It happened during a walk-through session between practices. Something clicked for Jayden de Laura.
Arizona’s new starting quarterback “struggled” Thursday, Wildcats coach Jedd Fisch conceded. De Laura has been much better since — more decisive, more accurate, more productive.
That upward trend continued Saturday during a scrimmage at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats scored a pair of touchdowns with de Laura behind center, including a 4-yard pass from the Washington State transfer to freshman receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
“There were some things that he just needed to see,” Fisch said. “He just needed a rhythm. He’s got a nice little confidence about himself that when he feels that he knows something, he’s going to execute it really well.
“Sometimes when you have a new play coming in or a couple new things ... he was maybe overthinking here or there. But Jayden is getting better every day. I just tell him, ‘Trust the process.’ If you do that, good things will come your way.”
Like the veteran quarterbacks who preceded him — Will Plummer, Gunner Cruz and Jordan McCloud — de Laura faced a learning curve when he came to Arizona. Although he’s utilizing more shotgun now, Fisch’s pro-style system bears little resemblance to the run-and-shoot scheme de Laura had been operating at WSU. In the run-and-shoot, de Laura worked exclusively out of the shotgun. The Cougars rarely, if ever, deployed a tight end. The terminology was different as well.
Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura talks to running back DJ Williams during practice last week. The Washington State transfer is learning a pro-style offense after playing in an "Air Raid"-style system in Pullman.
De Laura acknowledged that he didn’t have the playbook down in spring, and he still seemed hesitant at times early in training camp. He had his best practice Friday, and that confidence carried over into Saturday.
The scrimmage setting also allowed de Laura and fellow quarterbacks McCloud and Noah Fifita to utilize their entire skill sets. Sometimes a traditional practice format suppresses that, especially for dual-threat QBs.
“Guys that have the skill sets of a Jayden that can run and throw, guys that are able to be slithery in the pocket like a Noah, even Jordan to a degree, sometimes when you’re sitting back in the pocket and you’re not getting tackled in practice, it doesn’t look like you’re making some of the plays that you really would end up making,” Fisch said. “Those are really the gamers, the guys that can make plays in games (whereas) in practice they’re sitting back there and not really doing their natural (thing).
“The other part of it is, there are guys that can turn it up a notch when the lights are on.”
De Laura has ample game experience. He appeared in 16 games at WSU, throwing for 3,684 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Precocious freshmen
Fisch and his staff knew they needed more playmakers after ranking last in the Pac-12 in scoring last season, and they appear to have acquired several in the 2022 class.
All five touchdowns in the scrimmage were scored by freshmen. The first came on a nifty, 9-yard cutback run by tailback Rayshon Luke (who had gained 21 yards on a screen pass on the previous play). The second was the aforementioned 4-yard back-shoulder fade from de Laura to McMillan. The third was the longest play of the day — an 83-yard strike from Fifita to AJ Jones. TD No. 4 came on a 15-yard run by Jonah Coleman that saw him bounce off a tackler. Walk-on receiver Gavin Smith scored the final touchdown on a 4-yard pass from McCloud.
Multiple coaches and veteran players have remarked that this year’s crop of freshmen — a group ranked in the top 25 nationally — picks things up fast. That comes as no surprise to Fisch.
“It’s the programs you come from,” Fisch said. “What we really tried to do, and we talked about this a lot during that recruiting cycle, was find players from winning programs.
“If you’re getting players from those programs, they do have that ability and they are quick learners. It has sped up their process.”
The playmaking by freshmen wasn’t limited to the offense. Edge rusher Russell Davis II continued his strong camp with a pair of QB pressures that easily could have been ruled sacks. Cornerback Ephesians Prysock forced a pair of incompletions on passes intended for Jones and Anthony Simpson.
With Jeremy Mercier out, Davis worked with the second unit at the “Cat” edge-rusher spot. He even got some reps with the ones while starter Hunter Echols was rested.
The 6-3 Davis, who had 31 sacks over his final two seasons at Hamilton High School in Chandler, is listed at 210 pounds. He needs more bulk. But he’s proving to be too effective to keep off the field.
“He’s got a bright future,” defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen said. “He’s gonna be a guy that we’re gonna hear about for the next three years. He still has so much learning (to do), fundamentals and just understanding the overall game. But he’s a kid, maybe in the middle of the year, we’re going to count on to rush the passer for us.”
Injury updates
Fisch said he expects defensive starters Kyon Barrs (foot) and Treydan Stukes (lower body) to be ready for the Sept. 3 opener at San Diego State.
Barrs’ snaps are being limited as he recovers from surgery; he did not participate in the scrimmage. Stukes has been out since Monday.
“Right now I feel pretty confident that Stukes and Barrs are right on schedule to be able to play Sept. 3,” Fisch said. “How long it takes between now and Sept. 3 will be a day-to-day situation.”
Aside from tailback Jalen John, who’s out indefinitely, Fisch said that anyone who “was dinged up or didn’t fully practice today was just a day-to-day type thing. ... I expect most guys back Monday. Not Stukes. Stukes will be back ... when he feels right. But before the season, we should be good to go.”
Extra points
The new turf at Arizona Stadium — the most visible of many upgrades to the football facilities — looked vibrant during its unofficial debut. “I love it. It’s beautiful,” Fisch said. “We’re hoping that these changes will continue to give our players a new feel ... and start 2022 brand new. That’s our goal.”
Kevon Garcia, Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Echols, Paris Shand and Jason Harris were among the players who recorded or shared sacks during the scrimmage. DJ Warnell and Isaiah Ward notched tackles for losses.
Transfer D.J. Williams was the first tailback in the rotation and continued to display good power and pad level.
The offense tried the same play that produced a long touchdown Friday – a post route to Jacob Cowing where he’s matched up against linebacker Jerry Roberts and safety Jaxen Turner. This time, Roberts got his arms up at the last moment to disrupt the pass – a great sign as he continues his recovery from a broken leg. Cowing is “gonna be one of the top receivers in the conference,” Nansen said. “For Jerry to do what he did there, that was pretty impressive.”
On special teams, Tyler Loop made 3 of 4 field-goal attempts, with his lone miss coming from 52 yards. James Bohls forced a fumble on a kickoff return.
Other players who did not participate included offensive lineman Anthony Patt, defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea and linebacker Jacob Manu. With Savea and Barrs out, the starting defensive tackles were Shand and Dion Wilson Jr.
Freshman defensive tackle Jacob Kongaika got banged up during the first half of the scrimmage and sat out the second half.
Safety Christian Young got a scare late in the scrimmage when he knocked knees with McMillan. After being tended to by trainers, Young was able to walk off the field and was deemed “fine” by Nansen.
Cornerback Isaiah Mays, who’s been out all week, practiced with a red, no-contact jersey.
The Wildcats return to the practice field Sunday evening. They have the day off Monday. Arizona’s second scrimmage is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
