Arizona Wildcats WR Shawn Poindexter making huge strides; CB Tony Wallace coming on

Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their 15th practice of training camp Wednesday morning:

* Quarterbacks coach/co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith said receiver Shawn Poindexter looks like a different player compared to a year ago. Poindexter is more confident and is attacking ball. Expect him to start.

* Some cornerbacks who have impressed Poindexter so far in camp: redshirt freshman Lorenzo Burns and freshman Tony Wallace. Those youngsters will have to play if Dane Cruikshank moves full time to safety.

* This is what UA coach Rich Rodriguez had to say about Wallace: “He’s been, I don’t want to say a surprise, because we thought when we signed him that this guy has a chance to help us as a true freshman. He’s got a chance to help us as a true freshman. Also on special teams.”

* Arizona will conduct a full scrimmage Saturday morning. The Wildcats have gone live (pads and tackling) previously but not to that scale.

* Arizona is spending a lot of time this week working on specific situations. The Wildcats will transition to scout-team work about a week from now.

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* Regarding the quarterbacks, veterans Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate seem to be ahead of the others, as expected. The passing game overall needs to be cleaned up over the next two weeks, Rodriguez said.

* Rodriguez said receiver Devaughn Cooper, who recently rejoined the team, is starting "at the bottom of the depth chart" and has to work his way up to the two-deep. Cooper has participated in three practices, all this week.

* Redshirt freshman guard Michael Eletise should be among Arizona's top eight offensive linemen, Rodriguez said. Eletise is battling with Christian Boettcher for the left-guard job.

* Eletise on being a student-athlete: "We’re just like regular people. The only difference is, we hit people all the time."

* Eletise, who’s from Hawaii, was talking about living on his own for the first time. I said he couldn't eat McDonald's every meal. Replied Eletise, laughing: "I wish. If there was a McDonald’s on the way to my house, I’d probably stop there more often than not."

* The interior defensive linemen who have impressed Eletise the most in camp: senior Luca Bruno and freshman Kurtis Brown.