Weβre almost to the end. Weβve spent the past several weeks counting down the 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats of 2017. Weβll conclude the series Tuesday with the unveiling of our top choice.
But first, our No. 2 guy and those pesky reminders:
βMost valuableβ does not necessarily mean βbest.β Rather, weβre defining it as the contributions and traits that most influence winning football. They include talent, leadership and projected role and production.
Newcomers were not eligible for the list. Although many might become major contributors this year, especially on defense, their roles are just too difficult to predict in June.
NO. 2: WR SHUN BROWN
Ht/Wt/Yr: 5-8, 175, junior
Comment: Thereβs a ton of uncertainty around the Arizona program, from the future of the head coach to the identity of the starting quarterback.
Thereβs no disputing who the Wildcatsβ No. 1 wide receiver is.
Brown is by far Arizonaβs most accomplished returning pass catcher. You could make the case he was the UAβs top target a year ago as a sophomore, even though he didnβt lead the team in receptions.
Brown finished second with 29, which is about three gamesβ worth for a Washington State wideout. But bear in mind that Arizona finished last in the Pac-12 with 157 completed passes. That number is likely to go up in 2017, and Brown should corral an even greater percentage.
The receiver roomβs leaders from 2016 are gone: Nate Phillips (33 reeptions), Trey Griffey (23) and Samajie Grant (22). Brown topped them all in yardage (521) by a wide margin. He also tied for the team lead with three touchdown receptions. And now he wonβt have nearly as much competition for catches.
That can be a positive and a negative. Brown is bound to get more balls thrown his way. Heβs also bound to get more defensive attention, especially after averaging a team-best 18.0 yards per catch and registering 12 plays of 20-plus yards, including four pass plays of 50-plus.
If other threats donβt emerge, Brown could be smothered by double teams. More likely, Rich Rodriguez and his staff will find ways to feature Brown and take advantage of his big-play ability.
Brown possesses speed, quickness, toughness and smarts. He doesnβt have size, but that hasnβt stopped previous pint-sized wideouts from putting up big numbers in Rodriguezβs system. In 2013, Phillips (5-7, 186) caught 51 passes for 696 yards and seven touchdowns. In β14, Grant (5-9, 180) put up a 45-718-6 line.
Brown did most of his work out of the slot last season, but heβs capable of playing all the receiver positions. Heβs also an adept runner, gaining 62 yards on two rushes in 2016. Brown even averaged 29.0 yards on two kickoff returns; every other Wildcat was under 20 yards.
Itβs not inconceivable that Brown will double his 2016 receiving numbers this season β at least the catches and touchdowns. (Odds are, Brownβs average per catch will fall with defenses devoting more resources to stopping him. There were times last year β such as the first play of the Utah game β when he was left all but uncovered.)
Weβre assuming some degree of advancement from Arizonaβs passing game, regardless of who the quarterback ends up being. The fact that we donβt know who the starter is yet helped Brown inch past incumbent Brandon Dawkins in the MVP rankings.
Whether itβs Dawkins, Khalil Tate or Donavan Tate behind center, the Wildcatsβ passing efficiency must improve for the team to enjoy any semblance of success. If it does, Brown will play a huge part in it.
THE 17 MOST VALUABLE WILDCATS OF 2017
- No. 17:Β TE Trevor Wood
- No. 16:Β CB Dane Cruikshank
- No. 15:Β RB Nick Wilson
- No. 14:Β DL Parker Zellers
- No. 13:Β S Tristan Cooper
- No. 12:Β WR Cam Denson
- No. 11:Β DL Larry Tharpe Jr.
- No. 10:Β S Isaiah Hayes
- No. 9:Β CB Jace Whittaker
- No. 8:Β DE-LB DeAndre' Miller
- No. 7:Β QB Khalil Tate
- No. 6:Β C Nathan Eldridge
- No. 5:Β S Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- No. 4:Β OG Jacob Alsadek
- No. 3: QB Brandon Dawkins