WATCH: LB Tony Fields, TE Bryce Wolma after Arizona’s Wednesday practice

The Arizona Wildcats practiced in pads on Wednesday as they continue prepping for the Aug. 24 opener at Hawaii.

Afterwards, linebacker Tony Fields and tight end Bryce Wolma spoke to the media. Here are their respective interviews.

Hear what linebacker Tony Fields had to say after Arizona Football’s Wednesday practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Hear what tight end Bryce Wolma had to say after Arizona Football’s Wednesday practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Wednesday, July 31, 2019

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3-star cornerback Alphonse Oywak commits to Arizona

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Wildcats land their second cornerback

After a fairly hot month of June on the recruiting trail for the Arizona Wildcats, they received another commit to end July.

2020 3-star cornerback Alphonse Oywak announced his commitment Wednesday on Twitter:

Tucson, I am committed ❤️#BearDown pic.twitter.com/sQXsxxv5Tq

— Alphonsarelli (@OywakAlphonse) August 1, 2019

Oywak, who plays for Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, becomes UA’s third defensive commit in the class. SoCal-based corner Khary Crump and D-lineman Dion Wilson are the others.

Oywak received his offer from the ‘Cats back in spring after an impressive performance at the Pylon 7v7 tournament in Las Vegas, where some of Arizona’s staff saw him live.

Oywak is the 1,674th overall player, 144th cornerback, and 22nd player in the state of Washington, according to 247Sports. He is listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, and had offers from Oregon State, Nevada, Air Force, and Utah State.

Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis. In the meantime, here are Oywak’s highlights:

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Arizona transfer Alex Barcello lands at BYU

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The junior will have to sit out the 2019-20 season

Former Arizona Wildcats guard Alex Barcello is transferring to BYU, according to Jacob Hatch of the Locked on Cougars podcast.

Barcello will have to sit out the 2019-20 season before having two years of eligibility in Provo.

#Sources - Mark Pope will fill the roster slot vacated by Nick Emery with former University of Arizona guard Alex Barcello. Barcello will sit out the upcoming season & have two years of eligibility remaining for #BYUhoops. #BYU #LOC

— Yawk Talk 哈雅各 (@JacobCHatch) July 31, 2019

The Tempe native was a top-100 recruit coming out of Corona del Sol High School, where he won two state championships and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, but he was unable to carve out a consistent role with the Wildcats with whom he averaged just 9.6 minutes and 2.9 points in 51 games.

UA coach Sean Miller often raved about Barcello’s jumper, but the 6-foot-2 guard shot just 29.7 percent from 3 as a Wildcat.

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Several freshmen could contribute immediately on Arizona’s special teams

Eddie Siaumau | Photo by Ryan Kelapire

The 2019 recruiting class brought a lot of size to the Arizona Wildcats, and while it helps fill out each position group, it’s also helping special teams.

“We have a lot of length from the freshman group right now so I see some of those guys developing right now,” special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said after practice on Tuesday.

Special teams can be a launching point for a younger player’s career, and Springer is going to be looking up and down the roster to see who’s fit for his units and ready to develop.

“I mean, I’m a big guy in using all our depth, so we’re going to use every guy possible,” he said. “And they might be used for two, three games and then new guys roll in, ready to develop, so we’ll use those guys.”

Springer mentioned a quartet of freshmen who have stood out to him thus far in practice.

Jaxon Turner, Eddie Siaumau, Derrion Clark and Jalen Johnson all came to mind immediately when asked about standouts.

Turner is a rangy safety with size and great closing speed. It will be surprising if Turner redshirts this season given his talent. The staff will clearly find a way to get him on the field.

Siaumau, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker, went grossly under recruited from American Samoa. His size, physicality and versatility will surely get him on the field.

A bit of a sleeper is Clark, an instinctive, ball-sniffing linebacker, while Johnson is a rubber-burning wide receiver with terrific size.

“All those four guys right there off the top of the head I can tell you right now are going to contribute us this season,” Springer said of his freshmen.

Michael Wiley was also mentioned as a candidate to return kicks alongside side fellow running backs J.J. Taylor and Gary Brightwell.

Spring standout Christian Roland-Wallace, another true freshman, continues to find himself in the conversation as well.

“Then you got guys like Christian Roland-Wallace who can return the ball, run down kickoff,” Springer said. “I see him more on you know, some of the stuff that we do on kick off as a boundary field guy, as a safety type guy or also as a return those two roles right there.”

There are many freshmen in the mix for special teams. And it can be a good time for coaches to get some young guys experience, earn some reps and develop some trust, but no one is too big to play special teams. Springer wants the best players on the field, which will include a mix of youth and starters.

It’s why you’ll see preseason all-conference linebacker Colin Schooler continue his role on special teams and his running mate Tony Fields as well.

“In this culture that we have, everyone contributes on special teams. [Schooler and Fields] they get it,” Springer said. “They know that in order to help this team, they’ve got to help.”

Freshmen prevalent in Arizona’s kicking game too

True freshman Seth Mackellar could wind up being Arizona’s starting long snapper, though Springer said he is open to using one snapper for field goals and a different one for punts.

Donald Reiter, a redshirt junior, is the other player competing for the spot. Reiter did not play in 2018, but got plenty of experience in 2017 when he assumed primary long snapping duties after Nick Reinhardt went down with an ACL injury.

“They both neck to neck,” Springer said. “They’re both competing their butts off and doing a great job.”

The punting job is between redshirt senior Matt Aragon and true freshmen Cameron Weinberg and Kyle Ostendorp, a former five-star recruit.

Aragon, who doubles as a receiver, has punted three times for 116 yards in his career, all of which came in 2016. The Wildcats have to replace Dylan Klumph, who was one of the better punters in the Pac-12 last season.

“Consistency is everything to me,” Springer said. “And from that point on, is he putting in the right direction that we need the ball to go to consistently? Is the hang time consistent? Is he understanding what we’re trying to do with the punt?”

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Former Wildcat Cal Stevenson included in Astros-Blue Jays deal

Courtesy Arizona Athletics

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline has come and gone, and as the dust settles it appears two former Arizona Wildcats have been moved on Wednesday.

The first was relief pitcher Mark Melancon, who went from the San Francisco Giants to the Milwaukee Brewers. Then just after the 1 p.m. PT deadline it was reported that the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros made a trade that included former Arizona outfielder Cal Stevenson:

Full deal is Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini and Cal Stevenson for Derek Fisher. Sanchez was emotional speaking to media. Began conversation by thanking #BlueJays who drafted and developed him, and fans for support. Excited to join #Astros

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 31, 2019

Stevenson, 22, was a 10th-round pick of Toronto in the 2018 MLB Draft. In 149 minor league games he was hitting .325 with 7 home runs and 81 RBI, batting .298 with 5 homers, 50 RBI and 50 walks in 90 games at Class A Dunedin (Fla.) this season.

In two seasons at Arizona, after transferring from Chabot College in California, Stevenson hit .302 with 5 homers, 46 RBI and a .433 on-base percentage.

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Arizona alum Mark Melancon traded by Giants to Braves at MLB trade deadline

Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Former Arizona Wildcats pitcher Mark Melancon was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, just minutes before the MLB trade deadline.

The 34-year-old reliever joins a Braves squad that holds a 5.5-game lead in the National League East. Melancon has a 3.50 ERA in 46.1 innings this season, not quite the same pitcher he was earlier in the decade when he once led the Major Leagues in saves, but he is still an effective arm nonetheless.

#Braves acquiring Mark Melancon from #SFGiants in exchange for Tristan Beck and Daniel Winkler, sources tell The Athletic.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 31, 2019

The Braves also acquired Detroit Tigers closer Shane Green earlier in the day, fortifying their bullpen for the stretch run.

Melancon is in the third year of a four-year, $62 million contract he signed with San Francisco after the 2016 season. He is scheduled to make $14 million next season.

The Colorado native made 77 appearances in three seasons at the UA (2004-06), compiling 18 saves and a 3.32 ERA. Melancon was a ninth round pick by the New York Yankees in 2006 and made his MLB debut with the club in 2009.

The Yankees traded Melancon to Houston in 2010 for Lance Berkman, and he had a brief stint there (and in Boston) before his career took off with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Melancon was a three-time All-Star in four seasons in Pittsburgh, compiling 130 saves and a sparkling 1.80 ERA.

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Taking Stock: How Arizona beach volleyball is looking under coach Steve Walker

Courtesy Arizona Athletics

It may seem like college sports are always going on, but July is the one month of the year when no Arizona Wildcats teams are in action. Yep, we’re as sad about that as you are.

Before you know it, the 2019-20 seasons will be under way for Arizona’s 19 men’s and women’s sports. But in the meantime, now is the perfect opportunity to assess how each of these programs are doing.

Over the next few weeks we’ll break down each team and evaluate how it is performing under its current coaching staff, looking at the state of the program before he/she arrived and comparing it to now (as well as looking into the near future).

Next up: Steven Walker’s beach volleyball team.

How it looked before

In the beginning there was … nothing. No, seriously. Beach volleyball is Arizona’s newest sport, added in 2013, and Walker was chosen as the man to lead the fledgling program. He had been a member of Dave Rubio’s indoor volleyball staff since 2007 (along with a stint from 2003-05 and another in 2000).

Where things stand now

Arizona’s first season at the NCAA level came in 2016, when the sport became officially sanctioned, having played at a club level prior to that. That year there were only about 40 Division I programs, with more than 60 in action in 2018-19, yet from the outset Arizona has been among the top ones.

That 2016 team made the first-ever NCAA championship, placing fifth in the eight-team tournament. The 2017 squad ended the season ranked 13^th, while the 2018 team was 14^th.

Most recently, Arizona went 25-6, winning its final 15 matches to end up 12^th nationally. That prompted the school to extend Walker’s contract through the 2022 season, likely at a slight bump from the $76,000 he earned in 2018-19.

One big question

Can the SandCats be elite? USC won the first two NCAA beach volleyball titles, with UCLA claiming the last two. All told, only 13 different schools have made the championship tournament, including Arizona in 2016, with nine getting there at least twice.

Arizona is in the top league for the sport and has an endless supply of sunshine and great weather to play. What will it take for it to crack into that top group on a regular basis?

Maybe it will come in the form of the next recruiting class, a six-member group that includes the first Tucson-area prospects to join the program. Summer McDonough, a 6-foot blocker from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, and Alex Parkhurst, a 6-foot-2 blocker from Salpointe Catholic.

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Cedric Peterson ready to lead Arizona’s revamped receiving corps in 2019

Analyzing Arizona’s offensive line entering 2019

Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A very capable starting five will have to rely on young players as backups

It’s no secret that the Arizona Wildcats are one of the most run-focused teams in the Power 5. Not only are they a run-oriented team, they also heavily utilize spread concepts, meaning that they rely on the offensive line more than most college football squads.

Last season, the offensive line was thrown into the fire right away, as projected starting center Nathan Eldridge suffered a knee injury in the summer and left tackle Layth Friekh was suspended for two games to begin the year. The results weren’t fantastic, but the unit improved most weeks, and ended the season a solid if not spectacular unit.

Most of the reasons for that improvement are back this year after a full offseason of getting first-team reps. Beneath that, there’s still some talented players, but a complete lack of experience.

Eldridge’s replacement at starting center, a mostly unheralded walk-on named Josh McCauley, ended up perfectly fine and was one of the few pleasant surprises for the ‘Cats last year. He got all 12 starts at center in 2018, and while nobody would confuse him with an All-American, he showed that there is a base of talent for the coaching staff to build on going into this season. He was put on scholarship before the spring game in April, and is quickly becoming a leader on this team’s offense.

Right guard was a somewhat unstable position last year, which makes running back J.J. Taylor’s incredible season even more impressive. Bryson Cain, another sophomore, saw the majority of starts last year, before a season-ending injury against Oregon in October. Much like McCauley, Cain wasn’t a star, but he proved himself to be worthy of a starting role and now has had a full offseason of rehab and starting reps. He’s probably the starter from last season most likely to see pressure from the newcomers, but he’s also got a lead on them for now,

If there’s one position with the least concern, it’s left guard. Senior-to-be Cody Creason was the highest-rated recruit on the offensive line leaving high school, and he is the only lineman on the roster with starts before 2018. Creason filled in at right tackle during the first two games of the season, before becoming a run-blocking beast to McCauley’s left to end the fall. Creason was sometimes overshadowed by Friekh as the offensive line’s star last year, but there’s little doubt who will be UA’s best asset up front in 2019.

Taylor and quarterback Khalil Tate will have a lot of thanks to give Creason if all goes well.

Right tackle was a potential problem area entering last year, and it took a bit of shuffling before Donovan Laie ended up the starter and another above average piece. Laie was part of the transitional recruiting class between Rich Rodriguez and Kevin Sumlin, and he appeared to be a revelation in 2018. He was the first true freshman to start all 12 games on the offensive line in a long time at UAA, possibly ever, and he did a solid job of it. Laie is still a true sophomore and proved himself already last year, meaning he could be the next centerpiece of the line once Creason departs.

The final position on the line, and as Michael Oher and Sandra Bullock taught us, the most important, is left tackle. It’s also the only position where last season’s primary producer is not returning. Friekh missed the first two games of the year, and later missed a contest with an ankle injury. When he returned, the whole line seemed to gain new confidence, and by November he was the star on a unit that was getting hard to complain about.

Friekh is gone and will be missed this year, but Sumlin brought in plenty of new blood to help make the fight for his starting spot enticing.

Among players on the roster in 2017, former three-stars Edgar Burrola and David Watson are perhaps the most likely to see playing time specifically at left tackle. They’ll have to fend off five intriguing newcomers though, including three who’s primary position is offensive tackle.

First is redshirt sophomore Robert Congel, a Texas A&M transfer who followed Sumlin to Tucson but had to sit out last season. Congel is more of a guard, and he’ll provide absolutely vital depth at that position if Sumlin keeps him there, so chances are he won’t be starting at left tackle. Next are two JUCO transfers, Paiton Fears and Josh Donovan, two gems of the 2019 class who will undoubtedly be important in keeping this unit strong. Both are primarily offensive tackles, and it seems one of these two is destined for the starting role while the other will be the primary backup at both tackles positions.

Next are the true freshmen: Jamari Williams and Jordan Morgan. Neither is particularly highly-rated compared to the more veteran names on Arizona’s roster, but they are Sumlin recruits, and that kind of distinction is often crucial in second-year battles for starting positions. Williams is more of a guard and as such will probably not see as much playing time and could be redshirted, while Morgan is a tackle that might have a chance at the left tackle position. I’m assuming both get redshirted and just play minor depth roles, but as Sumlin’s first four-year recruits at the position they will almost assuredly be important starters as upperclassmen.

Overall, while it’s not a glamorous position and is one Arizona relies on heavily, this offensive line has the potential to really be an asset to this team. Losing Friekh will strike a blow, but Sumlin brought in plenty of talent to help plug that hole. Creason, McCauley, Cain and Laie will be solid starters if they stay healthy, and only Creason will be departing after this season. It’s easier than one would think to talk yourself into the depth players as well, and while they have literally no previous starts between them, there’s enough talent for them all to be key backups and see the field that way.

This isn’t the kind of unit to get a lot of accolades, but it’s likely all five starters will be above replacement level, and that’s enough to perhaps help swing some close games in UA’s favor. If the injury bug bites, Arizona won’t be totally screwed, but it will still sting. If the injury bug spares the offensive line, this unit could be good going on great in 2019 and return four starters in 2020. That sounds awfully good to me.

It won’t be long until we see for ourselves how this line will perform. Football grows closer by the minute, and with it so do answers to all our questions we’ve had over the offseason.

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5-star guard Caleb Love lists Arizona as a finalist

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Five-star point guard Caleb Love listed the Arizona Wildcats as one of six finalists in an interview with Rivals.com. The other schools in the mix are Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Louisville and North Carolina.

“They want for me to come in and play with another guard,” Love told Rivals of UA. “Dalen Terry just committed there so it could be him, or Adam Miller, he has them in his top ten, so I could play with one of them. With them, they want for me to play on and off of the ball and to show off my versatility and lead the team to a national championship.”

A 6-foot-3 point guard from St. Louis, Love is the No. 25 player in the 2020 class and No. 4 at his position, per 247Sports composite rankings.

“At nearly 6-foot-3 with pretty good length, Love can play either guard spot and shows significant potential on the defensive end,” reads his 247sports scouting report. “A score-first point guard, he has the ability to put his team on his back as a bucket getter, or to be a facilitator. Right now, he is more comfortable taking shots than setting up teammates, but his passing has improved and he is doing a better job of running a team. Ultimately, it comes down to Love’s ability to run a team at the college level and beyond, but there is no doubt he can score. The requisite athleticism is absolutely there.”

Here are some of Love’s junior year highlights:

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Arizona LB Colin Schooler focused on wins, not personal accolades, in 2019

Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Colin Schooler sports a mustache now and shed 10 pounds from his previously 240-pound frame, which is a sign of his maturity as he enters his junior season with the Arizona Wildcats.

“If you look at me last year, I was a little too thick to say the least,” he said Saturday. “But I just started taking care of my body a lot better than I was, matured up a lot living on my own, outside the dorms. I was in an actual house where I gotta cook my own food now. I don’t have to worry about using campus restaurants or any of that. Just really taking care of my body and treating it the way it should be.”

Schooler is on a mission to make his next season better than his last. That will be no easy feat. The Mission Viejo, Calif. native was an AP First-Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2018 after tallying 119 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for the loss—the fifth-most in UA history.

“I think this year in the offseason with (strength) coach Brian Johnson, he’s taken steps to get his body in better shape,” said UA defensive coordinator Marcel Yates. “But the thing about him is he’s played a lot of snaps. I mean, he played a full season last year, and we were smart with him as far during the week of not just pounding his body. That goes back to coach (Kevin) Sumlin and Coach Johnson as far them being on me to make sure I was smart with him during the week to get him to the games on Saturday. So I think he’s in the best shape he’s been. He looks slimmer, he looks fast, and he’s a smart kid.”

Unsurprisingly, expectations are high for Schooler in 2019. He was named to several preseason watch lists and the Pac-12 preseason all-conference team. But rather than revel in those accolades, he is taking them in stride.

“I mean, it’s an honor to be on those watch lists and to get some national recognition, but outside of this team, there’s really not much that matters,” Schooler said. “And preseason rankings, preseason predictions with our record and team and how we’re going to do...that really doesn’t matter. We’re just focused on us this year.”

Because while Schooler has shined the past two seasons, Arizona’s defense has struggled. In 2018, the Wildcats ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in both points (32.6) and yards (432.0) allowed per game.

Arizona has compiled more losses (13) than wins (12) during Schooler’s career, putting a damper on his gaudy stat totals and the feel-good story that is him rising from relative obscurity (Arizona was the only Power 5 school to offer him out of high school) to become one of the nation’s top linebackers.

“It almost feels meaningless,” Schooler said. “I don’t want to say it doesn’t matter, but I just want to look at things that I can improve on. It doesn’t matter if I have certain amount of TFLs, sacks, interceptions or tackles. If we don’t win, that’s the only category I really care about.”

Of the areas that need improvement, Schooler said communication is a big one. So is third-down defense.

“We gotta communicate better, and that’s every position,” he said. “Safeties, corners, linebackers, the D line, we all have to work together as one unit. But really got to be better on third down. There are a lot of times last year where we had them in a third and medium, third and long, next thing you know another first down we’re still on the field. Our job is to get the offense on the field a lot longer than they have been. And if you look at last year, there’s a lot of games where we lost by one score. And that changed our season around, we’re in a bowl game, and people don’t think that we’re bad this year.”

One of those one-score losses was to ASU to cap the regular season. The Wildcats blew an 18-point, fourth-quarter lead, and Schooler had arguably his worst game as a Wildcat, missing several key tackles as he battled a “bad flu.”

Schooler said he hasn’t forgotten about that loss—”I don’t know if you can get over that,” he said—but he has done everything in his power to make sure he, and his team, are on the winning end of games like that moving forward.

“Schooler was a guy...he came here, he started off as a true freshman, he didn’t play very much or as much as he wanted to, ended up being the starter, and then just through studying and learning and experience, he’s a guy who just has gotten better and better each year,” Yates said. “He’s a guy that wants to win, he wants to do things right. He leads by example.”

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Taking Stock: How Arizona men’s tennis is looking under coach Clancy Shields

Undersized defensive lineman JB Brown wants to be Arizona’s Aaron Donald

Cornerback depth, versatility quietly becoming Arizona’s strength

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Perhaps we have a new combination of starters this season

The Arizona Wildcats had a less than ideal cornerback situation last season.

Position coach Demetrice Martin was hit hard and early in his first season. Jhevon Hill failed to qualify and make it campus, Tony Wallace did not qualify after one season, Tim Hough was kicked off the team after a few short weeks, and senior leader Jace Whittaker was out for the entire season after suffering a pair of injuries.

Martin worked with what he had, threw some true freshmen out there, converted some safeties and put out a solid group considering the circumstances. Now at full health, the group brings back two veteran guys, some talented youth and a load of versatility.

“We have enough corners,” defensive coordinator Marcel Yates joked after practice on Saturday. “How about that? Now our depth at corner has grown and that’s helped us out tremendously.”

Whittaker returns for his fifth and final season as one of the core leaders of the locker room. Often his playmaking goes unnoticed, as the ball is hardly thrown to his side. The advanced stats and analytics make you appreciate how good Whittaker is at coverage.

After being thrown into the fire as a freshman, Lorenzo Burns has progressed well but can be inconsistent with timing and ball location in man-to-man.

That’s where McKenzie Barnes steps in, who ended up playing a significant role last season as a true freshman.

He’s a long, athletic corner at 6-foot-1 and showed that he’s ready to make a jump after getting some valuable reps. With Barnes progressing, and Burns potentially reaching his ceiling, I’d expect Barnes to start taking more significant reps and forcing his way onto the field.

This gives Arizona three talented, rotational corners, with four new pieces into the mix from the 2019 signing class.

After a late push from USC, Christian Roland-Wallace remained firm to Arizona and worked to enroll early. He put together a stellar spring at corner and seems likely to be on the two-deep. Roland-Wallace was an exceptional playmaker in high school, and at the very least can compete as a return man on special teams or run down on kickoff.

At one point Bobby Wolfe was a four-star prospect throughout his recruitment, and was one of the last members to fill in the 2019 class. Arizona originally introduced him as a safety and while he’ll likely be able to work with both groups, it’s probably best to have to him start at corner. While he was not able to enroll in the spring, he enters fall camp with just as much athleticism as anyone in the secondary.

While both Roland-Wallace and Wolfe have zero college experience, one has already shown he can compete all throughout spring practice and the other enters the program with supreme talents.

If Barnes does not unseat Burns for the starting role, I expect Roland-Wallace to make a case early, and it’s hard to rule out a talent like Wolfe once he gets the practice regiment down.

One of my favorite pieces of the 2019 class is Maurice Gaines. Gaines has great strength and size for a corner, already has an additional year of maturation from prep school as well as a spring under his belt at Arizona.

Christian Young showcased his versatility last season after switching from safety to corner when depth was in a pinch. While he is now starting at bandit, you at least know there’s a last resort to move some pieces around.

Another safety, Troy Young, has bounced around the secondary for the last few years ranging from free, bandit and corner. A strong, fast corner that can provide pressure at the line and throw off timing, and has make up speed stemming from his running back and track days in high school.

Perhaps we have one last dark horse in the mix with Samari Springs, the Richmond Spider transfer. He started at both safety and corner last season, and the reason for the move to Arizona is very interesting considering he solidified playing time at Richmond.

“Springs is a guy who jumps out, he moves well,” Yates said when asked about defensive backs who have caught his eye.

At the very least, you know it’s depth with experience, but I get a feeling that he could come in and contribute in 2019.

What was once a depleted group a year ago now comes back with a good mix of returning experience, superb newcomers and a wildcard transfer.

Martin did not get enough credit for his work with the corners, overshadowed by Joe Gilbert and his terrific offensive line

In year two for Martin, the corners are quietly one of the better position groups with room to grow throughout the 2019 season.

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Taking Stock: How Arizona softball is looking under coach Mike Candrea

Marcus Bagley commits to ASU over Arizona, Cal

Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images

Tempe native Marcus Bagley is going home.

The four-star forward committed to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Monday over the California Golden Bears and Arizona Wildcats.

“Choosing between these three amazing universities was definitely tough,” he said in his commitment video. “... Unfortunately I can only choose one. With that being said, it’s always been a dream of mine to return home and play college basketball.”

If I never do nothing ima rep where I’m from! COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/dvcm1nnDCJ

— Marcus Bagley (@bagleymarcus23) July 29, 2019

The younger brother of Sacramento Kings forward and former Duke All-American Marvin Bagley III, Marcus Bagley is the No. 50 player and No. 14 small forward in the 2020 class, per 247Sports composite rankings.

Originally from Tempe, he attends Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California. Bagley is ASU’s first 2020 commit.

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Wildcat Wrap: Arizona football begins camp, basketball adds commit

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s Monday which means it’s time to recap another week of Arizona Wildcats athletics. Let us know in the comment section if we missed anything.

Baseball

• Arizona made a big-time hire by bringing in Oregon State pitching coach Nate Yeskie, who’s helped the Beavers emerge as arguably the top program in the West over the last decade or so. UA’s pitching has been a major weakness the past two seasons, and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact Yeskie can make from the get-go.
• 25-year-old Louis Boyd is now the manager of the Mariners’ Single-A team.
• Nick Hundley got released by the A’s.
• Sophomore catcher Kobe Kato raked this summer:

Another season for the record books!

Kobe Kato (@ArizonaBaseball) set new @CalRipkenLeague records for batting average, on-base percentage and walks. Way to go, Kobe! pic.twitter.com/LjZ0Qbw7OG

— Bethesda Big Train (@GoBigTrain) July 25, 2019

Softball

• Taylor McQuillin changed course, and will now be a graduate assistant at Arkansas next season.

Soccer

• Read about freshman and Tucson native Hope Hisey, who will be one of two goalkeepers fighting for the starting job this fall. Her father, Jason, pitched for the Wildcats from 1987 to 1991.
• Arizona’s top recruit never made it to campus.

Women’s basketball

• Five-star recruit Lauren Ware was on an official visit to Arizona this weekend.

Football

• Adam explained why Kevin Sumlin deserves your patience.
• Arizona was picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 South in the preseason media poll.
• Colin Schooler and J.J. Taylor made the Pac-12 preseason all-conference team
• Here’s the transcript of Kevin Sumlin’s press conference from Pac-12 Media Day.
• Sumlin later provided an update on the eligibility status of defensive linemen Kane Bradford and Trevon Mason.
• Sumlin wants to see more consistency from his team this season.
• Earl Mitchell signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
• Khalil Tate’s improved maturity, relationship with Kevin Sumlin gives Arizona hope for a better 2019.
• Expectations are high for edge rusher Jalen Harris this season.
• Arizona will be naming its outdoor practice fields after the late Dick Tomey.
• Our staff made some pre-fall camp record predictions.
• Arizona opened training camp Friday. Watch what Sumlin and Jace Whittaker had to say afterwards.
• Whittaker has a different perspective on the game after missing almost the entire 2018 season with injuries.
• Arizona’s improved size stood out on the first day.
• So did Jamarye Joiner’s first reps as a wide receiver.
• Arizona added Richmond transfer Samari Springs, the son of former Pro Bowl defensive back Shawn Springs.
• Hear what Marcel Yates and Colin Schooler had to say after the second day of practice.
• Entering his fourth season as defensive coordinator, Yates has no excuses anymore. Arizona’s defense needs to improve.
• Here are the notable roster additions and changes entering the 2019 season.

Men’s basketball

• Arizona picked up its first 2020 commit in the form of Dalen Terry, a four-star, playmaking wing.
• Arizona made the cut for 5-star combo guard Nimari Burnett.
• The Pac-12 pairings and dates were announced. The Wildcats play ASU twice in January.
• Sports Illustrated has Arizona No. 2 in its Pac-12 Power Rankings.
• Josh Green is getting healthy and putting on a lot of weight heading into his freshman season.
• Chase Budinger won a championship....as a beach volleyball player.
• Chase Jeter’s Jay Z impression, um, needs some work

.@chasejeter04's Jay-Z impersonation: or ? pic.twitter.com/rhqAi5u0L9

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) July 27, 2019

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Chase Budinger wins AVP beach volleyball championship

Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Chase Budinger starred on the hardwood while at the University of Arizona, but these days he is crushing it on the beach.

More specifically, Budinger is playing volleyball, and on Sunday claimed the first-ever AVP championship alongside teammate Casey Patterson. Budinger and Patterson knocked off a team made up of Ryan Doherty and Miles Evans.

While Arizona fans are familiar with Budinger due to his high-flying dunks for men’s basketball, he excelled at volleyball for La Costa Canyon High School. So, that he is having success on the sand is not much of a surprise.

We have a new pro claiming his first-ever #AVP championship! Congrats to @CBudinger and @CaseyPatt on taking home the #AVP2019 Hermosa Beach Open trophy, taking down Doherty/Evans in three sets, 25-23, 19-21, and 15-7. #BeachMode
: @Shoot802 pic.twitter.com/PYzS6WABuB

— The AVP (@avpbeach) July 28, 2019

The 31-year-old Budinger played for the Wildcats from 2006 to 2009, helping lead the team to the Sweet 16 as a junior. He left school following that season and was chosen in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, with pick No. 44 overall.

Budinger never suited up for the Pistons, though, as he was traded to the Houston Rockets. He spent three seasons in Houston before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After three seasons in the Twin Cities, Budinger was dealt to the Indiana Pacer, for whom he appeared in 49 games. Upon being waived by Indiana Budinger landed in Phoenix, playing in 17 games for the Suns in 2016.

Budinger signed with the Brooklyn Nets in September 2016, but was waived during the preseason.

That was the last the NBA would see of Budinger, who finished his career with averages of 7.9 points, 3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game before deciding to turn his attention toward becoming a professional beach volleyball player.

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Notable Arizona football roster changes heading into 2019

Arizona soccer’s top recruit heads elsewhere

Arizona football opponent preview: Colorado

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

A Boulder trip in early October could mean an afternoon kickoff

The second game of Pac-12 Conference play will take place in Boulder against the Colorado Buffaloes. Fingers crossed for a rare afternoon kickoff for the Arizona Wildcats as no time has yet been announced. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5.

Here’s a preview of the Colorado Buffaloes:

Introduction

After six seasons, Colorado finally cut ties with Mike MacIntyre. I say “finally” because despite winning AP Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2016, when the Buffaloes won the Pac-12 South, his tenure was horrific. If you remove their 8-1 conference record from that season, he won six conference games over five years.

It’s hard to sit here and argue against the logic behind moving on. As a result, Mel Tucker was hired to his first college head coaching job. He was the interim coach for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 but for only five games.

Tucker has an impressive resume in both college and the NFL. Having spent the last four years in the SEC with Alabama (2015) and Georgia (2016-2018) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, should more than suggest he has a strong football mind. The question will be can he find success on his own?

The rundown

• Returning production rank: 43th (71% offensive, 64% defensive, 67% total)
• 2018 record: 5-7
• Head coach: Mel Tucker (1st year)

The stats

The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them here.

• 2018 S&P+ Overall: 80th
• 2018 S&P+ Offense: 85th
• 2018 S&P+ Defense: 58th
• 2019 S&P+ Projection: 68th
• 2019 Projected record: 5-7

2018 recap

The Buffaloes experienced one of the most bizarre seasons I can remember. They started off very strong with a 5-0 record. From there, they finished the season with a seven-game losing streak.

At the time of their 5-0 start, they had won at Nebraska and opened conference play with wins over UCLA and ASU. In hindsight, those wins were nothing special as Nebraska finished the season 4-8, UCLA was 3-9 and ASU—arguably the best of the three—went 7-5.

Injuries had an effect on their seven-game losing streak but it can’t be the reason for this collapse. They had games down this stretch that weren’t competitive like Washington State (31-7) and Utah (30-7). They had somewhat close games like USC (31-20), Washington (27-13) and Cal (33-21).

Then they even had close losses like Arizona (42-34) and Oregon State (41-34 in OT). The low point had to be when they blew a 31-3 lead to OSU to lose in overtime. Bottom line is it was a forgettable season and it marked the end of the MacIntyre era.

Offensive outlook

If you’ve watched Colorado over the past two seasons, you’re likely familiar with quarterback Steven Montez. He hasn’t had the most success but he’s been incredibly reliable and productive. Over his three seasons, he’s recorded 6,902 passing yards, 46 touchdowns to 20 interceptions and has added 807 rushing yards with eight TDs.

Colorado returns Montez’s most productive target, Laviska Shenault Jr. Shenault missed three games in 2018 but still recorded 1,011 receiving yards on 86 catches. He also tacked on 115 rushing yards and had 11 total scores.

The running back group will have to fill the void left behind from Travon McMillian’s 1,000-yard season. Colorado will also be without its second- and third-best rushers from last season, as Kyle Evans graduated and Beau Bisharat has converted to tight end.

The good new is Montez and Shenault are able to handle designed running plays. The bad news is there is tons of inexperience that will lineup in the backfield. Sophomore Alex Fontenot is likely the frontrunner to secure the starting role.

Looking at the rest of the receivers, notable names include: K.D. Nixon (Shenault’s former high school teammate) and Tony Brown. They were the second- and third-leading receivers for the Buffaloes in 2018.

Colorado is returning two key pieces to its offensive line and has also added a graduate transfer to help transition a lot of their youth. Colby Pursell started all 12 games at center and William Sherman started nine but played in all 12 games at left tackle in 2018. Both are sophomores.

Arlington Hambright is a graduate transfer from Oklahoma State who started the first five games of the 2018 season before an injury.

Defensive outlook

Inside linebacker Nate Landman is the heart of this defense. The junior linebacker is coming off a season where he was an All Pac-12 Honorable Mention with 123 tackles (13 for loss) and four sacks.

Landman will likely be accompanied by junior college transfer rotation of Jash Allen and Quinn Perry. Allen and Perry are former four- and three-star recruits, respectively. Davion Taylor, Carson Wells, Nu’umotu Falo and Alex Tchangam are the likely candidates to compete for the outside linebackers spots.

As for the defensive line, Mustafa Johnson is coming off an absolutely monster of a season. He led the team the team in sacks with 8.5 and finished with 73 total tackles. However, beyond Johnson there are a lot of question marks with youth and inexperience.

Two names that fit the part physically who could see the field are Jalen Sami and JuCo transfer Janaz Jordan. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Sami had an impressive spring and is projected to start. Jordan, who checks in at 6-4 and 305, is expected to be a part of the rotation.

Key names in the secondary include cornerback Delrick Abrams Jr. and graduate transfer safety Mikial Onu. Abrams is likely the most talented cornerback of the group. Onu brings plenty of experience the safety group. Pima Community College product Aaron Maddox will at least find his way into the safety rotation after an increased usage on defense in 2018.

Fun fact: Abrams played the 2017 season for Independence Community College in Kansas which was the host school of Last Chance U on Netflix that season. JuCo transfer Jamar Montgomery also played for Independence CC in 2017 and 2018.

3 players to watch

Steven Montez, QB

Entering his senior season with a 24-game start streak, he is the de facto starting quarterback and leader of the team.

Laviska Shenault Jr., WR

Shenault led the Buffaloes in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as a sophomore.

Nate Landman, LB

As a sophomore, he led the team in tackles. That feels like the floor for this developing linebacker.

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Taking Stock: How Arizona women’s tennis is looking under coach Ryan Stotland

Fourth time’s the charm? Arizona DC Marcel Yates nearing end of gameplan

Photo by Ryan Kelapire

It was a little less than a year ago when Marcel Yates stood before a scrum of reporters, bloggers and cameras and explained that his third season as Arizona’s defensive coordinator would be when you would really see what he could accomplish.

“I gave myself a certain amount of time, when I came here in ‘16, and I kind of looked under the hood and saw what I had,” Yates said during 2018 training camp. “To me, I said three or four years would be enough to recruit the right kind of guys.”

So what you’re saying is it was really the fourth year, right?

Arizona allowed 32.6 points per game last season, which was an improvement from 34.4 in 2017, but still ranked among the bottom quarter in FBS. The Wildcats were 92^nd in total defense, yielding 432 yards per game, up from 119^th and 471.2 YPG in ‘17.

“We just need to be consistent,” Yates said Saturday after Arizona’s second practice of 2019 camp. “There are certain games I thought we played well on defense. The Cal game I thought we played well, the BYU game we ended up giving up 28 points, we probably could have given up 21.”

The majority of last year’s starters are back, and there’s more depth in the secondary (particularly at cornerback) than in 2018. The defensive line remains a big question mark, but no more than any other area, Yates said.

“I’m concerned with every position,” he said. “It just comes down to us developing as a defense.”

A key will be ensuring that third down defense is significantly better.

Arizona allowed opponents to convert on 41.1 percent of third downs last season, with 34 of those coming on 3rd-and-7 or longer. So many times the Wildcats would put their foes behind the sticks on early downs only to be unable to get off the field on third, extending drives that would often lead to game-changing scores.

“We’ve really got to be better on third down,” junior linebacker Colin Schooler said. “There are a lot of times last year where (we’d) get them in third and medium, third and long, next thing you know (there’s) another first down and we’re still on the field. ... Our job is to get (our) offense on the field a lot longer than they have been.”

Yates, who earned $560,000 in 2018 and is under contract through this season, said if such things happen again this fall it won’t be because his defensive staff was ill-prepared. That’s because the same coaches who were on that side of the ball last year are all back, with the only change being that Yates is focusing on safeties while assistant John Rushing is handling linebackers after the roles were opposite a year ago.

Compare that to 2018, where Yates was the only defensive assistant retained by Kevin Sumlin from previous coach Rich Rodriguez’s staff.

“This is my first year, if you think about it, with no coaching changes,” Yates said. “In spring I wasn’t putting in a defense or teaching guys the terminology. It felt good to go in the room and now I’m getting ideas from (others). Instead of starting from scratch … now we’re actually moving on to, okay, how can we do better.”

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WATCH: Marcel Yates, Colin Schooler on Arizona’s defense

The Arizona Wildcats conducted their second day of practice of the season on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebacker Colin Schooler met with the media afterwards.

Here are their respective interviews.

Hear what defensive coordinator Marcel Yates had to say after Arizona Football’s second practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Saturday, July 27, 2019

Hear what Colin Schooler had to say after Arizona Football’s second practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Saturday, July 27, 2019

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Senior cornerback Jace Whittaker is healthy and ready to lead Arizona in 2019

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

When the Arizona Wildcats opened fall camp on Friday evening, the usual amount of first-day excitement was palpable.

From the dancing that went on during team stretching, to the high level of chatter that echoed around the sparkling new Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center, it was clear that Arizona players and coaches were excited to get back to work.

“There was a lot of energy,” UA head coach Kevin Sumlin said afterwards, “but that’s always every first practice.”

Nobody seemed more excited to return to the practice field than senior cornerback Jace Whittaker.

“The energy was great today,” the Southern California native said afterwards with a broad smile. “Everybody was flying around. Everybody brought a little bit of energy themselves. It was awesome.”

It’s easy to understand why he’s relishing being back in the fold and preparing for a new season.

Whittaker was one of Arizona’s best defensive players in 2017—leading the team in pass break ups with 13 and finishing with three interceptions)—but after injuring both his hamstring and elbow early last season, he played in only one game before ultimately redshirting.

Had he been healthy, the Wildcats might have fared better than their 5-7 record. No team in the Pac-12 surrendered more passing yards per game last season.

When asked what he’d gained after being on the sideline for a year, Whittaker made it clear that his time away from the game has given him a new perspective.

“Just don’t take this for granted, man. Just don’t take it for granted,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t know what was going to happen that day (when he was knocked out for the season) and you never know what’s going to happen in the next second, so just go as hard as you can with every chance you get.”

Being a redshirt senior, Whittaker is now one of Arizona’s oldest players and his matured mindset will help him as he takes on a crucial leadership role in the Wildcats’ secondary. If the UA is to exceed expectations this year, its defense will have to be much improved.

When asked how he feels about Arizona being picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 South, the elders statesman didn’t seem phased.

“Honestly I didn’t even know where we were ranked,” Whittaker said.

Even though he wasn’t aware of his team’s preseason projections, Whittaker addressed last season’s struggles and how he believes they will impact Arizona in 2019.

“Do we have a chip on his shoulder? Absolutely.” he said. “Are we worried about it? Not at all.”

Hear what Jace Whittaker had to say after Arizona Football’s first practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Friday, July 26, 2019

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Arizona adds Richmond transfer Samari Springs, son of ex-NFL player

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats have added Richmond transfer Samari Springs to their roster.

The junior defensive back is the son of former NFL DB Shawn Springs, a 13-year veteran who was an All-American at Ohio State in the 1990s and later the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. Springs’ grandfather, Ron, played running back in the NFL.

Samari Springs appeared in nine games for the Spiders last season, making eight starts at safety and cornerback. He made 44 tackles (3.5 for loss) and recorded three pass breakups and an interception.

As a freshman, Springs played in all 11 games for the Spiders, logging 51 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a sack. He played his high school ball at Briar Woods in Ashburn, Virginia.

Springs is listed at 6-feet, 189 pounds on Arizona’s roster. Head coach Kevin Sumlin said Friday that he is eligible to play in 2019 after being granted his release by the NCAA.

Here is some more background on Springs.

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5-star recruit Lauren Ware visiting Arizona this weekend

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Five-star recruit Lauren Ware is officially visiting the Arizona Wildcats this weekend, per a source.

The 6-foot-3 post player is the No. 30 player in the 2020 class, according to ESPN. Ware recently released her top five, which includes Arizona, UCLA, Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota.

If the Wildcats land her, she would be the second-highest ranked recruit the school has ever reeled in, only behind sophomore forward Cate Reese, who was the No. 12 player in 2018 and averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds as a freshman in 2018-19.

As a junior, Ware averaged 17.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 2.1 assists per game at Century High School in Bismarck, North Dakota, leading them to a state championship and a perfect 27-0 record.

Here’s what Walter Villa wrote about Ware’s game in a profile for ESPNW:

She’s extremely athletic for her height, running the floor impressively. She is learning to face the basket more, extending her range to the 3-point line.

Defensively, Ware communicates well and can guard perimeter or post players. She’s an excellent rim protector, and she usually does it without getting into foul trouble.

Ware is also a standout volleyball player and hopes to play both sports in college. Arizona is willing to let her, according to a source.

Arizona’s 2019 recruiting class did not include any American-born players, and so far its 2020 class only includes Turkish point guard Derin Erdogan.

Adding Ware would be an outstanding way to buck that trend and help Arizona continue its ascension toward the top half of the Pac-12.

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Arizona hoping Jamarye Joiner’s position change will unleash his athleticism

Photo by Ryan Kelapire

Just as he did in choosing the Arizona Wildcats over interest from several other notable programs, this offseason Jamarye Joiner made a decision that he felt was necessary in order to maximize his college football career.

Transfer? That would have been the easy way out. Instead, Joiner took it upon himself to suggest a position change, from quarterback to wide receiver, to give him a better chance to contribute.

Based on how he looked during the first day of Arizona’s fall camp, it looks like that switch was a smart one.

“He looked good today,” Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin said Friday of Joiner, a former 3-star prospect from Vail’s Cienega High School. “He’s one of the top athletes on this team.”

Joiner, a redshirt freshman, appeared in two games last season at QB. He made his college debut in Week 6 against Cal, playing one series in which he had two runs for minus-four yards, and a week later at Utah he completed 3 of 4 passes for 17 yards and added five yards on five carries.

While the sample size was small, it did show how much he still had to learn in order to compete for the backup spot behind senior Khalil Tate. That job figures to again go to junior Rhett Rodriguez, who started for an injured Tate at UCLA last October, while redshirt freshman Kevin Doyle and true freshman Grant Gunnell are also in the mix.

Rather than deal with those long odds, Joiner sought out another way to contribute. And as fate would have it, receiver happens to be a position of major need for the Wildcats in 2019 after their top three pass catchers all graduated.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Joiner looked right at home with the other receivers on Friday, based on what could be observed during the open portion of practice. Sumlin agreed.

“He ran a lot of routes, he knew how to lineup because were putting people together with quarterbacks, which makes him ahead of some of the freshmen that just got here because he could lineup every time,” Sumlin said. “He even caught a couple punts today. He’s got some natural hand-eye, obviously he’s a really, really good athlete. He looks like he’s having fun.”

Allowing Joiner to move actually serves two purposes for Arizona: in addition to better utilizing his athleticism, it also keeps motivated one of the few local players on the roster. Considering that none of the three notable Class of 2020 recruits from nearby Salpointe Catholic High School included the Wildcats on their final list of colleges, it looks good as many Tucson-area kids as possible getting chances to play.

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Size stands out at Arizona’s first day of practice

Jordan Morgan | Photo by Ryan Kelapire

A few things stood out to Kevin Sumlin at the Arizona Wildcats’ first day of practice—the energy, the new faces, and the sheer amount of size on the roster.

The Wildcats were laughably thin on both lines during the spring (and last fall, for that matter), but they added several big bodies during the offseason to remedy their dearth of girth.

“We need it and it was no secret because everybody was worried about how many d-linemen we had,” said Sumlin, whose team finished 10th in the Pac-12 in both yards and points allowed per game last season.

Some of those new big bodies include:

• OL Josh Donovan, a 6-foot-5, 317-pound junior
• DL Myles Tapusoa, a 6-foot-1, 330-pound junior
• OL Paiton Fears, a 6-foot-5, 308-pound sophomore
• OL Jordan Morgan, a 6-foot-5, 287-pound freshman
• OL Trevon Mason, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound junior
• DL Kyon Barrs, a 6-foot-2, 299-pound freshman
• OL Jamari Williams, a 6-foot-3, 298-pound freshman

Sumlin also lumped 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman Robert Congel, a transfer from Texas A&M who sat out last season, into that group as well. The Wildcats are also hoping to add Kane Bradford, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman from Texas who was part of the 2019 signing class but has not yet enrolled.

In the meantime, Sumlin said Arizona’s coaching staff is in a “teaching phase” right now. An evaluative one, too, as it tries to figure out which players—returners and newcomers—will be game-ready come Aug. 24, and which ones need more seasoning.

One thing is for sure: the junior college players are expected to contribute right away. Sumlin quipped at a reporter who asked how important they are to the team’s success.

“Really important. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have recruited them,” he said. “You saw us last year. We need them now. That’s the reason they came here. So it’s not how important, they’re extremely important. ... Some of them for depth, some of them for starting. We need them and they’re all pretty good-sized guys.”

It also helps that a few of them, like Tapusoa and Fears, were with the Wildcats during spring ball. That head start allowed them to bulk up, get familiar with their coaches, and get used to the everyday rigors that come with being a student-athlete.

“That’s valuable experience,” Sumlin said, “and we’re fortunate to have a bunch of guys that came in January.”

Hear what Kevin Sumlin had to say after Arizona Football’s first practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Friday, July 26, 2019

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WATCH: Kevin Sumlin, Jace Whittaker on Arizona’s first practice

The 2019 season is underway.

The Arizona Wildcats conducted their first practice Friday, roughly a month before their Week 0 opener against Hawaii.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin and cornerback Jace Whittaker spoke to the media afterward. Here are their respective interviews:

Hear what Kevin Sumlin had to say Arizona Football’s first practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Friday, July 26, 2019

Hear what Jace Whittaker had to say after Arizona Football’s first practice

Posted by AZ Desert Swarm on Friday, July 26, 2019

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