PASADENA, Calif. — Two years ago, Nick Wilson was a standout freshman. He rushed for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns, carried the ball 236 times and was a workhorse for Arizona’s Pac-12 South-winning team.
Wilson limped off the field at the end of the first quarter against UCLA on Saturday, threw his helmet to the ground and jumped onto the training table for which he’s become all too familiar.
It’s not 2014 anymore.
Last season, after an impressive five-game stretch to open the season — 605 yards, six touchdowns — Wilson was injured and missed the entire second half of a game against Oregon State.
Since, Wilson has missed five of 12 possible games. In two of those — both to start this season — Wilson rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
In the four others, he rushed for 61 yards on 26 carries with zero touchdowns.
Consider:
Against Washington State in 2015, Wilson carried six times for eight yards before leaving in the first quarter.
He returned three weeks later against Utah, but had just six carries for 27 yards before leaving in the third quarter.
Wilson dressed for last year’s rivalry game against Arizona State but received just two carries, gaining three yards.
Wilson was gone by the second quarter Saturday after gaining 16 yards on six carries.
It’s unclear if Wilson will be able to play at Utah this week. If he is unable to go, Arizona showed a glimpse Saturday of what it might do.
The Wildcats gave converted receiver Tyrell Johnson 16 carries against UCLA and he performed solidly, collecting 77 yards on 16 carries. The presumed “next man up” at running back, redshirt junior Zach Green, barely played against the Bruins, toting the ball five times for 30 yards.
Arizona’s best running backs both play the quarterback position. Brandon Dawkins, who hurt his ribs and missed the second half against UCLA, leads all Pac-12 quarterbacks in rushing, and true freshman Khalil Tate showed flashes in amassing 79 yards on 15 carries.
An accomplishment
Saturday was a strange night for Arizona, to be certain, but it wasn’t all bad.
UA receiver Samajie Grant had a particularly special moment when he caught a Dawkins pass for a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
It was his only catch of the game, but it was particularly memorable.
Grant grew up in nearby Compton, and Saturday’s catch marked his first-ever college touchdown in Los Angeles. As a senior, it was his last possible chance, too.
Before Saturday, Grant had combined for 10 catches and 66 yards in two games at the Los Angeles Coliseum and one at the Rose Bowl.
More injuries
Arizona went into Saturday’s game already missing quarterback Anu Solomon, linebacker DeAndre’ Miller, defensive lineman Parker Zellers, receiver Shawn Poindexter, fullback Jamardre Cobb and running back J.J. Taylor.
Somehow, Arizona left with even more — offensive lineman Jacob Alsadek left during the second half with an apparent arm injury and was replaced by Alex Kosinski; right tackle Gerhard de Beer left with an apparently left foot injury and missed the rest of the game. He was replaced by Cody Creason.
Extra points
- UA safety Tellas Jones returned to the starting lineup after missing the last three games with injury. He finished with four tackles.
- UA linebacker Paul Magloire didn’t play against UCLA, but UA coach Rich Rodriguez said he wasn’t sure if he was injured or not.
- Freshman Isaiah Hayes started ahead of Jarvis McCall at free safety. It was his first career start.
- Offensive lineman Christian Boettcher started ahead of Freddie Tagaloa at left guard. It’s unclear why.
