comes around and offers at some point it could put a quick end to the whole thing but for now Arizona is in play.
