Arizona continued its spring football schedule at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields and Davis Indoor Sports Center on Thursday.Β
The Wildcats moved up their scheduled practice time by 35 minutes in order for the players to watch the second half of the UA men's basketball team's loss to Clemson in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.Β
Here are notes and takeaways from Day 2 of spring ball:
* Arizona added former San Jose State defensive back James Smith to the roster. The 6-1, 190-pound Smith is a Los Angeles native who played at Southern California powerhouse St. John Bosco High School, before beginning his college career at Washington in 2020. The redshirt junior dressed out for practice, but remained on the sidelines and worked out with freshman defensive back Kaden Wicks, a 6-2, 200-pound cornerback from Oakland, California who played preps ball at IMG Academy in Florida.
* Arizona mixed up its defensive lineup in the first team period. The second defensive line group from Tuesday, which had redshirt sophomore edge rusher Sterling Lane II, UC Davis transfer Chubba Ma'ae, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson and San Jose State transfer Tre Smith, was paired up with linebackers Jacob Manu and Taye Brown, cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, safeties Gunner Maldonado and Dalton Johnson and nickel back Treydan Stukes.
* Manu intercepted Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita in a 7-on-7 period. Celestine batted a pass away a few plays later.
* Backup sophomore quarterback Brayden Dorman threaded a pass through two defenders towards the left sideline and completed it to Jaden Clark.
* Tight end Keyan Burnett high-pointed a ball near the pylon for a touchdown during a 7-on-7 period. Walk-on quarterback Cole Tannenbaum threw the 48-yard pass to Burnett. Redshirt sophomore Chris Hunter, a New Orleans native, torqued his body for an impressive catch towards the end of practice.Β
* UA great and former ATF agent Jay Dobyns attended Arizona's practice.Β
Arizona kicked off the Brent Brennan era on Tuesday with the start of spring practices. Brennan and cornerback Tacario Davis spoke to reporters after practice. (Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star)
