One of the neat aspects of training camp is that you never know who might emerge and climb up the depth chart.
A month ago — heck, two weeks ago — no one could have foreseen that Lee Anderson III and Dereck Boles would become key figures in the Arizona Wildcats’ defensive front. But as Arizona approaches the end of its second week of camp practices, those improbable storylines have come to fruition.
Anderson is a sophomore from Moreno Valley, California, and the latest walk-on to prove that Rich Rodriguez operates a meritocracy. Anderson appeared in two games as a freshman, moving from linebacker to pass rusher about halfway through the season. With DeAndre’ Miller out because of a foot injury, Anderson has become a legitimate contender to start at one of the defensive end spots.
“He really has worked tirelessly this summer,” ends coach Brian Knorr said, and that’s really where it all begins for the Rancho Verde High graduate.
The Wildcats’ evening practices have been ending about 8 p.m. Anderson spends an additional 20 minutes or so working on pass-rush moves before making his way to the locker room. After dinner, he’ll stay until 11 p.m. or midnight to watch the film of the just-completed workout.
“Sometimes my roommate (offensive lineman Jon Jacobs) gets mad at me because I’m his ride here,” Anderson said. “But I’m like, ‘C’mon, man, I gotta do this.’”
Anderson spends those film sessions critiquing himself, so he has notes prepared for the official breakdown with coaches . Anderson has to put in extra work to make up for two disadvantages: his walk-on status, which makes for a steeper depth-chart ascent, and his size. At 6 feet, 1 inch and 235 pounds, Anderson lacks ideal pass-rusher length.
“I don’t think size really matters,” Anderson said. “It’s the size of your heart that actually matters. If you’re willing to go out there and give it your all, then anything’s possible.”
The irony of Anderson’s rise is that it has come, at least in part, at Miller’s expense. The senior, who suffered a foot injury in July that could sideline him for all of training camp, has served as a mentor for Anderson. When he saw how hard Anderson was working as a freshman, Miller offered to help him. Anderson took him up on it, and he continues to receive Miller’s counsel even with the veteran hobbling around on crutches.
“DeAndre’s like a big brother to me,” Anderson said. “I can come and talk to DeAndre’ about anything.”
Anderson accumulated 136 tackles and eight sacks as a high school senior, but said he received scholarship offers from only smaller schools. He sent his film to bigger programs, and Arizona offered him a preferred walk-on spot.
“Then I came here,” Anderson said, “and I fell in love with it.”
Boles’ path to Tucson wasn’t nearly as direct. He zigzagged all over the country before landing here.
Boles began his college career at Boise State, where he appeared in 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2015. Boles was dismissed from the team in February 2016 after getting into a fight with a teammate.
Boles was charged with felony mayhem after allegedly biting off a portion of Chanceller James’ left ear. A jury found Boles not guilty, and he played last season at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College.
Boles committed to Arizona in early May. About a month later, he reportedly changed his mind and committed to South Florida; Boles played his high school ball in Lakeland, about 35 miles from the USF campus.
Then, at Pac-12 Media Days in late July, Rodriguez revealed that Boles was in Tucson preparing to become a Wildcat.
“It’s been a long journey with him,” UA defensive line coach Vince Amey said. “It’s been a good journey, though. We wanted him pretty bad. We needed some size and depth and girth in the middle.
“There were times we thought we weren’t going to get him, but we kept sticking with him. There were times he thought about going to other schools. The whole process was a grind. We stuck with him, and he stuck with us. He (saw) the light when it came down to it, and I’m happy as hell he’s here.”
Like Anderson, Boles began working his way into a prominent role. Barring injury, he’s expected to be part of the rotation at the two interior defensive line positions. At 6-2 and 296 pounds, Boles provides much-needed bulk in the middle of Arizona’s defense. Amey described him as a “straight plugger.”
“He has a motor,” said UA defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who coached Boles at Boise State. “He’s strong, powerful. He still has a ways to go to get in shape, but he’s a guy that we hope can help us out.”
Extra points
- Rodriguez expects tailback Nathan Tilford to contribute as a freshman. “Being here in the spring was a huge advantage for Nathan,” Rodriguez said after Wednesday’s practice. “It gave him a couple months head start on it.”
- Rodriguez also expects freshman Gary Brightwell to play, but maybe not at running back. Brightwell, recruited as a back, has been working more out of the slot, where Arizona is shorter on bodies. Brightwell has shown a natural aptitude for receiving.
- Rodriguez said the coaching staff hasn’t had to pull back on scheme implementation, even with so many freshmen playing prominent roles.
- Quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said he’s confident the passing game will improve this season, citing progress made by veterans Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate and the competition freshmen Donavan Tate, K’Hari Lane and Rhett Rodriguez are providing.
- The Wildcats worked out in padded vests and shorts. The defense won the practice.
- Arizona has three more practices scheduled for this week. The team will shift to a morning routine starting Friday.
