With over 100 high school and youth football coaches in attendance, Arizona wrapped up its third spring football practice Saturday at the Davis Sports Center and Dick Tomey Practice Fields.
It marked the first practice in shells (shoulder pads and helmets). Here are notes and observations from the third spring practice, as the Wildcats turn their attention to the second week of spring practice.
* In the first team period, Arizona used its 3-3-5 defense, with Leroy Palu, Mays Pese and Dominic Lolesio on the defensive line and Taye Brown, Chase Kennedy and Georgetown transfer Cooper Blomstrom at linebacker. Blomstrom will have an edge-rushing role with the Wildcats this season.
* The Wildcats had a punting period on Saturday, with Louisville transfer Carter Schwartz and Australian freshman Chase Ridley exchanging reps. Most of Ridley's kicks had a hang time of 4.1 seconds; Schwartz's kicks had an average of 3.9 seconds. Western Kentucky transfer Drew Nicolson was the long snapper.
* Wide receivers Rodney Gallagher, Chris Hunter, Giovanni Richardson, DJ Jordan and Caleb Smith were among the players returning punts.
* Second-year running back Wesley Yarbrough ran a wheel route near the left sideline and ran for a 50-yard gain. Backup quarterback Sawyer Anderson threw a deep touchdown to Gallagher, who could be in a similar role as former receiver Luke Wysong, who was a reliable punt returner and receiver.
* Freshman cornerback Xaier Hiler intercepted quarterback Noah Fifita in a short pass over the middle. The 6-3, 174-pound Hiler is a Dallas-area native and is one of several early enrollees this spring. Hiler has a similar frame as former cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock when they were freshmen in 2022.
* In the same period, Fifita, threw two first-down passes to Hunter and USC transfer DJ Jordan. Fifita also threw a first down to Illinois transfer tight end Cole Rusk, who jumped over a defender for the grab.
* In one of the final team periods, Arizona's starting defense featured Lolesio, Palu, Pese on the defensive line, with Brown, Kennedy and Blomstrom at linebacker, and Wyoming transfer cornerback Tyrese Boss, safeties Gavin Hunter and Quinn Olson, Nebraska transfer slot cornerback Malcolm Hartzog and Charlotte transfer cornerback Dwight Bootle in the secondary.
* Arizona's starting offensive line was Matthew Lado, Rhino Tapa'atoutai, Washington transfer center Zachary Henning, Alexander Doost and redshirt freshman Louis Akpa.
* Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach and former NFL defensive tackle Domata Peko attended practice. Peko's son, Joseph Peko, is a 6-3, 310-pound defensive tackle from Westlake Village, California. The younger Peko is currently committed to Colorado.
* Former Arizona and NFL defensive tackle Earl Mitchell attended practice on Saturday.
* Former Washington and Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was on the sidelines for Arizona's spring practice. Petersen, who's now a traveling speaker and college football broadcaster, was the featured speaker at the UA coaches clinic, which ended up having over 200 high school and youth football coaches in attendance.
* Arizona head coach Brent Brennan, offensive coordinator Seth Doege, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, wide receivers coach Bobby Wade and chief of staff Ben Thienes traveled to San Jose for the Elite Eight matchup between the UA and Purdue.
