Arizona’s linebacker corps thin after losing Colin Schooler, Tony Fields to transfer

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Linebacker was supposed to be one of Arizona’s most stable positions in 2020, but that has quickly changed after it lost senior stars Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II to the transfer portal.

Now the Wildcats have a thin corps with not a lot of experience. Here’s a look at the remaining linebackers on the roster.

Anthony Pandy, Sr.

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Now the elder statesman in the room, the 6-foot, 225-pound senior is coming off his best season after logging career-highs in tackles (66), tackles for loss (5), sacks (2) and even interceptions (1).

Pandy can play inside and outside, but will likely see more time at the former now that Schooler and Fields are gone.

Kylan Wilborn, Sr.

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Once one of Arizona’s most promising players, Wilborn has seen his production dip sharply since a stellar freshman season in which he logged career highs in tackles (28) and sacks (7.5). Since then, he has only tallied 21 tackles and two sacks, both of which came in 2018.

Jalen Harris, RS Jr.

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The 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge defender has racked up 56 tackles (10.5 for loss) including seven sacks in three seasons. Four of those sacks came last season and some view him as a potential breakout candidate moving forward.

Harris can play defensive end in a 4-3 scheme or an outside linebacker in a 3-4, which the Wildcats plan to use in 2020.

Derrion Clark, So.

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The 6-foot-1, 211-pound outside linebacker from Las Vegas appeared in all 12 games in 2019, serving mostly on special teams. Before joining the Wildcats, he totaled 320 tackles (71 for loss), 39 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions and four fumble recoveries in 35 career games at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas.

He picked Arizona over offers from UTEP, UTSA, Stephen F. Austin, Alabama A&M, Northwestern State, Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa, RS Fr.

Siaumau-Sanitoa redshirted in 2019 after appearing in the NAU game. Listed at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, the converted safety was a three-star recruit out of American Samoa. He drew interest, but not offers, from other Pac-12 schools like Oregon, USC, Utah and ASU.

Kwabena Watson, RS Fr.

The Fresno native appeared in three games in 2019, serving mostly on special teams. He’s actually listed as a defensive lineman, but at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he profiles more as an outside linebacker, especially in a 3-4.

Before joining the Wildcats, he tallied 114 tackles, including 86 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He also had offers from LSU, USC, Oregon, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Fresno State, Nevada and Wyoming.

Jabar Triplett Jr., Fr.

Triplett tore his Achilles over the offseason and will redshirt in 2020. The Baton Rouge native was a three-star recruit out of Southern University Lab School and picked Arizona over schools like Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

“Triplett is projected to outside linebacker for now, but that could change to an inside spot because of his consistency as a tackler and the playing style he has shown so far in his senior season potentially fitting an inside projection better,” wrote 247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks.

Derick Mourning, Fr.

Photo via @djmourning on Twitter

An outside linebacker from Katy, Texas, Mourning had 75 tackles and seven sacks as a senior. He picked Arizona over Sam Houston State, Tulsa and Louisiana-Monroe.

247Sports lists him at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.

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