Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson (91) works with the linemen getting ready for the upcoming season in the team’s first practice this season in Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., August 9, 2024.

Arizona held its 11th practice of fall training camp under the lights at Arizona Stadium. Here are notes and observations from Tuesday night at Arizona Stadium. 


* Arizona used the "dollar" package for the first team period. The Wildcats' seven defensive backs: redshirt freshman cornerback Emmanuel Karnley, Gunner Maldonado as the high safety, sophomore "Star" Genesis Smith, safety Dalton Johnson, senior "Star" Treydan Stukes, Colgate transfer Owen Goss and Louisville transfer cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew. The three defensive linemen were Utah transfer edge rusher Chase Kennedy, redshirt freshman Dominic Lolesio in the middle and junior Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei at defensive end, with junior linebacker Jacob Manu in the second level. Kennedy had a near sack. 

* Senior kicker Tyler Loop made a 50-yard field goal from the left hashmark. Freshman kicker and punter Michael Salgado-Medina took reps at holder. Salgado-Medina and walk-on Jordan Forbes swapped reps at punter in the first period on Tuesday. Australian native and new punter Lachlan Bruce took reps in the second punt segment. Syracuse transfer defensive tackle Kevon Darton, Stanford transfer edge rusher Lance Keneley and defensive tackle Keanu Mailoto took reps at the protective wall in Arizona's punt coverage. Tennessee transfer defensive back Jack Luttrell, junior-college transfer wide receiver Jeremiah Patterson and walk-on receiver Jordan McCord returned punts. Linebacker Justin Flowe and wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig blocked a punt. Flowe has the athleticism and explosiveness to shine on special teams. 

* Uiagalelei had a sack in the second team period. Junior-college transfer defensive end Cyrus Durham recorded a sack, but the officials ruled a completed pass from quarterback Noah Fifita to running back Rayshon Luke, who ran a wheel route and bursted for roughly 50 yards to the goal line.

* Nevada transfer Joey Capra, a 6-4, 301-pound redshirt senior, dressed out and observed practice. Capra and starting center Josh Baker worked side-by-side away from Arizona's team period, with the newcomer lined up at right guard.

* Tight end Roberto Miranda bobbled a catch in traffic for a touchdown against Johnson in a 7-on-7 period. San Jose State transfer quarterback Anthony Garcia, who's fighting for the backup quarterback spot, threw an over-the-shoulder pass to Old Dominion transfer receiver Reymello Murphy for a 45-yard touchdown.

* The Wildcats had a team period focused on goal line. Potential backup quarterback Cole Tannenbaum rolled to his right and connected with Tucson native and former Canyon del Oro High School standout running back Kayden Luke. Linebacker Leviticus Su'a tackled running back Kedrick Reescano for a tackle for loss. Reescano had multiple impressive and powerful runs in probably his best practice of training camp. 

* In the next team period, Reescano trucked Maldonado and picked up a few extra yards, generating a loud cheer from the offensive sideline. The first play of the period began with Fifita lobbing a pass to a striding Rex Haynes for a huge gain. Flowe sacked Garcia on a linebacker blitz. In one of the most intense periods of practice, the offense bounced back against a defense that's had the upper hand in training camp so far. After a fiery speech by defensive coordinator, Lolesio and USC transfer defensive lineman Stanley Ta'ufo'ou combined for a sack. The next play, Maldonado intercepted Tannenbaum, before Mailoto tackled Rayshon Luke for a loss of 4 yards. Maldonado blasted Miranda on a dump-off pass in the final period. 

* McMillan, in a no-contact red jersey, took limited reps in 7-on-7 and team periods. Redshirt junior right guard Leif Magnuson returned to the sidelines in a red jersey. 


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Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports