While other teams get ready for bowl games, the Arizona Wildcats are preparing for next year.
Its season cut short, Arizona began offseason workouts just days after the Nov. 25 finale.
Despite a 3-9 record, the Wildcats have plenty of intriguing characters. Weโll profile some of them in this space.
Our first Q&A is with freshman quarterback Khalil Tate, who played a larger-than-expected role in 2016 โ and will be given every opportunity to win the starting job in โ17.
How would you sum up your freshman year? How did it go?
A: โI learned a lot. Very helpful to get to be in certain situations, travel certain places, just to get prepared for next year. Not playing a lot, but playing enough to where I (could) grasp what could happen next time if I was in the same exact situation.โ
You said you learned a lot. Whatโs the biggest lesson you took away?
A: โJust game-time experience. Actually being on the field. If I was just on the sideline, the next year, first game, itโs different. Now Iโm going into next season knowing whatโs expected, knowing what I have to do, knowing a lot more.โ
A lot of people were opposed to Arizona burning your redshirt. You seem to be on the other side of the fence, that it was beneficial for you.
A: โIt was very beneficial. Like I said, game-time experience was important. Basketball, football, baseball, anytime you play, you donโt have to be a big factor, (but) as long as youโre in the game you get the feel for it. Next time youโll be even better because you were a rookie the first time.โ
Do you wish you had played more after the redshirt was lifted?
A: โIt didnโt matter. Iโm in Godโs hands. Whatever He wants me to do, Iโm going to do it. Iโm not going to fight or get frustrated. Iโm just blessed to be here. I canโt complain at all.โ
You performed well in relief against UCLA and Utah. You struggled against USC. What was the difference?
A: โNot being as comfortable as I was in those games. It was my first start. I expected myself to do way better than I did. It was against a pretty good, up-and-coming USC team. Itโs not like it was a weaker opponent to where the flaws went unnoticed. All the flaws were seen. That helped a lot, though, because I know next time what to expect.โ
Did you put more pressure on yourself that day compared to when you came off the bench?
A: โIt wasnโt really pressure. People knew I was going to play, so they game-planned. UCLA and Utah, they didnโt know if I was going to play or not. USC, they game-planned for (me). It was something they were probably waiting on all week. They knew what to do.โ
What did you learn from being around two veteran quarterbacks in Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins?
A: โFrom Anu, I just learned to take a lot more things seriously. Be more calm. See things fully instead of just making a decision. Just relaxing. From Brandon, have fun. I already have fun. But have more fun. The team (vibes) off you. If youโre down, theyโre going to be down. If youโre happy at all times, the team should be happy.โ
When you start doing football-specific work again, what are some of the areas you really need to work on to improve your game?
A: โI would say decision-making, and that comes from learning more of the playbook. You can never know too much of the playbook. You can always learn something new about it. Decision-making will come easier. I wouldnโt be thinking on the fly. I would know whatโs going on.โ
Whatโs the message from the coaches about the QB competition heading into the offseason?
A: โThe coaches arenโt going to say (anything) because itโs always open. They donโt have to say itโs an open competition. Everybody knows that. Youโve just got to keep working hard.โ
So whatโs your approach then?
A: โWork on the little things. Footwork. Decision-making. That comes with reps. Getting more live reps with the ones and twos. This past season I was with the threes a lot, so there werenโt a whole lot of reps.โ
Are you concerned at all that Arizona is adding two more quarterbacks to compete for the job?
A: โThat doesnโt really make a difference to me. Iโve never really been the type to care about whoโs coming, whoโs there. If that was the point, I wouldnโt have come here. Every school you go to, thereโs going to be somebody coming in. Itโs about yourself.โ
You lost only a handful of games your entire high school career. What was it like to go through a nine-loss season?
A: โDifferent. I think it was a great experience. I feel like in life youโve got to experience the lows in order to be successful. If youโre just winning all the time โฆ youโre not learning. Youโre always up here. Youโre never down here. I wouldnโt say I enjoyed the season, but it was helpful because I got to learn about myself, how I react to things.โ
Why do you think Arizona will be better next season?
A: โWeโre going to use this year as motivation for next year. Nobody wants to lose nine games. Itโs not fun. Itโs not something that you want to happen, itโs not something you want to be a part of.โ
