Here's a look at the different competitions going on in camp. 

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Competition hot 12 weeks into camp

Competition hot 12 weeks into camp

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Arizona is 12 practices into training camp, and key position battles are heating up.

“Even after the first game it’s always competition,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said after Saturday’s practice. “But there’s a lot of positions in particular I’m sure when I meet with the coaches the next couple of days it could be ‘these two are equal and these three are equal,’ and I almost hope it is that way.”

Here’s a look at five position battles that are raging as Arizona enters its third week of camp. The Wildcats will open their season Sept. 2 against Northern Arizona.

Quarterback

Quarterback

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Contenders: Brandon Dawkins (redshirt junior, 6-3, 210 pounds), Khalil Tate (sophomore, 6-2, 215)

Others competing: Donavan Tate (freshman, 6-2, 207), K’Hari Lane (freshman, 6-1, 245), Rhett Rodriguez (freshman, 6-0, 186)

The past: Dawkins led Arizona in rushing last season (944 yards, 10 touchdowns) and added 1,348 passing yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions on a 53.8 completion percentage. As Khalil Tate threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns and was intercepted three times while contributing 237 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Where it stands: Dawkins appears to be the leader in the clubhouse, though there’s still plenty of time to make up ground between now and Arizona’s opener. The reality is this is Dawkins’ fourth year in the system and Tate is still only 18 years old. Lane, Rodriguez and Donavan Tate are all competing for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Dawkins and Khalil Tate.

Coachspeak: “To say one’s ahead of the other, I wouldn’t say that. But they’re both competing well and then you got the young guys in there trying to mix it up and trying to close the gap as well. I won’t say one is ahead of the other because it’s still an open competition and we’ve still got some time left before we have to decide that.” — quarterbacks coach Rod Smith

He said it: “It’s always been the same mindset for me. I don’t care if you have me down as the three, the four, the 12, however many quarterbacks we bring in, I’m going to be battling like I’m trying to win the job.” — Dawkins

"Mike” (middle) linebacker

"Mike” (middle) linebacker

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Contenders: Colin Schooler (freshman, 6-0, 226), Brandon Rutt (senior, 6-3, 227), Jacob Colacion (redshirt freshman, 6-1, 218)

Others competing: Josh Brown (freshman, 6-3, 244)

The past: Rutt is one of only two Arizona linebackers with experience, and the other (“stud” DeAndre’ Miller) is injured. Rutt managed 19 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception last season. Colacion redshirted as a freshman, and Schooler came to Arizona as a three-star recruit in its 2017 class.

Where it stands: Schooler spent of the Wildcats last open practice with the first unit. That was over a week ago, and Rutt is the only veteran in Arizona’s linebacker room right now with Miller sidelined with an injury. There might not be a favorite yet, but all three seem in line to receive significant playing time, with the freshman Brown possibly contributing if not on defense, than on special teams.

Coachspeak: “He’s a smart kid. He has a high football IQ. And he practices really hard. He’s one of those guys that really has adapted to the tempo.” — linebackers coach Scott Boone, on Schooler

He said it: “It’s pushed me a lot. It’s good to have competition and to keep me on my toes, to keep working to make sure that I can get that starting role.” — Rutt

Right tackle

Right tackle

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Contenders: Cody Creason (redshirt sophomore, 6-4, 294), Gerhard de Beer (redshirt senior, 6-7, 320)

Others competing: Bryson Cain (redshirt freshman, 6-4, 291)

The past: De Beer saw his first action in 2015, playing in all 13 games and starting the last four of the season. Last year, he started eight of the nine games he played at right tackle before missing the last three games with a knee injury. Creason started four games, and made appearances in all 12.

Where it stands: Creason has had a good training camp so far, and the Folsom, Washington, native appears to be the favorite to start in Week 1. De Beer and Creason have split reps with the first team recently, but de Beer is still battling a knee injury that held him out of three games last season, all of spring drills and most of summer workouts. De Beer has the ideal size and athleticism for a tackle, but health has just been an issue. Cain is an up-and-coming youngster who probably would only play significant snaps if injury issues sideline the other two.

Coachspeak: “Right now, Cody’s got the jump on him because he’s a little more fresh.” — UA offensive line coach Jim Michalczik

He said it: “It’s awesome, because whenever there’s competition it’s just natural for athletes to raise their standards. That’s the awesome thing about it is — at the end of the day, I’d be bitter if I wasn’t the guy to start. But I know we’d have the best five guys on the field. That would just make me happy because I know the team would be better for it.” — de Beer

Left guard

Left guard

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Contenders: Christian Boettcher (redshirt junior, 6-2, 290), Michael Eletise (redshirt freshman, 6-3, 318)

Others competing: Alex Kosinski (redshirt sophomore, 6-4, 299)

The past: Boettcher played quite a bit last season, when senior Freddie Tagaloa and then-junior Jacob Alsadek struggled with injuries. Boettcher played in 11 games and made seven starts, with five coming at left guard and two at right guard. Eletise was a four-star recruit in Arizona’s 2016 class, but redshirted as a true freshman.

Where it stands: Boettcher is in the driver’s seat, though Michalczik has indicated he may spell starter Nathan Eldridge by moving Boettcher to center over there on occasion. The move would give Eletise some playing time at left guard.

Coachspeak: “Those are the two that are kind of in the lead. Boettcher’s one of those guys that just keeps working. He’s a bright guy. He’s not the tallest guy, but he’s a thick, really flexible guy. You hate call him an overachiever. He’s a scrapper. He’s made himself a good player. Michael’s so dang powerful.” — Michalczik

He said it: “It’s just: let the best man win. The five best players on the offensive line are going to start, so I gotta work on my technique, and if someone else is working on their technique and being better, then it’s their job. But I need to make sure my technique and the way I work is going is going to be better than everyone else so I can get on that five best, starting offensive line.” — Boettcher

Kicker/punter

Kicker/punter

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated

Contenders (kicker): Josh Pollack (redshirt junior, 5-10, 184), Lucas Havrisik (freshman, 6-2, 173)

Contenders (punter): Pollack, Jake Glatting (redshirt junior, 6-3, 218), Matt Aragon (freshman, 6-5, 211)

The past: Pollack handled kickoffs, field goals and punts at different times last season, and at one point was responsible for all three. He finished by converting 9 of 14 field goals and 36 of 36 extra points while averaging 42.2 yards per punt. On kickoffs, he was responsible for five touchbacks. Jake Glatting eventually took over at punter and averaged 39.4 yards on 10 punts. Havrisik joined the Wildcats as a two-star recruit out of Norco, California.

Where it stands: Rodriguez said Havrisik had been performing “tremendously” in terms of kickoffs, meaning the freshman will likely handle those duties. Pollack will likely handle field goals and extra points, and either Aragon or Glatting will likely punt. Freshman punter Cameron Braaten recently left the team.

Coachspeak: “Coach Rodriguez made it very clear from day one of camp, there are no positions that are locked up. Everything is open. I think we’ve seen that where every punt counts, we measure every kick, punt they do of every practice. Whether it’s kicking to the returners pre-practice or roll-out punt, we’re going to grade every rep.” — special teams coach Brian Knorr

Extra points

Extra points

  • Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
  • Updated
  • RichRod said he was happier with Arizona’s practice performance on Saturday than from Friday. He said defense had the edge on the offense, though the units have been pretty even throughout fall camp.
  • Rodriguez said the defense had struggled forcing turnovers for much of camp, but forced a few on Saturday. The offense has done a good job taking care of the ball, Rodriguez said. “I don’t know if we’ve dropped it on the ground at all as far as running,” he said.
  • Arizona legend Ricky Hunley — a College Football Hall of Famer and best linebacker in program history — attended Saturday’s practice, and spent much of it chatting with fellow UA legend Chuck Cecil, now on Rodriguez’s staff as a defensive analyst. Former UA receiver Samajie Grant also visited.
  • Defensive ends Jalen Harris and My-King Johnson are talented but need to put on weight, coaches say. Rodriguez said Harris is ahead of Johnson at the moment, and could contribute this season on special teams. On Johnson, Rodriguez said: “He’s been good. He’s a talented guy, obviously he’s gotta get bigger and stronger. But he’s been working hard ... My-King is going to be a good player, I think.”
  • Knorr’s is recruiting the Inland Empire in Southern California, and North Dallas in Texas. Knorr said having running back J.J. Taylor — who prepped at Corona Centennial — helps his recruiting in SoCal. “You say the word J.J. out there and it gets everybody’s attention,” he said.

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