Arizona Wildcats DE Justin Belknap, a starter in 2016, finally receives a scholarship

Arizona Wildcats defensive end Justin Belknap, who started 11 of 12 games last season as a walk-on, is no longer a walk-on.

The redshirt sophomore from Henderson, Nevada, received a scholarship Sunday. Belknap’s mom broke the news on Mother’s Day:

Can you say scholarship?! Best Mother's Day present ever!!! 🐻⬇️🏈#beardown #proudmom #UAfootball

— Anna Belknap (@annabelknaplv) May 14, 2017

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Belknap accumulated 16 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and two passes defensed as a redshirt freshman in 2016. His role on the team clearly merited a scholarship, but Belknap had to wait for accounting purposes.

As I noted near the end of this story on fellow defensive lineman Larry Tharpe Jr., the NCAA has a two-year rule when it comes to scholarships and how they’re counted. Basically, if Arizona had given Belknap a scholarship during the ’16 season, it would have counted against the school’s annual allowance of 25 initial counters. Now it only counts toward the team’s overall total of 85.

Despite being undersized (6-2, 247) and Arizona adding bodies to its defensive front, Belknap should remain part of the rotation next season. On paper, the Wildcats have enough viable players to deploy two full units at the three “interior” defensive line positions.