Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after practice Tuesday morning as Cal week continues:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez said he’s “hopeful” that defensive tackle Luca Bruno will return vs. Cal. Bruno sat out last week because of a concussion. Arizona will be without DT Parker Zellers for the first half as he sits out because of a targeting foul incurred last week.
* Arizona is exploring alternatives at punter, where Jake Glatting has struggled at times. The options include Josh Pollack, Matt Aragon and … offensive tackle Gerhard de Beer? “He might have the best leg on the team,” Rodriguez said. “I just can’t imagine putting a 320-pounder back there. But he’s begging for an opportunity. … He’s done it in practice. You know when Gerhard’s punting because you can hear it. It sounds like a shotgun going off.”
* Safety Dane Cruikshank on quarterback Khalil Tate's humble demeanor: "He knows he’s good. He doesn’t have to tell anybody."
* Tate was named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Pac-12 Team for the second week in a row. Also making it: guard Jacob Alsadek, cornerback Jace Whittaker and safety Kwesi Mashack.
* Is there any chance now-backup QB Brandon Dawkins could play another position this season? "No," Rodriguez said. "He's a quarterback."
* Cruikshank on freshman DE-LB Kylan Wilborn, who has a team-high five sacks: "He’s going to be a freshman All-American. He has a motor. He brings it every day in practice."
* Rodriguez on the offense so far: “When we take care of the ball and execute, we do good. When we have turnovers and missed assignments, it’s not so good.” I’ll have more on the state of the offense at the midway point of the season later today.
* Tate's emergence should help Arizona in recruiting Southern California, but that area always will be a "home base" for the Wildcats regardless, Rodriguez said.
* Has the recent Arizona surge led to an uptick in recruiting? "A little bit," Rodriguez said. "Maybe they’re answering the calls quicker."
* Arizona is up to 15 commitments, but as Rodriguez noted, the Wildcats still need offensive and defensive linemen (plural).
* Rodriguez on senior tailback Zach Green: "He doesn’t say much. He just goes about his business. He’s as reliable a player as we’ve got."
* Cal coach Justin Wilcox, speaking on the Pac-12 coaches’ conference call, called Tate "dynamic" and said he's a "big challenge for our team. We'll have to be at our best against him."
* Rodriguez on Cal’s defensive effort vs Washington State: “They mixed things up up front. They changed and disguised some coverages. They did a great job of playing the ball, as good as I’ve seen all year.”
* Tight end Trevor Wood said he had some snapping experience from high school and spends time before and after practice working on it. He was pressed into duty vs. UCLA when Nathan Eldridge struggled in that area. Arizona lost long snapper Nick Reinhardt to a season-ending knee injury, and snaps on placements have been problematic since.
* A Pac-12 Networks camera crew is on hand this week filming segments for an upcoming episode of "The Drive."
