The Arizona Wildcats practiced for the first time in 2016 on Friday. Cam Denson practiced for the first time as a wide receiver.
The athletic junior from Salpointe Catholic High is making the transition from cornerback. His first practice played to positive reviews, although there were some rough patches as well.
โI think heโs natural there,โ Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. โI think thatโs his position. I think weโll keep him there. I didnโt see anything that will make us move him back.โ
Denson was an all-state performer and four-star recruit coming out of high school, where he played on both sides of the ball. He said he felt natural being back at receiver โbut a little rusty as well.โ He dropped a pass during the portion of practice open to the media.
โIโm still getting into it,โ Denson said. โIโve been getting a little better every week.โ
Denson was part of the receiver group working with quarterback Anu Solomon during the offseason. They threw together three times a week.
Solomon said getting Denson up to speed is simply a matter of practice and repetition.
โHeโs such an athletic guy,โ Solomon said. โHe can pretty much do anything โ play outside, play inside. He can run fast, he can jump high, he can catch the ball. Itโs just basically making him comfortable playing offense.โ
Denson approached Rodriguez about the switch after the season-ending New Mexico Bowl. Rodriguez was receptive to it.
Although he started thinking about playing receiver about halfway through last season, Denson views his time at cornerback as time well spent.
โIt made me a smarter football player,โ he said. โIt made me a better football player in a sense. Now I know what the defense is trying to do and what theyโre trying to throw at me.โ
TIGHT END INJURED
Promising redshirt-freshman tight end Brion Anduze suffered a gruesome-looking injury to his left leg or knee about halfway through practice.
Anduze caught a pass near the left sideline during one-on-one drills and landed awkwardly. Rodriguez declined to elaborate on his status.
Earlier in the week, tight ends coach Charlie Ragle spoke glowingly of Anduzeโs potential.
โI think heโs got everything that weโre looking for in a tight-end prospect,โ Ragle said. โThe toughness, the athleticism โ he really brings a great blend of those things.
โWhen you come in as a freshman, thereโs a learning curve. I think heโll overcome that this spring. I think heโll be a guy thatโll be in the mix for us in the fall.โ
TAGALOA UPDATE
Senior offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa did not practice and will be limited throughout the spring because of a knee injury suffered last season.
Tagaloa missed the season opener and the final four games last year. He began the season as the starting left tackle before moving to guard. Rodriguez said the injury will not affect Tagaloa long term.
โWe donโt want to push it โฆ knowing the way Freddie likes to work,โ Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez estimated that Tagaloa will participate in half the spring practices.
RECRUITING DIRECTOR
Rodriguez acknowledged the impending hire of Chris Singletary, whoโs expected to join the UA as director of recruiting.
Singletary worked under Rodriguez while both were at Michigan. Singletary also played there. He left the program last May.
Rodriguez said Singletary will be a โfantasticโ addition to the staff.
โIโve been with him before,โ Rodriguez said. โHeโs been great in the recruiting world at Michigan. Heโll be a big bonus for us.โ
Matt Dudek, Arizonaโs director of on-campus recruiting and player personnel since 2012, will have an โexpanded role,โ Rodriguez said.
โHeโs still going to be in charge of recruiting,โ Rodriguez said. โI call him the โgeneral manager.โ โ
NEW D-LINE COACH
Friday was Vincent Ameyโs first practice as Arizonaโs defensive line coach. Rodriguez officially promoted Amey from football analyst Wednesday to fill out the 2016 coaching staff.
Amey described the move as a โnatural fit because Iโve been here and Iโve got a great rapport with the players and I jump around with them โ but Iโm also stern with them. Thatโs how you have to be. You build good relationships with the players and you earn their respect, and I think Iโve done that.โ
Amey is entering his fifth year with the UA program. He spent the first three as a member of the strength and conditioning staff.
โI think heโs got a great career (ahead) in our profession,โ Rodriguez said.
โHeโs eager to learn. No young coach โ no older coach like myself โ knows it all. But youโve got to know enough to be effective, and then obviously you want to be eager to keep learning. I think Vince is both of those.โ
EXTRA POINTS
- Linebacker
- Cody Ippolito
- practiced in a limited capacity. He was among a handful of players wearing green jerseys, which means they can participate in some on-field work but generally are to avoid contact. Ippolito missed last season because of a knee injury.
Others wearing the green jersey included tight end Trevor Wood and freshman safety Isaiah Hayes. Wood missed last season because of a shoulder injury.
- Defensive lineman
- Luca Bruno
- and linebacker
- Jake Matthews
- were among those unable to practice. Both missed time because of foot injuries suffered last season.
- Receiver/running back
- Tyrell Johnson
- sat out because of an illness.
- Arizona practices again Saturday afternoon before taking a week off.
