The Arizona Wildcats are in the midst of their first losing season under Rich Rodriguez.
Tailback Nick Wilson is suffering through a second straight lost year.
Wilson, who has been out since Oct. 15 because of a knee injury, is expected to miss the rest of the season, Rodriguez said Monday.
“I don’t see any foreseeable comeback for Nick,” Rodriguez said.
Wilson has struggled to follow up on his breakout freshman season because of injuries.
Wilson rushed for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games in 2014. The following year he missed most of the second half of the season, and his rushing numbers fell to 736 yards and eight scores.
Wilson started this season with back-to-back 100-yard performances. But he sprained an ankle against Hawaii and missed two of the next three games. He started in between against UCLA but couldn’t last the first half.
Wilson returned two weeks later against USC but again couldn’t survive the first half, this time suffering the knee injury that would shelve him the rest of the season. He finished with 320 yards and three TDs. His per-carry average has been virtually the same each season: 5.8, 5.5 and 5.8 yards.
Running backs coach Calvin Magee has tried to keep Wilson involved by having him serve as a pseudo-assistant coach in practice.
“It’s frustrating,” Magee said. “I hurt for him because he’s truly banged up. It’s killing him. He wanted to be a leader this year. He wanted to be a guy that we can count on. It didn’t happen. Injuries are part of the game.”
Rodriguez also confirmed that freshman tailback J.J. Taylor, who suffered a broken ankle against Washington on Sept. 24, will miss the final three games.
Senior Samajie Grant, who moved from receiver to tailback during Arizona’s bye week, will continue to start. Grant has 141 yards on 27 carries in two games, including a 50-yard run against Washington State on Saturday.
“He’s playing pretty well for a guy that’s only been there two weeks,” Rodriguez said. “He’s blocking well when has to block. He’s made some good runs. We’ve got to do a better job up front getting him some creases.
“He’s a competitive guy. He’s been playing really hard. I’m glad he’s there.”
‘Did that really happen?’
Quarterback Anu Solomon saw his most extensive action since the opener during Arizona’s 69-7 loss at Washington State. The redshirt junior completed 8 of 12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Solomon also fumbled and attempted two laterals that didn’t produce positive gains.
“He made some plays. And then he had some moments where you just scratch your head,” Rodriguez said. “It’s like, did that really happen?”
Tight end Trevor Wood was the recipient of one of those laterals.
“We’ve done it a couple times in practice. I never thought it would happen in a game,” Wood said. “I just kind of saw the ball coming to me in the air and I was like, ‘Well, I guess I gotta catch it.’ That’s just Anu.”
Rodriguez said he would continue to use both Solomon and Brandon Dawkins. They again are listed as co-starters for Saturday’s game against No. 15 Colorado. Dawkins has started the past two weeks.
“There’s no set thing,” Rodriguez said. “We’ll see how they practice this week. But we’ve got to get productive play out of it.”
Dawkins exited the Washington State game late in the second quarter after a 28-yard rush.
He appeared to point to his right hip or side as the area experiencing discomfort.
Extra points
- Redshirt-freshman receiver Cedric Peterson is out for the year because of a broken foot, Rodriguez said. Peterson’s absence led to Cam Denson starting in his place against Washington State. Peterson had entered the starting lineup the previous week after Grant moved to running back.
- Linebacker DeAndre’ Miller reinjured his sprained ankle three plays into the Washington State game and did not return. Arizona already was without Cody Ippolito (knee) and Michael Barton (knee) at linebacker. Safety Tellas Jones started at the “Stud” LB position.
- Rodriguez said the second-quarter play involving receiver Trey Griffey that got overturned should have been ruled a catch. “I thought he had control of the ball, he took a couple steps with it and the ground caused it to come out,” Rodriguez said. The original call was a 28-yard reception. It became an incomplete pass.
- Rodriguez said the punters will be evaluated during the week. Matt Aragon replaced Josh Pollack in the second half after Pollack struggled.
- The start time and TV assignment for Arizona’s Nov. 19 game against Oregon State won’t be announced until this weekend. The announcement could come as early as Friday or as late as Sunday.
