The holiday week won’t disrupt our countdown of the 10 most valuable Arizona Wildcats of 2018 not named Khalil Tate.
The junior quarterback is in a category of his own. This list breaks down the standouts in his supporting cast.
Before we go any further, two 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. Even though freshmen played a huge role on last year’s team, it’s just too hard to predict who will have an immediate impact before training camp gets underway.
NO. 4: DE-LB KYLAN WILBORN
Ht/Wt/Yr: 6-2, 245, sophomore
Comment: Entering last season, Wilborn wasn’t among Arizona’s most heralded incoming freshmen. You could argue he wasn’t even close.
Neither 247Sports nor Rivals ranked Wilborn in the top half of the Wildcats’ 2017 class. He proved everybody wrong.
Starting every game and playing an inordinate number of snaps, Wilborn led Arizona with 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The latter led the Pac-12 and was one more than the rest of the Wildcats combined to produce.
Given Wilborn’s propensity to make impact plays – and the likelihood that he’ll be even better as a sophomore – you might wonder why he’s only No. 4 on our countdown.
Here’s the crux of the argument: If Arizona’s pass rush improves as much as hoped, Wilborn shouldn’t have to carry as big a burden. He still would be the main guy, but he no longer would be the only guy.
Developing more pass rushers is something that has to happen. The defense as a whole needs it. Wilborn needs it.
As superb as he was last season, Wilborn wore down as the year progressed. He accumulated seven tackles for losses, five sacks and three forced fumbles in the first six games, including a night for the ages against UCLA. The numbers were 2.5, 2.5 and one over the final seven games.
Much of the falloff was a result of injuries. Wilborn suffered a sprained ankle – a killer for a pass rusher – against Cal one week after the UCLA game. He missed most of the Foster Farms Bowl because of a shoulder injury (which also limited him in spring practice).
In part because veteran DeAndre’ Miller had his own injury issues – and in part because there weren’t many viable alternatives – Wilborn probably played too many snaps. He took a pounding.
It’s also reasonable to assume that Wilborn drew more attention from opposing offensive coordinators after the UCLA game, in which he became the first Wildcat to record four sacks in a game in 20 years.
Wilborn can’t continue to be the only player in the front four to deliver a consistent rush. He won’t be if Justin Belknap continues to improve, if Jalen Harris’ flashes turn into real production and if freshman Nahe Salunga doesn't live up to their advance billing. (Another defensive lineman, Adam Plant, won't play for the Wildcats.)
Heck, if only one of those things happens, it will alleviate the pressure on Wilborn to apply pressure.
Regardless of whether others step up, expectations will be sky-high for Wilborn in Year 2. That’ll be a different experience, but one Wilborn should be able to handle. Teammates regularly praise his motor. He won’t forget what got him here.
A season with double-digit sacks isn’t out of the question. That would cement Wilborn’s place among Arizona’s most valuable players.
10 MOST VALUABLE CATS (BESIDES KHALIL TATE)
