The 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats football players of 2017: No. 4

It’s the final four!

Just four entries remain in our countdown of the 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats of 2017. We’ll wrap up the series on Tuesday, July 25 – taking you right into Pac-12 Media Days.

Before we proceed, some quick reminders:

“Most valuable” does not necessarily mean “best.” Rather, we’re defining it as the contributions and traits that most influence winning football. They include talent, leadership and projected role and production.

Newcomers were not eligible for the list. Although many might become major contributors this year, especially on defense, their roles are just too difficult to predict in June.

NO. 4: OG JACOB ALSADEK

Ht/Wt/Yr: 6-7, 315, redshirt senior

Comment: If this were a ranking of Arizona’s best leaders, Alsadek would sit atop the list.

The veteran offensive lineman stood tall during the program’s lowest, bleakest moments last year – and we’re not just saying that because he’s 6-foot-7. When someone needed to represent the offensive line after the sudden, shocking death of center Zach Hemmila, Alsadek stepped up. His composure under the circumstances was remarkable.

“He would always smile,” Alsadek said, maybe 24 hours after Hemmila was found dead. “When I’m at practice, I’m very serious. I’m really into everything. I’m really hard on myself. He would always look at me and tell me to smile. That’s something I will never forget from him.”

You couldn’t help but respect Alsadek after that interview, which had to be incredibly difficult for him. (Just check out the video: Alsadek’s voice cracks, he sniffles, he wipes away tears, he smiles, he laughs – the full range of human emotions.)

Alsadek remains the spokesman for the offensive line – and maybe the entire team. He’s one of two UA representatives at Pac-12 Media Days, and rumor has it that he was giddy about the assignment.

Alsadek’s enthusiasm and work ethic make him a role model for every Wildcat. Coach Rich Rodriguez lauded Alsadek’s character in spring, essentially portraying him as a self-made player.

“Jacob is not a big rah-rah guy, but he’s a natural leader just by the way he works,” Rodriguez said. “There’s nobody in our program that it’s more important to than Jacob Alsadek. It’s been that way since the day he walked on campus.”

There’s a difference between “loving football and liking football,” Rodriguez continued. “It’s a hard sport, so you better love it. Jacob is a great example. Here’s a guy that loves being a football player.”

He happens to be a good one. Alsadek and left tackle Layth Friekh were Arizona’s most consistent offensive linemen last season. Alsadek started 10 games at right guard, bringing his career total to 33. Arizona wouldn’t have led the Pac-12 in rushing or dominated Arizona State without him.

NFLDraftScout.com ranks Alsadek as the No. 22 guard for 2018, a sign that he’s on the league’s radar. He told the Star earlier in the offseason that he’s been working out regularly with former UA standout Glenn Parker, a sign that Alsadek remains motivated to elevate his game another notch or several.

As posited in the comment section for center Nathan Eldridge, our No. 6-ranked MVP candidate, the offensive line should be one of the Wildcats’ primary strengths. If Alsadek is the best player on what could be the team’s best unit, that makes him, indisputably, one of the most valuable players on the team overall.

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