Watch: 'It's like a whole new O-line' with Layth Friekh back in the fold

Wildcats staying focused in search of their first win

You know the narrative by now: Arizona is entering Week 3 of the college football season without a win for the first time in 37 years. The return of senior Layth Friekh to the offensive line should help remedy some of the Wildcats' early struggles.

The left tackle sat out the first two games of the 2018 season after the NCAA ruled against his appeal for eligibility. Friekh played in just one game as a freshman in 2014. He wanted to return for a fifth season, which the NCAA granted on the condition Friekh sat out the first two games.

On Tuesday, Friekh said the decision came in part because if the NCAA granted him eligibility, "they would have had 100 more people to do it for."

The 6-foot-5, 297-pound tackle returns to a befuddled Arizona offense that's suffered through growing pains with new coach Kevin Sumlin and coordinator Noel Mazzone. 

Four players met with media Tuesday afternoon as the Wildcats turned their attention to Southern Utah.

OL Layth Friekh

What should you expect when senior Layth Friekh rejoins Arizona this week? “It’s like a whole new O-line now” pic.twitter.com/N9IazXwhXs

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 12, 2018

Layth Friekh offers some analysis after watching freshman Donovan Laie on the O-line, and talks about his experience watching the Wildcats from home pic.twitter.com/7N2umpEHYi

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 12, 2018

Layth Friekh returns to the Wildcats’ offensive line this week after sitting out two games for eligibility. He called it “painful” having to watch from home pic.twitter.com/uzX0EWmZMQ

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

WR Shawn Poindexter

Wildcats receiver Shawn Poindexter says there’s no confidence lost after the defeat at Houston. “We can turn this around.” pic.twitter.com/JLFpYt90pB

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

Shawn Poindexter says the Wildcats should be scoring between 40-50 points. Arizona scored just 18 in 100 plays from scrimmage at Houston pic.twitter.com/hMXWqzHYCo

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

But who's really better at basketball?

Safe to say Layth saw his basketball matchups with Shawn Poindexter at Centennial in a different light. “I beat him every time” pic.twitter.com/UiCDecIuTI

— Dominic Baciocco (@DominicBaciocco) September 11, 2018

DL Abraham Maiava

D-lineman Abraham Maiava talks about his journey from American Samoa to the UA. His brother, Lene, played O-line for the Wildcats from 2012-15 pic.twitter.com/QO5CI7x7L6

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

Abraham Maiava, who played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, made three tackles in his UA debut at Houston. “It was nerve-wracking. To be honest I was really nervous.” pic.twitter.com/yyriEE7CCv

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

When he’s not working toward a scholarship on the field, Arizona walk-on DL Abraham Maiava is putting in hours at Tucson International pic.twitter.com/yltbrWkFY7

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 11, 2018

LS Nick Reinhardt

Nick Reinhardt almost went to ASU before former Arizona assistant Charlie Ragle swayed him to Tucson. Here’s how Reinhardt got into long-snapping pic.twitter.com/qhgsIg9tJS

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 12, 2018