OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Returning starters: RS JR Jacob Alsadek, JR Layth Friekh, RS SR Freddie Tagaloa
Also returning: RS SO Christian Boettcher, RS FR Cody Creason, RS JR Gerhard de Beer, RS FR Nathan Eldridge, RS SR Zach Hemmila, RS FR Alex Kosinski, RS SO Levi Walton
Newcomers: FR Bryson Cain, FR Michael Eletise, FR Harper Sherman, FR Keenan Walker
Burning question: Will Freddie Tagaloa produce a body of work worthy of his massive, sculpted body?
Every summer, ace college football reporter Bruce Feldman compiles a list of the sport’s biggest athletic “freaks.”
Tagaloa made this year’s ranking. He is one of only two offensive linemen to appear on it. Here’s what Feldman wrote about Tagaloa, who's tied for 20th on the list:
Tagaloa, the huge Cal transfer, has great length at 6-8, 320, but also set records at Arizona for his 475-pound bench and doing 38 reps at 225 pounds. ‘He's a bad man,’ said Arizona great Scooby Wright. ‘He also has that first-one-in/last-one-out mentality.”
That’s all well and good. Except there’s one slight problem: Tagaloa might not even start.
That isn’t necessarily a reflection of Arizona’s depth and talent along the offensive line, although I think the line absolutely will be a position of strength. Rather, it’s about Tagaloa’s inability to stay healthy and translate his physical gifts into productive play.
UA coach Rich Rodriguez said during Pac-12 Media Days that Tagaloa is healthy after missing the end of last season and all of spring drills because of a knee injury. While describing Tagaloa as “the first guy off the bus,” Rodriguez was quick to note that despite his health, experience and reputation, Tagaloa has to earn a starting spot. Nothing will be handed to him aside from that ultimatum.
Coming out of spring, three spots seemed to be set: Friekh at left tackle, Alsadek at right guard and de Beer at right tackle. Hemmila had the lead at center but also has several potential challengers, including freshman Eletise, who will get some looks at that position per Rodriguez.
That leaves Tagaloa, Boettcher and others to battle it out at left guard. That isn’t what anyone had in mind when Tagaloa transferred, with much fanfare, from Cal. But that’s where things stand entering fall camp after Friekh (pronounced “freck”) supplanted the freak at left tackle about halfway through last season.
As I’ve written before, Arizona’s offensive line could go from good to great if Tagaloa stays healthy and figures it all out. However, that’s an aptly gargantuan“if” as of now.
