The simplest way to explain how Larry Tharpe Jr. became an Arizona Wildcat is this: They needed each other.
Tharpe, a redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman, was looking for a bigger, better place to play. Arizona was seeking linemen with the type of size the 6-foot-5-inch, 275-pound Tharpe possesses.
So the two came together, better late than never. And maybe, just maybe, the Wildcats have unearthed another defensive lineman from the ranks of the walk-ons.
“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” UA defensive line coach Vince Amey said Wednesday. “I’m going to continue to get him more reps each and every game.”
Via hard work and opportunities created by injuries to others, Tharpe has earned a spot in the rotation. He has appeared in five games, recording seven tackles, including 1.5 for losses, and one pass breakup. He had Arizona’s lone tackle-for-loss in its 69-7 defeat at Washington State on Saturday.
None of that is anything to brag about, but considering where Tharpe started — or, more important, when he started — it’s pretty impressive.
Tharpe did not officially become a UA student until the week classes started in late August. He missed all of training camp. He needed time to get everything in order.
Tharpe transferred to Arizona from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, which is about two hours east of Dallas. He played for the Apaches in 2015 after spending his first college season redshirting at Idaho State.
Despite his size and pedigree — his father played offensive line in the NFL from 1992-2000 — Tharpe didn’t have many offers coming out of Hebron High in Carrollton, a Dallas suburb. He reluctantly accepted one from Idaho State, an FCS school, but continued to believe he could do better, even if no one else did.
“I felt like I was meant for more,” Tharpe said. “I felt like I could play at a higher level. So I decided to go with that.”
Tharpe transferred to Tyler to enhance his résumé and avoid having to sit out a year if he landed an FBS offer. He initiated that process by sending e-mails to coaches around the country. UA football analyst Mike DiAngelo found one in his inbox and began following Tharpe on Twitter. Tharpe followed back. The seeds were planted.
DiAngelo showed film of Tharpe to Amey. “Not too bad,” Amey thought. He particularly liked how Tharpe mugged for the camera after winning a rep in practice.
Before he could come to Arizona, Tharpe had to get his academics in order. Some of his credits didn’t transfer. He had to take two online classes at Tyler over the summer. That delayed the process. The UA — desperate for defensive linemen — was willing to wait for him. Still, it was a stressful time for the would-be Wildcat.
“Some schools just dropped off,” Tharpe said. “They stuck with me. They allowed me to get my grades right and come later in the year.”
By the time he finally arrived, Tharpe obviously had some catching up to do. Although he aspired to become a regular, he had to bide his time on the scout team.
“He kept showing up on the scout team,” said UA coach Rich Rodriguez, whose team hosts No. 12 Colorado on Saturday. “I’m like, we’ve got to at least give him a rep, a chance, with the ones or twos. He’s making the most of it.”
Said Amey: “He was raw, needed some weight-room work. But you could see he understood the game. We put him on the scout team, and he was doing a good job over there. During the season we had some injuries, we got beat up. It got to the point where I was like, ‘Who do I have?’ Then I went back and looked at the scout-team stuff. I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to give this Tharpe kid a shot.’ Ever since he’s gotten his shot, every day he has gotten better.”
Arizona’s defensive line is a place where walk-ons have thrived. Former walk-on Parker Zellers is the starting nose tackle. Current walk-on Justin Belknap is the starting defensive end.
Tharpe would like to earn a scholarship someday. “Play and pray” is how he summarizes achieving that goal.
For now, Tharpe is happy to be somewhere he wants to be — and somewhere that wants him.
“I love the sport. I love everything about it,” Tharpe said. “It would have been rough to let it go. I’m glad I didn’t have to.”
Extra points
- The key for Arizona against Colorado: string good plays together to build confidence. “That’s probably easier said than done,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve got guys that can make plays. We’re in position at times to do it. We’ve just got to put something together and be more consistent.”
- Rodriguez said quarterback Anu Solomon is practicing and playing with more confidence. Rodriguez didn’t name a starter for the Colorado game. Brandon Dawkins has started the past two weeks, but Solomon seems to be building momentum.
- Starting right tackle Gerhard de Beer had a brace on his left knee after practice. He exited the Washington State game in the second half. Belknap had a walking boot on his left foot.
- Rodriguez on the Colorado defense, which is ranked ninth in the country: “They’re always in the right spot. They tackle extremely well. They’re one of the best tackling teams I’ve seen.”
