Arizona Wildcats spring football is almost here. Kevin Sumlin’s first full practice as UA coach is set to begin at 5:40 p.m. Monday.
We’ve been previewing spring ball, position by position, since last week. The series concludes today with two more posts: safeties and special teams.
SAFETIES
Who’s here: Scottie Young Jr. (5-11, 195, SO), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6-2, 205, SR), Jarrius Wallace (6-1, 180, RS SO), Tristan Cooper (6-1, 188, JR), Isaiah Hayes (6-0, 191, RS SO), Troy Young (6-0, 205, SO), Chacho Ulloa (5-11, 192, JR), Xavier Bell (6-2, 192, RS FR), Rhedi Short (6-0, 184, RS FR), Anthony Mariscal (5-10, 197, RS JR)
Who’s coming: Dayven Coleman (6-2, 210, FR), Christian Young (6-2, 195, FR)
The big question: Who will replace Dane Cruikshank, and will that be the only change among the safeties?
OK, that’s really two questions. But they’re related. Honest.
Safety is easily Arizona’s deepest position. The Wildcats have started three of them in Marcel Yates’ defense, and they list 10 scholarship safeties on their online roster. Add two incoming freshmen, and you’re looking at a position that can go four-deep. As such, Arizona has a lot of options.
Still, Cruikshank will be challenging to replace. He proved to be a perfect fit at the “Spur” position, compiling 75 tackles, 5.5 stops for losses, five pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble. He was Arizona’s best defensive player in the season-ending Foster Farms Bowl, and he’s almost certain to be drafted after a stellar scouting combine.
The logical successor is Cooper, who was Cruikshank’s primary backup last season after starting for most of 2016. Cooper is a vicious hitter who isn’t as adept as Cruikshank in coverage.
Another possibility is Troy Young, a special-teams regular as a freshman whose lone start was cut short by a targeting disqualification. Troy Young earned almost as much praise as fellow newcomer Scottie Young Jr. (no relation) during training camp.
Scottie Young ended up starting at free safety. He recorded 53 tackles in 10 games and made his first career interception in the Foster Farms Bowl. Young seems like a lock to start, assuming he avoids any further off-the-field issues.
You would think Flannigan-Fowles also belongs in that sure-thing category, but that might not be the case. Although he finished with 81 tackles, tied for third most on the team, Flannigan-Fowles struggled at times after a strong start. He often had trouble locating the ball, getting himself twisted and turned out of position. He was involved in five takeaways (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries), but none in the final seven games.
Additionally, with almost an entirely new coaching staff, most positions are going to be up for grabs – or at least subject to thorough evaluation. Flannigan-Fowles has been an excellent representative of UA football, but he’s going to have to earn his starting spot at “Bandit.”
Where Wallace and Hayes fit into this mix is unclear. Wallace played well in spot duty last season, including a nine-tackle, one-interception performance against Cal. That was the game in which Wallace replaced the ejected Troy Young, who was starting for an injured Scottie Young.
(If you think that’s confusing, it’s possible that Arizona could start Scottie, Troy and incoming freshman Christian Young at the three safety spots at some point. Forever Young!)
Hayes entered 2017 as the incumbent at free safety but suffered a shoulder injury and ended up redshirting. If healthy, he might be one of Arizona’s five best defensive backs. If Yates and his staff see it that way, they could shuffle things around like last year, when Lorenzo Burns entered the lineup at cornerback and Cruikshank shifted from corner to Spur.
Bell and Short remain promising prospects, and Christian Young and Coleman are two of Arizona’s highest-ranked recruits in the class of 2018. I previously raised the possibility of Coleman moving to linebacker, where the depth isn’t as great.
Whether Coleman goes or stays, Yates and new safeties coach John Rushing will have a lot to sort out. It’s a good problem to have.
ARIZONA SPRING PREVIEW SERIES
