Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ open scrimmage at Arizona Stadium earlier today:
* Safety Scottie Young Jr. did not participate in the scrimmage and hasn’t been practicing with the team for unspecified reasons. Young started nine games as a freshman last season, ranked sixth on the team with 53 tackles and recorded his first career interception in the Foster Farms Bowl. Young also was arrested last September in connection with a domestic-violence incident.
* The “starting” offensive line, from left to right: Layth Friekh, Michael Eletise, Alex Kosinski, Bryson Cain and Cody Creason. Tackle Tshiyombu Lukusa did not participate because of a sprained ankle. Center Nathan Eldridge also did not practice but emerged for the KidCats Club event afterward. Eldridge often has ice packs on his knees after practice, and it’s likely that the coaching staff is managing his reps in spring.
* The “starting” defense: Dereck Boles and PJ Johnson at defensive tackle; Justin Belknap and Lee Anderson III at edge rusher; Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II at linebacker; and Lorenzo Burns, Jace Whittaker, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jarrius Wallace and Tristan Cooper in the secondary. Anderson had a fumble recovery on a reverse that the defense blew up.
* Whittaker brought down Jamie Nunley with an open-field tackle on third-and-goal. On the next play, Khalil Tate connected with Shun Brown on a fade route for a touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone.
* The best pass completion happened on the first play from scrimmage. Tate connected with Shawn Poindexter down the left sideline for about 45 yards. Poindexter made a one-handed grab with Lorenzo Burns draped on him. Burns later broke up a similar-looking pass attempt from Tate to Poindexter.
* Backup quarterback K’Hari Lane overthrew an open Stanley Berryhill III in the end zone on a goal-to-go play. On the next play, Lane hit Nunley on a slant for a touchdown.
* Flannigan-Fowles had a tackle for loss on J.J. Taylor and nearly intercepted a Tate pass inside the 10-yard line.
* The main second defensive unit consisted of Finton Connolly and Sione Taufahema (tackles); JB Brown and Jose Ramirez (edges); Jacob Colacion and Anthony Pandy (linebackers); and Tony Wallace, Sammy Morrison, Chacho Ulloa, Troy Young and Xavier Bell (secondary). Freshman tackle Mykee Irving and veteran cornerback Malcolm Holland also rotated in with the second unit.
* Morrison appeared to suffer a shoulder injury late in the scrimmage. Earlier, he flung Devaughn Cooper to the ground with an aggressive tackle.
* Connolly tackled Branden Leon in the end zone for a safety. Connolly was one of several defensive linemen to make plays in the backfield.
* Tony Wallace was involved in the biggest collision of the day, smacking into Leon near the left sideline after Leon hauled in a swing pass.
* Kylan Wilborn and Jalen Harris, who play the “Stud” position, dressed but did not participate. Defensive end My-King Johnson played sparingly. He still looks skinny for a Pac-12 DE.
* Whittaker nearly intercepted Tate in the end zone. Tate had Tony Ellison open but didn’t put quick enough zip on the ball, enabling Whittaker to close the gap and knock the pass down.
* Sophomore tailback Nathan Tilford had a pair of nifty plays. On one, he turned a dump-off pass into a first down. On the second, he caught a swing pass to the left, cut back to the right and scored a touchdown.
* Converted safety Anthony Mariscal had the longest run of the day against a mix of second- and third-team defenders. He followed it up with a touchdown two plays later.
* The Wildcats spent about 15 minutes working on kickoff returns at the start of the scrimmage. Gary Brightwell was the first returner, followed by Taylor. Brightwell later left the scrimmage with an apparent right knee injury. He did not return.
* Josh Pollack missed a 45-yard field goal attempt but later made one from 41 yards. Lucas Havrisik made a 37-yarder but missed a 50-yarder.
* Redshirt-freshman cornerback Malik Hausman did not participate in the scrimmage. He had a sling on his right arm during the KidCats Club event.
