Arizona concluded its fifth practice of spring ball on Thursday. Here are notes and takeaways from another UA football practice at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields.Β
* Sophomore Raymond Pulido was limited at left tackle. Joseph Borjon, who started at right tackle in the Alamo Bowl, played left tackle, while third-year offensive lineman JT Hand rotated at right guard with Leif Magnuson. San Jose State transfer Ryan Stewart and Northwestern transfer Alexander Doost are also contending for the right guard spot.Β Β
* Redshirt freshman walk-on defensive back Devin Dunn intercepted a pass that was targeted for Jaden Clark down the sideline. In the same period, Chris Hunter, who's having an impressive start to spring ball, caught a deep touchdown pass from backup quarterback Brayden Dorman.Β
* Freshman receiver and early enrollee Brandon Phelps high-pointed a pass over sophomore defensive back Genesis Smith. Phelps, a Gilbert native, holds Arizona high school state records for career receiving yards and touchdowns from his career at American Leadership Academy in Gilbert.Β
* Receivers Tetairoa McMillan and redshirt freshman Jackson Holman and sophomore Malachi Riley made some impressive touchdown catches in a 7-on-7 segment inside the red zone on the 15-yard line. McMillan's catch was over Tennessee safety transfer Jack Luttrell and cornerback Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita later threaded a pass to Riley, running a seam route, for a touchdown.Β Β
* Sophomore linebacker and Chandler native Taye Brown recorded a tackle for loss for the second straight practice.Β Β
* Junior defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei batted down a pass thrown by Fifita.
* Newcomer defensive backs Kaden Wicks, a 6-2, 200-pound freshman from Oakland, California, Louisville transfer and former four-star recruit Marquis Groves-Killebrew and San Jose State transfer James Smith continued to work on conditioning during practice.Β Β Β
* Friday is McMillan's 21st birthday. To celebrate, McMillan's mother and Fifita's mother brought cupcakes for players after practice.Β Β
* In his post-practice media availability, head coach Brent Brennan said the Wildcats have about 14 scholarship spots open for the 2024 season.Β
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan talked about his first impressions of the Wildcats through two weeks of spring practices, Tetairoa McMillan's growth as a receiver, scholarship spots and transfer portal, among other topics. (Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star)
