Arizona held its first scrimmage of training camp on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.ย
Here are pertinent notes and observations from the Wildcats' 135-play scrimmage on Saturday:ย
* Quarterback Jayden de Laura completed 13 of 17 passes (76%). Last season, de Laura had a 62.5% completion rate.ย
* Arizonaโs first defensive unit in Saturdayโs scrimmage had Michigan transfer defensive endย Taylorย Upshaw, Georgia transfer defensive tackleย Billย Norton, UCLA transfer defensive tackleย Tylerย Manoa, Cal transfer edge rusherย Orinย Patu, linebackersย Jacobย Manuย and Oregon transferย Justinย Floweย and cornerbackย Ephesiansย Prysock, nickel backย Treydanย Stukes, strong safetyย Gunnerย Maldonado, free safetyย Isaiahย Taylorย and cornerbackย Tacarioย Davis.
* On a deep ball, Stukes had an acrobatic pass breakup against wide receiver Jacob Cowing.ย
* UA defensive coordinatorย Johnnyย Nansenย said the Wildcats are expected to rotate more defensive linemen this season. On Saturday, the Wildcats cycled between the aforementioned defensive line, along with defensive endย Isaiah Ward,ย junior-college transfer defensive tackleย Keanu Mailoto,ย sophomore defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, defensive tackleย Jacob Kongaika,ย defensive tackleย Tiaoalii Saveaย and edge rushersย Russellย Davisย II, Sterlingย Laneย IIย andย Jeremyย Mercier.
* Patu and Mercier combined for a sack. Norton and Stukes also combined for a TFL. Ward also had a TFL in the second half. Upshaw recorded a sack in the first half of the scrimmage.ย
* Saturday was a productive day scrimmage for Arizonaโs running backs. Sophomoreย Jonahย Colemanย had 46 yards and a touchdown in one possession, and redshirt freshmanย Rayshon โSpeedyโ Lukeย had a 69-yard run along with a 19-yard dump-off touchdown from quarterback Noah Fifita.ย Senior Michael Wileyย also had a 37-yard touchdown run.ย
* Left tackleย Jordan Morganย participated in the first half of Arizonaโs scrimmage, but continued his knee recovery on the sideline during the second half.
* Sophomore tight endย Keyan Burnettย caught two touchdown passes, including a 47-yarder from de Laura between the hashmarks.
* Freshman wide receiver Jackson Holman bulldozed three defenders in two different plays.ย
* Redshirt freshman cornerbackย Jai-Ayviauynnย Celestine, who is among the top ascending defensive backs in camp, intercepted Fifita.ย
* Celestine, Wiley and junior-college transfer cornerback Charles Yates Jr.ย were among the players returning kickoffs.ย
* Kicker Tyler Loopย made a 42-yard field goal. Former BYU kicker Cash Peterman made a 47-yarder and 22-yarder on Saturday.ย
* Former Arizona safety Adam Hall, who is now an assistant football coach at Tucson High, was in attendance for Saturday's scrimmage.
