Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their ninth practice of training camp Wednesday night:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez gave freshman tailback Nathan Tilford a ringing endorsement, praising his mental approach and physical style. Rodriguez said he’d like to use three tailbacks regularly. Tilford could be the third guy behind J.J. Taylor and Nick Wilson.
* Tilford spoke to the media for the first time since enrolling in January. He described his running style as follows: "I’m a downhill guy. I like to run people over.”
* As suggested in a previous post, fellow freshman Gary Brightwell is getting a long look as a slot receiver after being recruited as a tailback. Besides being adept as a pass catcher, Brightwell is filling a spot where “we’re shorter on bodies,” Rodriguez said. Brightwell is listed at 6-1, 196. QB Khalil Tate said Brightwell has enough shiftiness to play in the slot.
* As I reported Tuesday, QB Donavan Tate got banged up in Tuesday’s practice. Rodriguez said Tate “got hit quite a bit” and “had a bunch of ice bags on him.” QB coach Rod Smith said Tate was working with the third-team offensive line, “which is not always the best place to be as a quarterback.” Tate was moving around better after practice Wednesday. He appeared to have a small brace on his right ankle.
* Rodriguez said it’s important for Tate to have patience. He just started playing football again after a nine-year absence. “I’ve mentioned that to him,” Rodriguez said. “You’re not just going into big-time college football for the first time in many, many years … it’s a whole new system, terminology and everything that goes along with that.”
* Rodriguez had mentioned Tuesday that the quarterbacks did a good job throwing deep balls. Smith said they connected on five in a row, with each of the top five QBs – the Tates, Brandon Dawkins, K’Hari Lane and Rhett Rodriguez – hitting one.
* Khalil Tate said three defensive backs have stood out the most to him so far: safeties Jarrius Wallace, Isaiah Hayes and Scottie Young Jr. Tate said he could tell Young, a freshman, would be good “from the first one-on-ones we did.” The Wildcats have excellent depth at all three safety spots.
* Smith spoke to the media for the first time since the start of camp. He dished on all the quarterback. We’ll post that Q&A later today.
