Arizona has completed 10 practices of training camp with 10 more practices before the game week against San Diego State. With that being said, I wanted to share my first official depth chart of training camp to give you guys an idea of where players stack up on the roster.
In the depth chart I'll go through each position and then give a breakdown as to why it has shaped up that way to this point.
Depth Chart
Offense
QB: Jayden de Laura, Noah Fifita
Breakdown - It has been no secret that de Laura has had his struggles early during training camp. But, after his worst practice of camp during practice No. 7, he has been lights out and delivered three-straight high-level performances. The staff has made it clear that they are giving him all the first-team reps this camp, so that's why he is my starter.
As for Fifita, he has been everything that he was during spring ball and more. The kid simply doesn't make mistakes and seems to always make the correct high-football IQ play every single time. In my opinion, he has had the best arm this camp and has glimpse of a young Russell Wilson at NC State. I know, that is very high praise, but it isn't an over exaggeration and the gap between him, and Jordan McCloud is massive.
RB: Michael Wiley, DJ Williams
Breakdown - This might be one of the hardest positions on the team to make a judgment on simply because we have seen four different backs get a chance to run with the first-team offense. The staff has made it clear that they will be using a number of guys throughout a game and that at least one of those guys will start to separate themselves in the game and end with more touches. Essentially, they are going to ride the hot hand of the game.
I went with Wiley and Williams because they bring leadership to a young group of backs and know what the staff wants better than any other back on the roster. However, I do see Jonah Coleman and Rayshon Luke getting their touches. In my honest opinion, I feel that Coleman is the best back in the group, and he might be the best freshman running back the program has had since Nick Wilson.
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Anthony Simpson or Jamarye Joiner
Slot: Jacob Cowing, Kevin Green or Anthony Simpson
WR: Dorian Singer, Anthony Simpson or Jamarye Joiner
Breakdown - This is one of the deepest positions on the team and might be the most depth the Wildcats have had since the 2009 season that featured Juron Criner, Delashaun Dean and Terrell Turner as starters which in my opinion is the top wide receiver crops the program has ever had.
Although it is very deep, McMillan, Singer and Cowing have clearly been the starting group the staff will go with since the end of spring football and nothing has changed. All three players have shown that they can dominated any defender you put on them and Arizona might have two 1,000-yard out of the bunch.
In terms of the backups, Anthony Simpson has been interesting to watch, and the staff has put him all over the field to give other starters rest making me believe that outside of the slot, he will be backup No. 1. However, Joiner has looked good and has shown that he might be finally fully healthy for the first time in a long time.
TE: Alex Lines, Keyan Burnett
Breakdown - Arizona has said for years that they will be using the tight end and from Rich Rodriguez to Kevin Sumlin that statement has been false. But I can with confidence tell you that the tight end position is officially back in Tucson. The staff has been running 70 to 80 percent of its plays with a tight end on the field at all times. Also, the quarterbacks have been passing to them over the middle of the field like a safety net.
Although I put Lines as the "starting" tight end, it is more of a 1 and 1A situation and I see the staff using him and Burnett with a 50/50 split and some situations will be more ideal for a particular guy. Plus, I see Tanner McLachlan getting snaps during games with the staff being able to go a solid three-deep at the position.
LT: Jordan Morgan, Joseph Borjon
LG: Josh Donovan Sam Langi
C: Josh Baker, JT Hand
RG: Jonah Savaiinaea, Leif Magnuson
RT: Paiton Fears, Woody Jean
Breakdown - Last season you could argue that the offensive line was perhaps the worst line in program history or at least in recent memory, especially early during the season. However, it was a group that was riddled with injuries and even got better as the season progressed.
Things seem to be trending in a positive direction for the group and the starters haven't changed since midway through spring ball. The biggest addition to the group is Savaiinaea, who has gone from 340 pounds to 328 in a matter of months working with the training staff and has looked the part of a cornerstone player for years to come.
Now, Although I think the starting unit will be drastically improved from 2021, the depth of the line has some holes in it and those holes are on the edge. The middle of the line for the second team are three guys that have gotten starting experience last season, but on the edge, there aren't many in-game snaps there.
Defense (4-2-5)
DE: Jalen Harris, Paris Shand or JB Brown
DT: Kyon Barrs, Paris Shand or Dion Wilson Jr.
DT: Tiaoalii Savea, JB Brown or Dion Wilson Jr., Paris Shand
CAT: Hunter Echols, JB Brown or Jeremy Mercier, Russell Davis
Breakdown - This is one of the deepest defensive lines the Wildcats have had in a very long time, they have size, strength and speed while going a legitimate seven deep. I think the staff will rotate those seven guys throughout not only a game, but in the middle of drives so that they can keep players fresh and ready for the fourth quarter.
Although I think they are seven deep, the Wildcats do have players like walk-on Jacob Kongaika and Evan Branch-Haynes, who have seen some snaps with the first-team defense. I think they will be used as "break glass" guys as they continue to develop their game.
MIKE: Jerry Roberts, Malik Reed or Kolbe Cage
WILL: Malik Reed, Kolbe Cage or Ammon Allen
Breakdown - I do think there is more talent at the linebacking position than originally thought of at the start of training camp and the staff has talked about adding the SAM position for a 4-3 defensive look in certain situations. right now, Roberts is the only lock to start and is the best linebacker of the bunch.
As for the WILL position, Reed has started to get the majority of the first-team defensive snaps and is developing in the zone-coverage game. I think he could be the most talented linebacker Arizona has but Cage has also shown signs of progress and has added muscle to his frame.
The Wildcats have a solid four linebackers that they can rely upon and trust to put into game situations. After that, you have guys that need time to develop and work on their game.
CB: Chrisitan Roland-Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford or Isaiah Mays
CB: Treydan Stukes, Isaiah Rutherford or Isaiah Mays
Breakdown - Cornerback has been a position of struggles over the last couple of years at Arizona but this season it looks to be a position of strength and depth starting with Roland-Wallace and Stukes (when healthy). While having Rutherford as a backup gives the team a guy with starting experience off the bench and then you have Mays, who has been a backup cornerback since the start of camp and looks to be developing nicely.
However, I could see Ephesians Prysock seeing the field at times this season as he has developed fast and has shown that he can pick things up quickly. Then there is Tacario Davis, who has size and looks better than what I thought he would, but he needs time to develop, and I don't see him getting snaps this season.
S: Christian Young, Jaydin Young or Dalton Johnson
S: Jaxen Turner, Isaiah Taylor
NICKEL: Gunner Maldonado, DJ Warnell or Jaydin Young
Breakdown - This is an interesting position on the team, with Christian being added back with the safeties it has given the group an extra layer of depth that it simply did not have last season and at times it showed against teams like USC and WSU that passed the ball at will over the safeties for big plays. He seems to be picking up like he never left the safety group and is the leader of the bunch. While Turner seems to be a perfect fit for the 4-2-5 zone-based defense that is being installed and has made strides in pass coverage. I would say that Taylor is the guy to keep an eye on because he has been highly impressive and maybe someone the staff can plug in at both safety positions.
Right now, it is Maldonado who has taken a strong grip of the NICKEL position and the separator from Warnell has been in coverage where he has a clear edge.
In terms of the run stopping game, I think Warnell is the better option than Maldonado, but the coverage is such a wide margin that it cannot be overlooked. Out of the whole secondary, I think it will be someone from the safeties that will lead the team in interceptions because the zone concept seems to lean towards them being more of ball hawks that are hunting for turnovers.
As we get closer to the official depth chart that the team will release closer to the season opener, I will update this a couple of times as well to give updates to any interesting chances that I see during practice.
Feel free to comment and ask any questions about the depth chart and where guys stand.
In the depth chart I'll go through each position and then give a breakdown as to why it has shaped up that way to this point.
Depth Chart
Offense
QB: Jayden de Laura, Noah Fifita
Breakdown - It has been no secret that de Laura has had his struggles early during training camp. But, after his worst practice of camp during practice No. 7, he has been lights out and delivered three-straight high-level performances. The staff has made it clear that they are giving him all the first-team reps this camp, so that's why he is my starter.
As for Fifita, he has been everything that he was during spring ball and more. The kid simply doesn't make mistakes and seems to always make the correct high-football IQ play every single time. In my opinion, he has had the best arm this camp and has glimpse of a young Russell Wilson at NC State. I know, that is very high praise, but it isn't an over exaggeration and the gap between him, and Jordan McCloud is massive.
RB: Michael Wiley, DJ Williams
Breakdown - This might be one of the hardest positions on the team to make a judgment on simply because we have seen four different backs get a chance to run with the first-team offense. The staff has made it clear that they will be using a number of guys throughout a game and that at least one of those guys will start to separate themselves in the game and end with more touches. Essentially, they are going to ride the hot hand of the game.
I went with Wiley and Williams because they bring leadership to a young group of backs and know what the staff wants better than any other back on the roster. However, I do see Jonah Coleman and Rayshon Luke getting their touches. In my honest opinion, I feel that Coleman is the best back in the group, and he might be the best freshman running back the program has had since Nick Wilson.
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Anthony Simpson or Jamarye Joiner
Slot: Jacob Cowing, Kevin Green or Anthony Simpson
WR: Dorian Singer, Anthony Simpson or Jamarye Joiner
Breakdown - This is one of the deepest positions on the team and might be the most depth the Wildcats have had since the 2009 season that featured Juron Criner, Delashaun Dean and Terrell Turner as starters which in my opinion is the top wide receiver crops the program has ever had.
Although it is very deep, McMillan, Singer and Cowing have clearly been the starting group the staff will go with since the end of spring football and nothing has changed. All three players have shown that they can dominated any defender you put on them and Arizona might have two 1,000-yard out of the bunch.
In terms of the backups, Anthony Simpson has been interesting to watch, and the staff has put him all over the field to give other starters rest making me believe that outside of the slot, he will be backup No. 1. However, Joiner has looked good and has shown that he might be finally fully healthy for the first time in a long time.
TE: Alex Lines, Keyan Burnett
Breakdown - Arizona has said for years that they will be using the tight end and from Rich Rodriguez to Kevin Sumlin that statement has been false. But I can with confidence tell you that the tight end position is officially back in Tucson. The staff has been running 70 to 80 percent of its plays with a tight end on the field at all times. Also, the quarterbacks have been passing to them over the middle of the field like a safety net.
Although I put Lines as the "starting" tight end, it is more of a 1 and 1A situation and I see the staff using him and Burnett with a 50/50 split and some situations will be more ideal for a particular guy. Plus, I see Tanner McLachlan getting snaps during games with the staff being able to go a solid three-deep at the position.
LT: Jordan Morgan, Joseph Borjon
LG: Josh Donovan Sam Langi
C: Josh Baker, JT Hand
RG: Jonah Savaiinaea, Leif Magnuson
RT: Paiton Fears, Woody Jean
Breakdown - Last season you could argue that the offensive line was perhaps the worst line in program history or at least in recent memory, especially early during the season. However, it was a group that was riddled with injuries and even got better as the season progressed.
Things seem to be trending in a positive direction for the group and the starters haven't changed since midway through spring ball. The biggest addition to the group is Savaiinaea, who has gone from 340 pounds to 328 in a matter of months working with the training staff and has looked the part of a cornerstone player for years to come.
Now, Although I think the starting unit will be drastically improved from 2021, the depth of the line has some holes in it and those holes are on the edge. The middle of the line for the second team are three guys that have gotten starting experience last season, but on the edge, there aren't many in-game snaps there.
Defense (4-2-5)
DE: Jalen Harris, Paris Shand or JB Brown
DT: Kyon Barrs, Paris Shand or Dion Wilson Jr.
DT: Tiaoalii Savea, JB Brown or Dion Wilson Jr., Paris Shand
CAT: Hunter Echols, JB Brown or Jeremy Mercier, Russell Davis
Breakdown - This is one of the deepest defensive lines the Wildcats have had in a very long time, they have size, strength and speed while going a legitimate seven deep. I think the staff will rotate those seven guys throughout not only a game, but in the middle of drives so that they can keep players fresh and ready for the fourth quarter.
Although I think they are seven deep, the Wildcats do have players like walk-on Jacob Kongaika and Evan Branch-Haynes, who have seen some snaps with the first-team defense. I think they will be used as "break glass" guys as they continue to develop their game.
MIKE: Jerry Roberts, Malik Reed or Kolbe Cage
WILL: Malik Reed, Kolbe Cage or Ammon Allen
Breakdown - I do think there is more talent at the linebacking position than originally thought of at the start of training camp and the staff has talked about adding the SAM position for a 4-3 defensive look in certain situations. right now, Roberts is the only lock to start and is the best linebacker of the bunch.
As for the WILL position, Reed has started to get the majority of the first-team defensive snaps and is developing in the zone-coverage game. I think he could be the most talented linebacker Arizona has but Cage has also shown signs of progress and has added muscle to his frame.
The Wildcats have a solid four linebackers that they can rely upon and trust to put into game situations. After that, you have guys that need time to develop and work on their game.
CB: Chrisitan Roland-Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford or Isaiah Mays
CB: Treydan Stukes, Isaiah Rutherford or Isaiah Mays
Breakdown - Cornerback has been a position of struggles over the last couple of years at Arizona but this season it looks to be a position of strength and depth starting with Roland-Wallace and Stukes (when healthy). While having Rutherford as a backup gives the team a guy with starting experience off the bench and then you have Mays, who has been a backup cornerback since the start of camp and looks to be developing nicely.
However, I could see Ephesians Prysock seeing the field at times this season as he has developed fast and has shown that he can pick things up quickly. Then there is Tacario Davis, who has size and looks better than what I thought he would, but he needs time to develop, and I don't see him getting snaps this season.
S: Christian Young, Jaydin Young or Dalton Johnson
S: Jaxen Turner, Isaiah Taylor
NICKEL: Gunner Maldonado, DJ Warnell or Jaydin Young
Breakdown - This is an interesting position on the team, with Christian being added back with the safeties it has given the group an extra layer of depth that it simply did not have last season and at times it showed against teams like USC and WSU that passed the ball at will over the safeties for big plays. He seems to be picking up like he never left the safety group and is the leader of the bunch. While Turner seems to be a perfect fit for the 4-2-5 zone-based defense that is being installed and has made strides in pass coverage. I would say that Taylor is the guy to keep an eye on because he has been highly impressive and maybe someone the staff can plug in at both safety positions.
Right now, it is Maldonado who has taken a strong grip of the NICKEL position and the separator from Warnell has been in coverage where he has a clear edge.
In terms of the run stopping game, I think Warnell is the better option than Maldonado, but the coverage is such a wide margin that it cannot be overlooked. Out of the whole secondary, I think it will be someone from the safeties that will lead the team in interceptions because the zone concept seems to lean towards them being more of ball hawks that are hunting for turnovers.
As we get closer to the official depth chart that the team will release closer to the season opener, I will update this a couple of times as well to give updates to any interesting chances that I see during practice.
Feel free to comment and ask any questions about the depth chart and where guys stand.
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