Arizona coaching staff to 'start making some determinations' on position battles, depth chart

Through the first two weeks of training camp, the Arizona Wildcats have mostly endured the brightness of the sun, but changed things up and turned on the bright lights of Arizona Stadium for their eighth practice of fall training camp Friday night.

The change of scenery appeared to affect some of Arizona’s wide receivers, who dropped several routine catches, including a wide-open AJ Jones, who had a walk-in touchdown but dropped the ball.

“They’re bright, they really are,” said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. “I saw some of our receivers struggle with that.”

For Jones, a redshirt sophomore vying to crack Arizona’s receiving rotation, dropping routine passes doesn’t help impress coaches, but Jones bounced back on Sunday after the team took the day off on Saturday. Jones had an impressive over-the-shoulder grab for a first-down conversion during a team period Sunday.

As Arizona progresses through training camp, those bounce-back opportunities will be few and far between. In the first two weeks of training camp, “everybody is getting some opportunity, because you want to give everybody a chance,” said Brennan.

“This early in camp, we’re just trying to get a lot of people reps and (give) guys a chance to play,” said the first-year Arizona head coach. “The deeper you get into camp, you start to make decisions on who gets to run out with the first team. ... But over the course of those two weeks, you have a lot of film, a lot of reps and a lot of stuff to evaluate, and you start making some determinations.

“Sometimes it’s daily. Sometimes this guy moves up, then the next day, you move him down and somebody else up. You’re just trying to create a little bit of pressure there, so those battles have the necessary intensity to try and elevate both people involved.”

Due to several injuries at key positions, including wide receiver and offensive line, along with a plethora of newcomers and rising returners, Arizona is still determining the depth chart. Determining the Wildcats’ two-deep on the depth chart is “situation by situation,” said Brennan.

“Some of those things are more clearly defined than others. Every one of those battles are at their own pace,” Brennan said. “I don’t really have a hardline for those decisions. But some of those reps will start to taper, and that will be conversations we’ll have with players as we go. That’s the reality of football. We have to get — what we think — is the best group out there to play the best football we can. Those people need reps and need the most practice opportunities we can provide.”

Among the most notable battles in training camp is the backup quarterback role to starter Noah Fifita. Through the first nine practices of training camp, Cole Tannenbaum, a 6-4, 201-pound walk-on from Los Angeles, and Brayden Dorman, a 6-5, 221-pound former four-star recruit from Colorado, have emerged as candidates to understudy Fifita, with San Jose State transfer Anthony Garcia and Northern Arizona transfer Adam Damante also in the mix. Some days Tannenbaum looks like QB2; other times, it’s Dorman or Garcia.

Tannenbaum has played the last two seasons at Arizona. His only game appearance at the UA was in the Territorial Cup game against Arizona State in Tempe last season.

“Cole has done a really nice job. That’s cool to see. It started in the spring and has continued to now,” Brennan said.

Brennan noted the backup quarterback battle is “definitely ongoing.”

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“To me, there’s nothing clear at that spot yet, that second (quarterback) spot,” Brennan said. “They’ve all done some good things at different times.”

Over the “next three days,” the Wildcats coaching staff will “start making determinations about how those reps with the twos are starting to change.”

With Week 3 of fall training camp on the horizon, Arizona’s depth chart could become clearer.

T-Mac (leg) increases participation

Arizona star receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who has been limited to start training camp due to rehabbing a left leg injury he suffered in April, elevated his participation in training camp on Sunday and appears close to fully returning to the Wildcats.

McMillan donned the no-contact red jersey (also worn by quarterbacks) and participated in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods; he also returned punts, along with junior-college transfer Jeremiah Patterson and running back Rayshon Luke. McMillan caught his first three targets from Fifita, his longtime teammate, but dropped a pass on a hook route. McMillan has five drops in his Arizona career, according to Pro Football focus.

One of McMillan’s catches on Sunday was a seam route with star cornerback Tacario Davis in coverage. McMillan maneuvered around the field and cut through Arizona’s defense without struggle. In earlier periods during Arizona’s practice on Sunday, McMillan ran routes and caught passes thrown by strength and conditioning coach Cullen Carroll, who’s been working with McMillan during every practice. McMillan’s progress in training camp bodes well for his returning leading up to the season opener against New Mexico on Aug. 31.

“It felt good having him back out there. Happy for him,” said Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett, who’s been teammates with McMillan since their Servite High School days in Anaheim, California. “Whenever you have a guy like him, he’s an X-factor. Guys have to account for him. If you don’t, it’s going to be an issue. Having him is a benefit to our offense.”

Added Arizona tight end Roberto Miranda: “We’re just glad he’s healthy and doing his thing again.”

Extra points

• Brennan said the Wildcats won’t begin game preparation for the season opener against New Mexico until about 10 days from kickoff.
• Arizona added former Nevada offensive lineman Joey Capra on Sunday. The 6-4, 301-pound Capra attended the Wildcats’ practice on Sunday and observed drills in a T-shirt and shorts. Capra, an Auburn, California, native, played three seasons (2019-21) at San Diego State before playing the last two seasons at Nevada. Capra started 13 games in two seasons at guard for the Wolfpack. The Wildcats need depth on the offensive line, especially after losing potential starting right guard Leif Magnuson, who hasn’t practiced in over a week due to an undisclosed injury.
• The first week of NFL preseason featured several ex-Wildcats. Former UA running back and Washington Commanders rookie running back Michael Wiley had a team-high 34 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries in a 20-17 loss to the New York Jets. Tight end Tanner McLachlan had two targets and one reception for 23 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay. Former UA left tackle Jordan Morgan was anointed starting right guard for the Green Bay Packers, but has been held out with a shoulder injury. Running back Gary Brightwell, who recently played for the New York Giants, had five rushes for 8 yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Former UA defensive back Dane Cruikshank had three tackles and a pass deflection in the Atlanta Falcons' loss to the Miami Dolphins. 
• The Associated Press Top 25 will be released Monday morning at around 9 a.m. Tucson time. The Wildcats are expected to be ranked heading into the season for the first time since 2015, when the UA was No. 22. Arizona is ranked No. 21 in the preseason Coaches Poll.