Arizona kicked off its first training camp under new head Brent Brennan on Wednesday at Dick Tomey Practice Fields, which had new signage.
Arizona's "redline" mantra is emblazoned on the wall adjacent to 6th street, with a "the standard for everything we do" caption underneath redline. Additionally, the wall also has "effort," two red "100" emojis, "execution," "prove it," "accountability," and "own it, fix it." To the right of the Tomey mural at Arizona's practice field is a large Big 12 logo.
Besides updates to Arizona's practice dojo, here are some other notes and observations from the start of UA fall camp:
* Several players were sidelined, including star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who was dressed out but didn't participate in drills or any team periods. McMillan, who suffered a left leg injury in the spring, was expected to be limited at the start of training camp. McMillan worked with strength and conditioning coach Cullen Carroll on the sidelines and did various leg workouts. Other players in full gear but didn't participate include cornerback Tacario Davis, "Star" defensive back Treydan Stukes, Syracuse transfer defensive lineman Kevon Darton, left guard Wendell Moe, offensive lineman JT Hand and offensive tackle Tylen Gonzalez.
* With Stukes and Davis out, Arizona's starting defensive secondary featured Louisville transfer Marquis Groves-Killebrew, senior safety Gunner Maldonado, redshirt junior safety Dalton Johnson, sophomore "Star" Genesis Smith and redshirt freshman Emmanuel Karnley. Groves-Killebrew, a 6-0, 185-pound Atlanta native, had a promising start with multiple pass breakups. Miami transfer cornerback Demetrius Freeney was also mixed in with Arizona's secondary. Colgate transfer Owen Goss was implemented in Arizona's secondary at "Star," while Smith moved back to free safety. Smith intercepted quarterback Noah Fifita at the goal line, albeit junior-college transfer wide receiver Jeremiah Patterson wasn't looking at the pass.
* With McMillan out, Arizona's starting receiver trio was 6-4, 210-pound redshirt sophomore AJ Jones, sophomore Malaci Riley and returning starter Montana Lemonious-Craig. In a 7-on-7 period, Jones made a nifty one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
* Junior tight end Keyan Burnett made an impressive one-handed catch in the back of the end zone, but was ruled out of bounds. Now in his third season with the program, with longtime teammate in Fifita as the starting quarterback, and two-year starter Tanner McLachlan in the NFL, Burnett could be in for a breakout year.
* Every Arizona quarterback had green stickers on the back of their helmets, signifying the coach-to-player communication helmets, a newly-added element to college football, which has been in the NFL for three decades.
* Arizona left tackle Raymond Pulido, who was expected to succeed Green Bay Packers rookie Jordan Morgan, is no longer with the Wildcats for undisclosed reasons. Redshirt freshman Rhino Tapa'atoutai started at left tackle, alongside left guard and Northwestern transfer Alexander Doost, center Josh Baker, right guard Leif Magnuson and right tackle Jonah Savaiinaea. Arizona's second offensive line unit had Oregon transfer Michael Wooten at left tackle, left guard Shancco Matautia, San Jose State transfer Ryan Stewart at center, walk-on right guard Zarius Wells and freshman right tackle Matthew Lado.
* Arizona's starting defensive line featured San Jose State transfer Tre Smith and Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei as the edge rushers, with UC Davis transfer Chubba Ma'ae and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Johnson. The second unit had redshirt freshman Dominic Lolesio, redshirt freshman Julian Savaiinaea, redshirt junior Keanu Mailoto and redshirt sophomore Sterling Lane II.
* Arizona added eighth-year linebacker Jared Small, who played six seasons at LSU before a one-year stint at Tulane, and former Oregon punter Lachlan Bruce, a Geelong, Australia native. Punter is a position of need and the Wildcats added one from the Aussie pipeline that's produced several Division I and NFL punters.
