The East-West Shrine Bowl announced its preseason 1,000-player watch list, which features six Arizona Wildcats.Β
Arizona senior nickel back Treydan Stukes, senior safety Gunner Maldonado, redshirt junior linebacker Justin Flowe, redshirt senior running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, redshirt junior Tre Smith and senior kicker Tyler Loop were the UA selections for the East-West Shrine Bowl, which is a showcase with top upperclassmen preparing for the NFL Draft.Β
Stukes is entering his fifth season with the Wildcats β fourth as a starter. After moving from cornerback to nickel back, which is now called "Star" in Arizona's defense, Stukes was fifth on the team in tackles (55) to go along with nine pass breakups and one interception.
Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes, right, makes a sprawling interception on a pass intended for Utah wide receiver Mikey Matthews in the fourth quarter of the Wildcatsβ dominant Pac-12 win at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 18, 2023.
In the last two seasons, Maldonado has been arguably the Wildcats' most improved defensive player, rising from 48Β tackles and three forced fumbles in 2022 to 81 tackles (third-most on the team), three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2023. Last season, Maldonado's missed-tackle percentage dropped from 24.2% in β22 to 11.2% in β23, according to Pro Football Focus. Receiversβ yards after catch (YAC), with Maldonado in coverage, dipped from 283 yards to 166, per PFF. Maldonadoβs overall PFF grade rose from 50.9 to 77.1, and his tackling grade improved from 38.1 to 76.4.
Arizona defensive back Gunner Maldonado fields questions about the upcoming season on Day 2 of Big 12 football Media Days at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in 2024.
Maldonadoβs 87-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Alamo Bowl sparked the Wildcatsβ comeback to beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl β a play that is arguably a Top 3 moment in program history behind Chuck Cecilβs pick-six against Arizona State in 1986 and Ortege Jenkinsβ βLeap by the Lakeβ against Washington in 1998.
Former New Mexico star running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was one of seven recruits to sign with Arizonaβs 2024 recruiting class during National Signing Day. That No.1Β Croskey-Merritt wore that day will be his new number as a Wildcat in 2024, too.
Croskey-Merritt transferred to Arizona after one season at New Mexico. Prior to UNM, Croskey-Merritt starred at Alabama State for four seasons.Β Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards, which ranked 23rd in college football, and 17 touchdowns; he averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season. His 17 rushing touchdowns ranked fifth nationally.Β Croskey-Merritt ended last year with a 92.7 offensive grade on Pro Football Focus, which was eighth-best nationally.
Smith, a Mesa native and former Red Mountain High School star, recorded 66 tackles and 6.5 sacks and was named a first-team All-Mountain West selection at San Jose State, where he played under current Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. Smith will have an integral role as edge rusher on Arizona's defensive line this season.
Arizona defensive lineman Tre Smith hits a padded teammate as the defensive unit works out in during a spring practice session in early April at Arizona Stadium.
Flowe enters this season as a potential candidate to star at "Mike" linebacker alongside standout linebacker Jacob Manu. Flowe was an effective run-stopping linebacker early in the season for Arizona and finished his first year at Arizona with 44 tackles, two pass deflections and one fumble recovery. Arizona linebackers coach Danny Gonzales implemented more blitzing from the UA linebackers this spring, which could carve out a role for the downhill and explosive Flowe.Β
Loop is coming off a career year for the Wildcats, making 19 of 24 field goals and influencing several games in Arizonaβs 10-3 season in 2023. Loop made three field goals and three PAT attempts in Arizonaβs 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. He also extended his range by making his first 50-yard field goal; he made 2 of 4 field goals from at least 50 yards out.
Arizona kicker Tyler Loop (33) punts the ball during a spring football practice.
Loop made a 52-yard goal in Arizonaβs 34-31 win over Colorado β the game Loop won for the Wildcats with a 24-yard field goal as time expired, the teamβs first walk-off field goal since 2014. Loop was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Colorado. In Loopβs 84 kickoff attempts in 2023, 73 of them were touchbacks. This season, Loop could potentially start at both kicker and punter.Β
The 100th East-West Shrine Bowl is onΒ Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. on NFL Network.Β Arizona kicks off the 2024 season against New Mexico at Arizona Stadium on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
