Arizona training camp notes, practice 4: Treydan Stukes grabs another interception, offense improves

In shells (helmets and shoulder pads), Arizona wrapped up its first week of training camp on Sunday. Here are notes and observations from Dick Tomey Practice Fields with a brief stop at Bear Down Beach. 

* Arizona nose tackle and UC Davis transfer Chubba Ma'ae, who's been in the starting lineup to start training camp, was held out on Sunday. Redshirt junior Keanu Mailoto started in his place. Arizona's other starting defensive linemen were San Jose State transfer edge rusher Tre Smith, defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson and junior defensive end Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, who stripped the ball from a running back. 

* Arizona's starting defensive secondary to begin practice featured Louisville transfer defensive back Marquis Groves-Killebrew at cornerback, with "Star" Treydan Stukes, strong safety Dalton Johnson, free safety Gunner Maldonado and cornerback Tacario Davis. Groves-Killebrew committed two passing interference calls and was immediately met with tough coaching from energetic defensive coordinator Duane Akina. For the third straight practice, Stukes came down with an interception, courtesy of junior-college transfer defensive end Cyrus Durham blocking a pass, which went off the finger tips of tight end Keyan Burnett. Stukes, who Akina called "the best-kept secret in college football," is the unofficial interceptions leader for Arizona in training camp so far. 

* Sunday was a solid day for the UA running backs. San Jose State transfer Quali Conley took a hand-off 64 yards to the left side for a touchdown. Rayshon "Speedy" Luke had a 30-yard run, and Ole Miss transfer Kedrick Reescano broke out for a long run. Luke also caught a screen pass and maneuvered through the second and third levels of the defense for a first down.

* Redshirt junior tight end Roberto Miranda has significantly improved as a pass-catching tight end in the last year. In a one-on-one drill, Miranda bobbled a pass over Tennessee transfer defensive back Jack Luttrell and hauled in the catch for a touchdown. Second-year tight end Dorian Thomas has flashed his route-running and catching ability in training camp. Between Miranda, junior Keyan Burnett, San Jose State transfer Sam Olson, Thomas and redshirt sophomore Tyler Powell, the Wildcats have a plethora of options at tight end this season. Expect to see tight ends lined up at fullback in some packages.    

* Compared to Friday's session at Arizona Stadium, the offense stepped up in a major way on Sunday, especially quarterback Noah Fifita, who threw a beautiful pass over two defenders to Malachi Riley on a corner route. Fifita was more on target on Sunday than Friday. Most of the incomplete passes on Sunday were due to drops by receivers. Fifita's accuracy and arm strength were in midseason form on Sunday.

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* Second-year reserve quarterback Brayden Dorman took command of the second-team offense on Sunday. The 6-5, 221-pound Dorman doesn't have the speed like the other UA quarterbacks, but can get outside of the pocket if he needs to and make plays on rollouts. Dorman and San Jose State transfer Anthony Garcia will likely be the two players competing for the backup role; as of Sunday, advantage Dorman. 

* Junior-college transfer slot receiver Jeremiah Patterson continues to have a strong training camp. It's likely Patterson won't start in Arizona's offense, but he's one of top route-running receivers the Wildcats have. Patterson also returned punts on Sunday during a special teams segment at Bear Down Beach. 

* Arizona is still looking for a starting punter. The first punter to kick on Sunday was freshman Michael Salgado-Medina, who didn't have the best hang time amongst the other punters, but he wasn't awful. Walk-on Jordan Forbes and former BYU transfer Cash Peterman also took reps at punter; Forbes had the better reps between the three kickers. The Wildcats are adding former Oregon punter Lachlan Bruce, who hasn't been officially added to the roster. 

* In a 7-on-7 period, defensive ends were added to drop back into pass coverage. Third-year edge rusher Sterling Lane II, who's been working with Arizona's second-team defense, covered a swing pass and recorded a tackle for loss. 

* Left guard Wendell Moe and right guard Leif Magnuson didn't practice again on Sunday. Northwestern transfer Alexander Doost started at left guard alongside left tackle Rhino Tapa'atoutai, while New Mexico transfer Shancco Matautia started at right guard next to right tackle Jonah Savaiinaea and center Josh Baker. Matautia, who earned reps at left guard, played his entire UNM career at right guard. 

* Scouts from the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals were in attendance.