Alex Kosinski has spent most of this season in Jacob Alsadek’s shadow.
It’s a massive shadow — Alsadek is 6 feet 7 and 298 pounds and Arizona’s starting right guard on the offensive line.
The 6-4, 278-pound Kosinski is a freshman and hasn’t played at all. Rather, he’s focused on Alsadek — in games, in practice, on film.
“The big thing for me was just helping my teammates get ready,” Kosinski said. “I was behind Jake the whole year. I was watching him a lot, I was watching his film, watching him during practice, letting him know what he can do better. Watching him also helped me get better, too.”
Kosinski has been ready, and waiting, to play if the opportunity presented itself — a.k.a. if the Wildcats needed him should there be a rash of injuries on the offensive line. A true freshman, he’s been on Arizona’s travel roster all year in a sort of “in case of emergency” role.
With the season wrapping up in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, the Wildcats didn’t need him just yet, and that was preferred, so 2015 will go down as Kosinski’s redshirt season.
Next year, he’ll complete for playing time, possibly alongside Alsadek, should the redshirt sophomore stick around for another season rather than leave early for the NFL.
As a member of Arizona’s travel roster, Kosinski received some valuable experience in his redshirt season, learning the ropes from Alsadek in particular.
“The biggest positive would be that you just really get a feel for the game,” Kosinski said. “You go through all the warm-ups and you’re ready for what’s coming, and it was just really good to get the feel.”
Kosinski, a two-star recruit out of Larkspur, California, is one of a host of redshirting freshman expected to make an impact in 2016.
“Our scout team and redshirt guys have done a great job,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We have a good young freshman class and newcomer class. A lot of them have to get bigger in the weight room and do all that stuff and we will start that in the month of January. I think the future is pretty bright.”
The Star spoke with Kosinski last week about his redshirt season.
On how the season has been for him: “It’s been pretty good. I traveled most of the season, and was gonna play if needed, but it turned out they didn’t need me. It was more of an injury thing just in case. (Offensive line coach Jim Michalczik) told me midway through the season he was pretty much trying to keep my redshirt, but it was good traveling, it was fun and I had a good time. Overall it was a good season for me.”
On how he felt not being sure if he would redshirt or not: “Earlier in the season is when I wasn’t quite sure whether I was going to play or not. I definitely had that feeling and felt nervous and ready, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be good to go next year.”
On if he feels more prepared now than when he first arrived in the spring: “Oh yeah, for sure. I came in the spring and was pretty hectic and didn’t quite know all my stuff, going into fall camp I was feeling really good about all of my plays, so I can just kinda get out there and play and not overthink everything. That helped me develop. Over the course of the season, getting good reps with the twos really made me feel more confident about my plays.”
Solomon all clear, no setbacks for Scooby
Arizona will have its full arsenal of quarterbacks available against New Mexico on Saturday, barring any setbacks, as Anu Solomon is “all clear” from a concussion suffered against Utah on Nov. 14 and will play against the Lobos.
Solomon missed the loss to Arizona State on Nov. 21, and both Jerrard Randall and Brandon Dawkins played in his place. Randall is expected to play mostly at receiver on Saturday.
Scooby Wright, out since September with a foot injury, will make his return against New Mexico, and after a full week or so of practice Wright “has not had any setbacks,” Rodriguez said. “He’s probably not in game shape, but Scooby will play hard, and we’re excited to have both of them (Wright and Solomon) there.”
Also, Rodriguez said the Wildcats will likely pursue a medical redshirt for linebacker Derrick Turituri, who has missed the last eight games with a hip injury.
“We’ll look into that after the season,” Rodriguez said.
Turituri, a junior, played in Arizona’s first four games and recorded 13 tackles, two for loss.
Extra points
Reggie Gilbert and Lene Maiava have both accepted invitations to postseason college football All-Star games. Maiava, a senior offensive lineman, will play in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Jan. 23, while Gilbert, a senior defensive end, will play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 23 in Carson, California.
