DW THE DAILY WILDCAT
FOOTBALL GUIDE 2015
TYLER BAKER/THE DAILY WILDCAT
Catching up with Nick Foles P10
Can Scooby win Heisman? P6
Position grades and outlooks P12
2 • The Daily Wildcat
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Tagaloa brings stability to offensive line
Alex McIntyre/The Daily Wildcat
Arizona offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa, number 72, practices among his teammates on Thursday, Aug. 27. Tagaloa transferred to Arizona after the 2013 season.
The 6-foot-8 Cal transfer is expected to start at left tackle for an offensive line that has dealt with multiple offseason departures.
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such a short amount of time.” Tagaloa says his principal focus in the weeks leading up to the season opener has been his footwork. “I’d say moving my feet quicker,” he said. “Getting off the ball, getting my feet to the ground. Really getting weight moving.” Tagaloa, who spent last season on Arizona’s practice squad, is now prepared to put his offseason work into action.
Bob ,
The last time Freddie Tagaloa stepped onto the football field for game day was Nov. 23, 2013 for California. Come Thursday night, he will return to the field in Wildcat red and blue. The transfer is more than ready to get back on the field, and Arizona will immediately be relying on the offensive lineman to provide stable play at left tackle. “Guys are getting tired of hitting each other so, you know, everybody’s itching to hit another guy in a different color,” Tagaloa said last week. “This week, heading into the game should be interesting. Guys know that the game is creeping up so hits could get
“This offseason went well for me,” Tagaloa said. “I dropped about 35 pounds getting ready to head into this season. The speed of the game came naturally. At first it was kind of hard, but our strength staff really did a good job with me and a bunch of guys on the team.” Arizona’s up-tempo offense is a big difference from the slower pace of Cal. This transition has been an interesting one for Tagaloa, who has had to learn to keep up with the no-huddle system. “Everything is way faster here,” Tagaloa said. “[Head] coach [Rich Rodriguez] loves to go fast. Practice moves fast. We only practice for about an hour and 45 minutes, but we get so much work done in
to Stanford. The 6-foot-8, 316 pound lineman then came to Arizona, reuniting him with offensive line coach Jim Michalczik. Tagaloa has looked solid during fall camp and the practices leading up to game day. “There’s a difference between just getting a guy blocked and making something happen,” Michalczik said about Tagaloa’s play during the scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 22. “I think he really took a step up in the scrimmage as far as really playing more aggressively and having confidence and being able to go attack.” Tagaloa agrees with his position coach.
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a little harder.” Tagaloa transferred to UA after the 2013 season and redshirted in 2014. He will be covering quarterback Anu Solomon’s blind side when the Wildcats take the field against UTSA on Thursday. A four-star recruit, according to ESPN, Tagaloa played the 2012 and 2013 seasons at Cal where he played in 23 of 24 games and started in seven. He was voted a team captain as a sophomore. While Tagaloa found success at Cal, the team itself struggled. In his sophomore season, the Golden Bears finished the year 1-11, which included a 33-28 loss to Arizona. Tagaloa’s final game at Cal was a 63-13 blowout defeat
The Daily Wildcat
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Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
The Daily Wildcat • 3
GAME DAY GUIDE
Tyler Baker/The Daily Wildcat
Students pack the ZonaZoo at a home football game against Nevada on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. Students can buy a ZonaZoo pass which allows access to the high-energy section.
BY MatT wall
The Daily Wildcat
Arizona football head coach Rich Rodriguez has preached the motto “60 minutes of Arizona.” For this upcoming season, Rodriguez should actually preach 720 minutes of Arizona. With no bye week and 12 straight games, the Wildcats will need all the help they can get, especially from dedicated fans and the ZonaZoo. Recently named the best student section in the nation by the National Collegiate Student
Section Association, all students would be making one of the biggest mistakes of their college careers by not attending games. Arizona Athletics Director Greg Byrne always preaches “stay the entire game.” But in reality, the game is so much more than the 60 minutes of play. Many traditions will remain the same as in past years. The Wildcat Walk, which began in 2010, starts two hours before the game at the corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. The football team,
cheerleaders, mascots and Pride of Arizona marching band walk down the street in front of fans before entering Arizona Stadium. Roadrunner Mobile Kitchen, a new eatery out of the Student Union Memorial Center, contains rotating menus including backyard barbecue and Mexican sopes. The Roadrunner will be featured at the football games at the southwest corner of Arizona Stadium. Roadrunner also provides street eats such as the Sweet Burger, which is a glazed doughnut cut in half with Nutella
cream and fresh fruit filling. The Pride of Arizona always performs before the game and this year, their show will model a montage from the Dave Matthews Band. There are many tailgating options available on the east end of the UA Mall earlier on game day, such as the ZonaZoo Tailgate for students and the Wildcat Club and A-Club Tailgate for paid members. The Fan Fiesta will also continue this year, which begins four hours before games. The fiesta offers live entertainment,
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food vendors and a fun zone for kids. Following the game, the Pride of Arizona plays a concert at Heritage Hill on the Alumni Plaza near the student union and the Administration building. Many fans come out for the event and sing “Bear Down, Arizona” to celebrate the Wildcats hopeful victory.
— Follow Matt Wall @mwall20
4 • The Daily Wildcat
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Senior Parks leads secondary BY Ezra Amacher The Daily Wildcat
Will Parks heard a familiar voice yelling from outside as he walked to the front door of his home. “Yo, what’s up bro?” the voice called out to Parks. A wave of confusion jolted through the Arizona safety. The guest outside wasn’t supposed to arrive for at least a few more days, maybe even a week. So what was he doing knocking on Parks’ door right then? Didn’t he know that Parks was occupied with fall practice for Arizona football “What are you doing here, bro?” Parks replied. In walked Rondae HollisJefferson. The former Arizona basketball star, now Brooklyn Nets rookie, had arrived in Tucson a couple days early to get in extra workouts. Naturally, Parks was one of the first people he wanted to visit was Parks. The two are practically brothers. Parks and HollisJefferson both hail from Pennsylvania, but both made names for themselves across the country at the UA–Hollis-Jefferson on the hardwood and Parks on the gridiron. “We’re like family,” Parks said. “I talk to his mom, he talks to my mom sometimes. Even when he’s home [in Philadelphia], he goes to see my mom.” Hollis-Jefferson has now mostly moved on from Arizona after a prolific twoyear career that ended in a pair of Elite Eight trips. Parks, a senior, would like to finish his Wildcat career playing in an equally significant postseason matchup. Maybe even the Rose Bowl. “It would be a blessing from upstairs,” Parks said. “That’s definitely one of the goals that we set high. We’ve got high expectations, so as long as we keep that in mind, I think we should be pretty good as far as getting
to the postseason.” Having been a part of head coach Rich Rodriguez’s first three seasons at Arizona, Parks is well aware of how difficult it is to reach such a goal. Guys have to buy in, stay healthy and remain focused all year long. As a senior, Parks now carries the responsibility of ensuring that the younger players stick to the system, and there are quite a lot of newcomers playing along Parks in the secondary. “I know how it feels to be a freshman and to come in not know what’s going on,” Parks said. “But of course in the last month, the guys have picked up pretty good.” Parks named Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Sammy Morrison as young players in the secondary who have impressed in the weeks leading up to the first game. He also offered words of praise for sophomore cornerback Cam Denson, who will likely be lined up parallel to Parks on defense come Thursday. “He’s picked up pretty good,” Parks said. “He’s doing a good job as far as developing the plays faster and jumping to quick routes.” As for Parks himself, the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list member said that he was in Tucson nearly the entire summer working to add balance to his game. Parks is expected to be a do-everything safety for the Wildcats this season, whether that means sticking with coverage or rushing to the line to make tackles. “This offseason, I was focusing on my technique more than anything,” he said. “I was trying to get faster hash to hash, diagnosing the plays faster. To be a great player, you’ve gotta do all those things.”
— Follow Ezra Amacher @EzraAmacher
Tyler Baker/The Daily Wildcat
Arizona safety Will Parks rushes into the fray during a game against USC on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.
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Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
THE DAILY WILDCAT • 5
Keeping Arizona athletics green BY PATRICK O’CONNOR The Daily Wildcat
The most important basketball game of last season for UA sophomore Cole Pihl and senior Kyle McGowan was on March 5. The Arizona men’s basketball team routed California 99 to 60, but Pihl and McGowan were not on the court; they were in the stands. Their team of almost 30 volunteers triumphed over a different opponent: pollution. Pihl, now a junior, and McGowan, a UA alumnus, were project managers for Greening the Game, a student initiative to make athletic events more sustainable. During the inaugural zero-waste basketball game, the team salvaged almost 1 ton of recyclables that would have ended up in a landfill. “The atmosphere at the game was crazy,” said Pihl, the current project manager for the new year. Greening the Game volunteers huddled near waste stations around the stadium to ensure that everything was thrown away properly. Waste such as plastic water bottles or food scraps that might normally get tossed into a trash can were instead diverted into a recycling bin or a compost bag. Volunteers also took the time to explain to basketball fans the impact they were making. “People really had fun with it and were interested in learning,” said Maya Kapoor, a graduate assistant who works at the UA Office of Sustainability. Growing greener sports Greening the Game began in 2012 when a student working concessions at a UA football game was appalled by how many disposable water bottles she was selling. She pitched the idea to the student government’s Students for Sustainability program as a way to make the football games less harmful to the environment. “All of the big sustainability efforts on campus have been driven by a student desire to see change,” Kapoor said. Today, Greening the Game has moved beyond football. In February, the group began attending the home softball games and in March, they participated in their first basketball game. That game went incredibly well for the team, and in the 2015-2016 season Greening the Game will be at every home basketball game. “I like sports and athletics and I thought it was cool how you could add sustainability to the games,” Pihl said. Greening the Game’s budget comes from the UA Green Fund. In 2010, the Arizona Board of Regents created the UA Green Fund to support sustainability projects. For the upcoming year, Greening the Game was awarded $6,300, which they use to create jobs for students. Greening the Game had seven employees last semester who worked during games, but they also hired clubs and organizations on campus when they needed
PATRICK O’CONNOR/THE DAILY WILDCAT
COLE PIHL and Kyle McGowan, project managers for Greening the Game last semester, eat lunch at the University of Arizona on April 23. With McGowan graduating, Pihl leads the initiative during the 2015-2016 school year.
more labor. This gave students in clubs an opportunity to volunteer at the games while the money went to help the club’s mission. “The clubs don’t necessarily have to fight an environmental issue,” Pihl said. Last year, the Wildcat Running Club and a pre-health club helped Greening the Game increase their recycling yield at football games by about 50 percent. This translates into more than 60 tons of recyclables avoiding landfills. Last season, more than half of the waste generated at the home football games was recycled. Landfills are not the real enemy As the crowd filed out of the stadium on March 5, the Greening the Game team began the second part of their operation. Members went row by row looking for trash and recyclables they could add to the staggering amount they had already collected. Once the stadium was clean, UA Facilities Management transported the materials for processing. “Facilities Management plays a huge part in this project,” McGowan said. “We really couldn’t do it without them.” Once sorted and cleaned, Facilities Management sells the collected recyclables to another facility to produce scraps. Contrary to popular belief, the scrap will probably be sent overseas. “Scrap is very much a global market,” said Trevor Zink, an assistant professor of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Loyola Marymount University. Increased urbanization and industrialization in China and Southeast Asia means that recycled scrap from the U.S. ends
up in foreign factories. “One of the big misconceptions about recycling is that [the] reason we do it is to have products avoid landfills,” Zink said. When a disposable water bottle made out of a common plastic called polyethylene terephthalate is recycled, it takes energy to transport and recycle the bottle. When accounting for the electricity and the fuel, recycling a plastic bottle releases about 40 grams of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is about the weight of the bottle. To make that same bottle from raw petroleum, the process, which is called primary production, releases about 180 grams of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere according to Zink. Just because a plastic bottle is recycled does not mean that companies will stop making plastic from petroleum. “There is no guarantee that recycling will prevent primary production,” Zink said. Instead, recycled plastic lowers the cost of all plastic because there is more available to buy. This could be more harmful to the environment because cheaper plastic encourages entrepreneurs to start new businesses, which increases the demand for plastic. This idea is not just a fantasy. Zink has preliminary data that shows recycling aluminum, which produces seven times less carbon dioxide than primary production, only reduces the creation of new aluminum by 10 to 30 percent. “The lower price of aluminum may just increase the size of the market, which would increase the environmental impact,” Zink said. Recycling is important for saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which lead to climate change.
Zink said he worries that recycling is making people complacent. Instead of finding more environmentally friendly alternatives, consumers continue to buy plastic bottles because they overestimate the benefits of recycling. “The only sure-fire way to reduce primary production is to buy less stuff,” Zink said. Making future games greener Football and softball are a good start, but Pihl is hoping to make every athletic event zero-waste. The team is hoping to maximize the amount of waste they can reduce with their limited budget. “We definitely want to expand to other sports, but it comes down to how big the sporting event is,” Pihl said. This semester, they are attempting one of their largest feats yet. Greening the Game is hosting their first zero-waste football game on Nov. 14 against Utah. This will be the largest event they have attended and it will likely be the game with the biggest recycling impact all year. Greening the Game is also expanding beyond athletics. Last April, the group was out in full force at the UA Spring Fling. “We want people to engage in school spirit and do the things they love while also thinking about doing these things in a responsible way,” Kapoor said.
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THE DAILY WILDCAT • 7
Scooby Wright for Heisman?
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ARIZONA LINEBACKER Scooby Wright III lunges at ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici during the Territorial Cup matchup on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. The Wildcats would go on to win the game with a score of 42-35.
The All-American linebacker could turn into a Heisman Trophy contender if he puts together another spectacular year BY JUSTIN SPEARS
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The Daily Wildcat
Every college football player dreams of winning the Heisman Trophy and being a part of the close fraternity of greatness amongst some of the all-time best college players. For Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III, it’s a chance to accomplish something that has never been accomplished in Arizona history. How can Wright do the unthinkable and win the award? Perhaps the better question is, how can he be a candidate when he doesn’t play offense? That’s the biggest issue when considering Wright for the Heisman Trophy, because Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to ever win the award. Fair or not, the Heisman Trophy is an offensive biased award. Just look at the past few decades. Every Heisman winner since Woodson in 1997 has played on the offensive side of the ball. The last five winners have all been quarterbacks. Granted, defensive players have been nominated many times, most recently South Carolina linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Those positions don’t put points on the board and are rarely seen in top plays, thus, their positions are rarely seen battling for the award. With that said, there’s a feature to Wright that not even Jadeveon Clowney had, and that’s single-handedly winning games. Sure, Nick Wilson ran the ball like a maniac at Oregon last season, but at the end of the day, it was Wright who stripped the ball to effectively end the game, and it was 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota that coughed up the ball to Wright. If Wright can come up with more signature moments like that one, that’s where he’ll earn his “Scooby Snacks” this
season. Of course, Wright already has his name inscribed on a number of other trophies. Wright swept the nationally recognized defensive award list in 2014, earning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Wright was in his sophomore campaign, focusing on replacing Jake Fischer at the middle linebacker position rather than playing for an NFL contract. This season, it looks as if he’s playing to be a first rounder. Wright could be the first Arizona defensive player selected in the first round since Antoine Cason in 2008. Just from the naked eye, Wright added on at least 15 pounds of girth and looks built to play on the big stage. A Heisman Trophy would make the linebacker even more appealing at the NFL level. Wright had double-digit tackles in 10 games last season and had a game high 19 tackles at UCLA. Now that Wright has proven himself as one of the nations’ top defenders, more hype leads to a sharper spotlight. The target is very large for the junior linebacker and teams will try do what Oregon accomplished in the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game, which is taking out the core of the defense. Oregon more or less contained Wright by focusing more attention on him, and thus encouraged Arizona to beat them with the other 10 players. It worked, considering the Arizona defense allowed the Ducks to score 51 points. Wright’s teammates could play a crucial role in his Heisman campaign this season by providing a higher level of play themselves. In the end, it will be up to Wright to demonstrate his worthiness of an award that not even Tedy Bruschi was able to hoist.
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ARIZONA LINEBACKER Scooby Wright III wrestles with a member of the Washington offense Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.
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ARIZONA LINEBACKER Scooby Wright III reaches for a tackle while playing against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014.
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8 • The Daily Wildcat
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
STAFF PICKS Our sports reporters predict how Arizona football will fare in the 2015 season
BY Matt wall
The Daily Wildcat
L
ast year’s Pac-12 South champions are looking to rebound after dropping their final two games. Returning starting quarterback Anu Solomon, running back Nick Wilson, wide receiver Cayleb Jones and linebacker Scooby Wright III should get the Wildcats back to the Pac-12 Conference Championship
BY Ezra Amacher The Daily Wildcat
I
t’s hard to see Arizona repeating as Pac-12 South champions as they play in one of the toughest divisions in college football. A schedule with no bye week makes the task even more difficult. Scooby Wright III will continue to be a monster defensively, and Anu Solomon should take a sophomore
BY Ivan Leonard The Daily Wildcat
A
s much as I love the smell of roses and want to say head coach Rich Rodriguez will have the Wildcats going to back-to-back Pac-12 Conference Championship Games, playing UCLA, Stanford, USC, and that school up north without a bye is pretty daunting. Although Scooby Wright III and Anu Solomon garner the most
Game. The only thing that might get in the Wildcats way is their brutal 12-straight-game schedule with no bye week. As long as Arizona can avoid injuries and focus on one game at a time, I have no doubt that this year’s Wildcats have a chance to make it even further. Projected record: 9-3 Projected bowl game: Valero Alamo Bowl —Matt Wall @mwall20
leap at quarterback, but Arizona has too many question marks on both sides of the ball. Depth among the offensive line is a major concern, as is the secondary’s inexperience. Those holes will prove too much of a liability by the end of the year. Projected record: 7-5 Projected bowl game: Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
—Ezra Amacher @EzraAmacher
headlines, the player I feel is most crucial is Nick Wilson. Arizona was undefeated in games that he averaged at least five yards per carry. He had seven games with over 100 yards, including wins against Oregon, Utah, and ASU. If Arizona is to reach double-digit wins, it will need to beat UCLA and Stanford back-to-back. Projected record: 9-3 Projected bowl game: Holiday Bowl
—Ivan Leonard @Ivan14bro
roughly two wins away from playing in the College Football Playoff. Expect Arizona to elevate its play even more this season. The light at the end of the tunnel of a major bowl win will shine sooner rather than later.
BY Justin Spears The Daily Wildcat
T
he No. 22 ranked Wildcats are returning much of their cast from the historic Fiesta Bowl run. Leading the way is quarterback Anu Solomon, who threw for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns. Arizona finished last season at 104 with a Pac-12 South title, and were
BY Kyle Hansen
The Daily Wildcat
A
rizona shocked teams last year by winning the Pac-12 South and playing in the Fiesta Bowl. I expect a similar story this year. I firmly believe the Wildcats will hold their own at home and upset UCLA and Stanford. Experience is Arizona’s biggest strength. The UA returned a lot of key
—Justin Spears @JustinESports
players on offense and defense. Anu Solomon, Nick Wilson, and Cayleb Jones will continue their strong 2014 campaigns and the offense will flourish. Scooby Wright III and Will Parks will anchor a tough defense that will have their hands full with tough Pac12 Conference teams. Projected record: 10-2 Projected bowl game: Fiesta Bowl
—Kyle Hansen @k_hansen42
but losing road games to Stanford, USC and ASU. Nine wins would be one fewer than last season’s 10-win mark, but it would still represent another successful season for Rich Rodriguez and company.
BY Ryan Kelapire The Daily Wildcat
I
Projected record: 10-2 Projected bowl game: Fiesta Bowl
believe Arizona will finish either second or third in the Pac-12 South. With the Wildcats sure to go 3-0 in their non-conference games, they’d need to go 6-3 in the Pac-12 Conference to get nine wins. I have them beating UCLA, Oregon State, Washington State, Utah, Colorado, and Washington,
Projected record: 9-3 Projected bowl game: Holiday Bowl
— Follow Ryan Kelapire @RKelapireUA
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Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015 • 9
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ARIZONA WIDE RECEIVER Samajie Grant sprints toward the end zone with a defender on his tail during Arizona’s 38-20 win over Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014.
Wide receivers expected to take Wildcats offense to top BY IVAN LEONARD
The Daily Wildcat
T
he Pac-12 Conference has always had a reputation as an offensive league. Oregon operates at warp speed, USC churns out spectacular athletes and even California has sent Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, and Justin Forsett to the NFL. Offense will always be the calling card out West. Just last season, six Pac-12 teams placed in the top-30 nationally in passing yards, including Washington State leading the country, with California and Pac-12 powerhouses Oregon and USC close behind. Arizona ranked 21st in the nation in passing yards per game and 15th in total yards. Both of those numbers should improve as the Wildcats return seven starters on the offensive side of the ball including a plethora of receiving options. While quarterback Anu Solomon and runningback Nick Wilson are receiving the most preseason hype for the Arizona offense, its receiving options are so stacked that Notre Dame transfer DaVonte’ Neal switched to defense for more consistent playing time. Last season, eight different wideouts reached the end zone and many have returned to tear apart Pac-12 defensive secondaries again. Redshirt junior Cayleb Jones headlines the bunch as he comes off of a season that ranked him fifth in the Pac-12 in yards, with 73 receptions for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns. Jones will be looking to compete with USC’s JuJu Smith and Oregon’s Byron Marshall to be the top receiver in the conference. The former Texas Longhorn racked up four 100-yard games and broke out with a 13-catch, 186yard and three-touchdown performance in the comeback win against California in last season’s Pac-12 opener. Junior Samajie Grant came in second to
Jones last season for the Wildcats in yards (718) and touchdowns (6) and is a threat to reach the thousand yard mark this season. Jones’s biggest game last season came in the Territorial Cup when he hauled in four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns including a memorable 69-yard catch-and-run in which he eluded multiple defenders. Jones was a consistent big-play receiver last year as he racked up six catches of over 40 yards. Defenses should key on Wilson and Jared Baker with caution as they leave themselves vulnerable to get beat over the top. Redshirt junior Trey Griffey and sophomore Tyrell Johnson will both miss time at the beginning of the season with injuries, but they too help make up the Wildcats’ passing attack. Johnson doubles as a track runner and is dangerous in the open field, while Griffey looks to build off of his strong Fiesta Bowl performance where he had six catches for 66 yards. Senior receiver David Richards is a great target across the middle at 6’ 4” and is embracing the leadership role as the lone senior of the receiving corps. “I think it’s important to me,” Richards said earlier this summer when asked about being a leader. “I think I have to be the one to lead by example because we have a lot of young receivers who could potentially play this year and they need a role model,” he added. Nate Phillips rounds out the group and will look to rebound from a 2014 season that was cut short by five games due to a left foot injury. The Wildcats are hopeful he will return to his freshman form when he racked in 51 catches for 696 yards and seven touchdowns. While Solomon had a record-breaking freshman season, the sky is the limit for what this offense can achieve in 2015 and with another year of experience under their belts, Pac-12 opponents better watch out for the Arizona wideouts.
— Follow Ivan Leonard @Ivan14bro
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10 • The Daily Wildcat
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
File photo/The Daily Wildcat
Former Arizona quarterback Nick Foles runs with the ball during a game against UCLA on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2011. Arizona overcame the Bruins for the win with a score of 48-12.
Catching up with Nick Foles would give Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon.
BY Ezra Amacher The Daily Wildcat
Nick Foles may be three years removed from Arizona, but the St. Louis Rams starting quarterback has not forgotten where he came from. Over the summer, the Daily Wildcat caught up with Foles at the Rams’ training camp. The UA record-holder in passing yards and touchdowns opened up about his recent contract extension, what he misses most about Arizona and what advice he
DW: You just signed a new twoyear contract extension. How does it feel to have that under your belt going into the season? Nick Foles: I’m very fortunate, and it’s very humbling just to be here. Since I got here, the team has embraced me and been wonderful. To sign a contract for a total of three years, it’s very exciting because this is a place my wife and I want to be. We love the team and the coaches so we’re
the grass and palm trees, it’s the greatest place in the country to be a student-athlete. If my kids are athletes, I would want them to be student-athletes at Arizona.
fortunate to play for two great organizations and it’s wonderful to be here in St. Louis.
very fortunate to be here. How is moving from one NFL team to another (Philadelphia to St. Louis) similar to when you transferred from Michigan State to Arizona? You build relationships wherever you go. Relationships have always been the most important thing to me. You get an opportunity to play with so many different guys from different backgrounds. You get to know their stories. When you leave, that’s the tough part, but I’ve been
What are some of your favorite memories from attending Arizona? I talk to guys [from Arizona] all the time. Guys get jealous once they go visit Arizona or they see the [UA] on TV playing a game. They’re like, ‘Dang, I wish I would have gone there.’ So I think just memories with my teammates there, the student body, going to class, just walking through
Do you have any plans to go back to Tucson and catch a game soon? My wife and I are going to try to get back there soon. I definitely talk to a lot of my old teammates that I’m really close with, and we all want to get together sometime and go there. Just to check it out,
Foles, 11
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Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
The Daily Wildcat • 11
File Photo/The Daily Wildcat
Former Arizona quarterback Nick Foles fires off a pass as he goes down in a game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Foles now plays for the St. Louis Rams.
Foles
from page 10
spend a weekend and try to visit some old people. We all love Arizona and talk about it all the time. Are you able to follow the Wildcats football team? I’ll follow the team. I stay pretty busy, but I know that they’ve been doing awesome the last several years. All of the athletic department has been doing great. I know the facilities are outstanding now so as a Wildcat [alumnus], it’s always exciting to see that. What advice would you give to sophomore quarterback Anu Solomon? I’ve been very impressed with how [Solomon] has handled himself. Just to be a young guy going in
there and playing with the maturity he has. My advice is that the game is going to slow down for him, but don’t ever get complacent. I think he knows that, but every day strive to get a little bit better. Never get complacent, and always remain that team leader that guys look up to. He’s doing a great job, so I’m really proud of him. Any prediction on the Wildcats’ upcoming season? I would love for them to continue to improve. I’m not going to say anything more than that I’m very proud of the team, what they play for and they’re representing the [UA] well.
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12 • THE DAILY WILDCAT
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
2015-2016 UA football positional grades BY KYLE HANSEN
The Daily Wildcat
Offensive line Arizona’s offensive line is arguably the most important part of the offense. Their up-tempo style of play creates a strong workload in terms of number of plays each game. The spread option that the Wildcats run also requires the line to open up running lanes for the running backs and quarterback Anu Solomon, should he choose to run. It’s a difficult offense to block
in as a lineman, but when good things happen, the Wildcats find success. The offensive line has already had its fair share of shake ups to start the season: Center Carter Wood is out for the year with a chronic foot injury; senior guard Cayman Bundage moved over to center in his place; redshirt junior Zach Hemmila is the new projected starter at left guard. Redshirt junior Freddie Tagaloa, the transfer student from California, is the projected starter at left tackle. Tagaloa started seven games and played in 23 of 24 games for Cal.
On the right side, the projected starters are redshirt sophomore Jacob Alsadek at guard and redshirt senior Lene Maiava at tackle. Alsadek started in 11 games and played in 12 in 2014 while Maiava played in all 14 games. I would give the o-line a higher grade if there was not a question at the center. Early reports say Bundage has adapted well, which would be vital for success. The Wildcats have key returners to their line. If this offensive line plays like they did last year, Arizona’s offense will be fun to watch.
Grade: BCAYMAN BUNDAGE
BY KYLE HANSEN
The Daily Wildcat
Running backs Arizona fans have been blessed with strong running backs over the past three years. Ka’Deem Carey shredded defenses left and right for two seasons and became a two-time All-American for the Wildcats. Once Carey left for the NFL, it became interesting to see who his replacement would be. Nick Wilson showed up last year in a big way. Wilson started eight games for the Wildcats last year and played in 13 of them. Wilson broke the yardage record for a freshman with 1,375 yards and also scored 16 touchdowns. Wilson was part of an offense that ranked
15th in total offensive yardage last season. With his first year a successful one, Wilson’s sophomore season could be even better. Redshirt senior Jared Baker will also see some snaps at running back. Baker played in all 14 games last season, and has run for 326 yards and three touchdowns in his career, two of which he scored last year. Freshman Orlando Bradford is the projected third back on the depth chart. This running back crew is solid with good experience. They will be tough to stop for opposing defenses this upcoming year.
Grade: A
NICK WILSON
BY KYLE HANSEN
The Daily Wildcat
Secondary Arizona brings in a veteran group of defensive backs with a wealth of experience. Senior Will Parks is the projected starter at the spur position. Redshirt junior Tellas Jones is expected to start at the bandit spot and senior Jamar Allah is projected at free safety. Redshirt junior DaVonte’ Neal played wide receiver for the Wildcats last season but has switched to the defensive side of the ball. Neal is expected to start at the right cornerback position. The youngest member of this secondary is freshman Sammy Morrison. Morrison is listed on the depth chart ahead of sophomore Cam Denson, who started two games for the Wildcats
last year. These two could swap starts throughout the season, but for now, the depth chart has Morrison in front. Parks started all 14 games last year for the Wildcats and his defensive presence was strong. He totaled 81 tackles and had two interceptions. Jones and Allah also played in all 14 games last year. This returning group has played together in the past and they have a lot of experience on the field together. This unit will need to be strong, especially when going up against Pac-12 Conference quarterbacks like Cody Kessler and Mike Bercovici. Neal and Morrison’s inexperience bring up questions. However, if they adapt quickly, and Denson is thrown into the mix as well, this group could wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Grade: B WILL PARKS
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Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015 BY MatT Wall
The Daily Wildcat
Wide receivers With very few departures for the Wildcats at receiver, Arizona should have been in a good place at the wide receiver position. That was until multiple injuries to starters occurred during the preseason. With Trey Griffey and Tyrell Johnson out for a few weeks due to foot injuries, Arizona must now rely on others to carry their weight. Johnson may be a big loss due to his speed, and Griffey was one of the most experienced returning receivers. There is still plenty of talent at the position, beginning with the return of All-Pac-12
The Daily Wildcat • 13
Honorable Mention Cayleb Jones. Jones was Arizona’s leading receiver last year with 1,019 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Jones and quarterback Anu Solomon will be sure to hookup for many of the Wildcats’ touchdowns this season. The UA also returns junior Samajie Grant, who started in 11 of 13 games last year. Grant caught six touchdown passes last year, including a pair against ASU. Depth might be an issue at the beginning of the season, but Arizona has enough leaders at receiver who can carry them until these two can return.
Grade: B+ Cayleb Jones
BY Ezra Amacher The Daily Wildcat
Special teams Arizona is not exactly known for its stellar special teams, but this year, it looks like the Wildcats should be in good shape at both punter and kicker. Tucson native Drew Riggleman enters his senior season at punter for the UA. Last year, Riggleman ranked among the top punters in the nation with an average 46.1 yards per punt mark. If Riggleman can continue to push back opposing offenses deep into their own territory, the Wildcats defense will get a head start in limiting red zone trips. At kicker, fan-favorite Casey Skowron enters his final year at Arizona after a redshirt junior
campaign in which led the Pac-12 Conference with 123 points. Skowron’s best game last year came against Washington, when he ran for a touchdown on a fake-call and later kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. If 2015 is anything like last season, the Wildcats will again find themselves in their fair share of close games; meaning Skowron will be asked to produce under pressure. On the receiving end of special teams, expect DaVonte’ Neal to again be Arizona’s goto returner. Neal struggled at times on special teams last season, botching a few punts, but he also showed hints of explosiveness. He took an 81-yard punt return to the house against Washington State.
Grade: A-
Casey Skowron
BY Justin Spears The Daily Wildcat
Quarterbacks For once in the Rich Rodriguez era, there is a returning quarterback. After dealing with a carousel of different quarterbacks, Rodriguez will depend on Anu Solomon to take Arizona to bigger heights. Rodriguez has taken a different approach in coaching Solomon and has embraced an inyour-face coaching style to push the young quarterback. Unlike last season, the quarterback position isn’t overcrowded. Usually, a coach would prefer the depth at the quarterback position. This season, everyone on the depth chart understands their position, which can be beneficial for everyone.
Jerrard Randall could possibly see time this season handling specific packages in the Wildcat offense. Randall transferred from LSU, played as a backup his first season last year and will play a pivotal role for Arizona this season. Brandon Dawkins’ role is essential because he can finally understand the true coaching style of Rodriguez, which will be beneficial for Arizona once Solomon leaves for the NFL. Dawkins has the same role Cam Newton had when he was a reserve for Tim Tebow at Florida, except Dawkins will be patient for playing time rather than transferring. If the season plays in favor for the Wildcats, Solomon might just be the player to set the bar high for future quarterbacks.
Grade: A Anu Solomon
BY Justin Spears The Daily Wildcat
Defensive line The defensive line poses many concerns, especially once the Wildcats begin Pac12 Conference play. Just like the defensive backs, there is a completely new batch of players receiving playing time. The athletic abilities that are placed on the gritty defensive line will give Scooby Wright III a breather. One playmaker for the Wildcats this season will be Reggie Gilbert. This will be his last season with the Wildcats and finishing on a high note could open NFL scouts’ eyes. Even though Gilbert will be playing for a
NFL contract, he will have to put the load on his back and carry the young Wildcats to set the blueprint for future success. One scare for this young line is going to be Stanford in the first Pac-12 road game of the season. Stanford has a reputation for having a consistently tough offensive line. Three defensive linemen going toe-totoe with five of some of the best offensive linemen in the conference will be the biggest test of the season for Arizona. If the line stays healthy and hold their own, Arizona’s defense could be placed on another level.
Grade: B-
Anthony Fotu
BY Justin Spears The Daily Wildcat
Linebackers The linebacker core could be one of Arizona’s many bright points this season. Talking about this Arizona linebacker core starts and ends with one name: Scooby. Scooby Wright III filled the shoes, and some, of Jake Fischer last season and put together an All-American campaign. Wright is a junior now, and as his role on the team gets even bigger as the target on his back increases. Last season Wright was playing sideline to sideline, and now there’s a different vibe when watching him in practice. From a naked eye, he looks as if he’s bulking up to enter his name in the NFL Draft.
Now that he’s nearly NFL bound, he leads a slim group of linebackers. Cody Ippolito went down with a tear in his ACL last week in practice. On top of that, Jamardre Cobb was transitioned from linebacker to full back. So the Wildcats must stay healthy this season in order for that core to anchor the Wildcat defense. Wright is poised to be a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and if he can miraculously improve significantly from last season, then Arizona might find themselves in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.
Grade: AScooby Wright III
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14 • The Daily Wildcat
Football Guide • Wednesday, September 2, 2015
2015 football game schedule GAME 1-UTSA
•
Sept. 3
When Arizona faced UTSA in San Antonio last year, the Roadrunners entered the game as one of the most senior-heavy teams in college football. As seniors tend to do, those experienced players graduated this past spring, leaving head coach Larry Coker a lot of room to fill on both sides of the ball. UTSA now travels to Tucson as one of the youngest teams in college football, with a redshirt freshman running the show at quarterback.
GAME 5-Standford GAME 9-Washington
•
Oct. 3
Three words that give Arizona’s defense a headache: Double tight ends. Having multiple tight ends involved while only having three down linemen can be frightening for Arizona defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel. Arizona will play the Cardinal in week five, which could be the toughest road test Arizona will face all season. Usually, Pac-12 Conference offense has a West Coast feel and is finesse, but Stanford plays Big-10 ball. Tight ends, consistent offensive line and a hard nosed run game just might put the Cardinal over Oregon in the Pac-12 North.
GAME 2-Nevada GAME 6-Oregon
•
Sept. 12
•
Oct. 10
State
•
Oct. 31
The Huskies will take a step back this season after losing three defensive starters to the first-round of the NFL draft. Chris Peterson is heading into his second season with the reigns of the program. Peterson will have to manage to survive, as he will most likely go through a sophomore slump as a head coach. But the Pac-12 North title isn’t a far reach for the Huskies.
GAME 10-USC
•
Nov. 7
USC is dealing with adversity after Steve Sarkisian talked like a sailor in public. Even though drama is swirling the program, it doesn’t take away the fact that the Trojans are No. 8 in the AP Top 25 rankings. The Trojans will return potential Heisman quarterback Cody Kessler for one more season and will pose as the biggest threat for Arizona in the deep Pac-12 South.
Last year, the Wildcats played Nevada at Arizona Stadium, where they came out with a 35-28 victory. This year, they will travel to Reno, Nev., to face the Wolfpack. Nevada finished last season 7-6, their final game a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl. Arizona and Nevada faced off three years ago in the New Mexico Bowl that went down to the wire. Arizona won the game by scoring two touchdowns in the final 46 seconds. This is Arizona’s first road test of the season, and the Wolfpack should not be taken lightly.
The Beavers went out and hit a home run over the offseason, luring head coach Gary Andersen away from Wisconsin. Unfortunately for Andersen, he didn’t have much of a housewarming gift waiting for him in Corvallis, Ore. On offense, Oregon State needs to replace its quarterback and its most prolific running back from last season. On defense, the Beavers lost just about every starter. It’s full-on rebuilding mode for Andersen.
GAME 3-NAU
GAME 7- Colorado GAME 11-Utah
•
Sept. 19
NAU is the third opponent Arizona will see this season. It will be the Wildcats second home game. The game will be played on Saturday, Sept. 19. These two teams met two years ago when the Wildcats dominated the Lumberjacks 35-0 in their season opener. You never want to overlook your opponents, but following NAU, the Wildcats will face UCLA. This game should be a breeze as the Wildcats prepare for Pac-12 Conference play.
GAME 4-UCLA
•
Sept. 26
UCLA is currently ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll. Arizona sits at No. 22. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Bruins will be on upset watch as they come into Tucson. UCLA has now won the last three meetings. Two years ago, Arizona scrambled to make a comeback, but fell just short with a 3126 loss. This year, the Bruins come in with a true freshman quarterback in Josh Rosen. Arizona will be Rosen’s first Pac12 Conference opponent. UCLA’s defense will be strong, led by junior linebacker Myles Jack, but Arizona’s defense will also be tough and experienced. Quarterback Anu Solomon has seen UCLA before, and this will be Rosen’s first big game. UCLA will be a tough opponent, but Arizona will be primed for a breakthrough win.
•
Oct. 17
Ever since Colorado joined the Pac-12 Conference in 2011, the Buffaloes have been the laughing stock of the conference in football. But under head coach Mike MacIntyre, Colorado may be on the verge of turning the corner. Sefo Liufau returns as quarterback after a solid 2014 campaign and is expected to make a big leap this season. Colorado also boasts a healthier and more experienced defense than in years past. Good things could be on the horizon in Boulder, Colo.
•
Nov. 14
Few thought the Utes would be 9-4 last year while making some serious noise by defeating Michigan and UCLA on the road. Senior quarterback Travis Wilson returns and the Utes are just one more team in the crowded Pac-12 South who will make a run at the division title. Arizona and Utah will meet at Arizona Stadium for Arizona’s final home game. The Wildcats defeated Utah last year in Salt Lake City, 42-10. Utah has the feel of a team that could present a real challenge to anyone this season, or they could become a doormat to other teams. With the Pac-12 South full of tough opponents, the Utes might just make it a little more difficult. Come November, the Wildcats will have a good idea of which Utah team they will be facing.
GAME 8-Washington GAME 12- ASU State Oct. 24 • Washington State loses its star quarterback, Connor Halliday, from a team that went 3-9 last season. That’s not a great sign, at least not on paper. However, Mike Leach’s Cougars should collectively be better than they were in 2014, as long as Halliday’s replacement is capable of running a high-speed offense. In most other areas, Washington State gains from added experience. Don’t expect a major turnaround, but the Cougs should be respectable.
•
Nov. 21
The Wildcats will travel to the school up north for the final game of the regular season. The No. 15 ranked Sun Devils made ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit’s list for the teams to compete in the College Football Playoff. That is a bold statement for a team that is losing their starting quarterback and lead receiver to the NFL. Similarly to USC, ASU will have to deal with the conference of doom that is the Pac-12 South. If the flip of the coin lands in their favor the Sun Devils should elevate this season.