It doesn’t take much to earn the label no football player wants to have: injury prone.
Arizona Wildcats running back Nick Wilson missed four games last season because of injuries. He wasn’t much of a factor in three other contests.
That’s all it took.
Never mind that Wilson arrived in Tucson at 185 pounds and became an instant contributor as a freshman in 2014, carrying 236 times for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns. The perception that Wilson is injury prone exists, and it will persist until he proves he can withstand the rigors of a full season.
“I do hear it a lot,” Wilson said Saturday after Arizona’s third spring practice. “At the same time, it doesn’t really bother me. I did come in really young, really small. I kind of got thrown into the fire. As they say, baptized by fire.
“I thought I did pretty well with it, and I thought I came out stronger because of it.”
Wilson suffered a shoulder injury and two concussions during his freshman season. He missed one game and was forced out of the Fiesta Bowl.
Last season, foot and knee injuries limited Wilson’s availability, especially in the second half of the season. Wilson carried 115 times for 694 yards in the first six games. After that? Just 18 rushes for 42 yards.
Wilson has been limited thus far in spring, but he said it was mainly “for precautionary reasons” and “just to be safe, really.” He has prepared for the pounding that awaits by devoting more time to taking care of his body, including extra massages, stretching and cold-tub sessions. The 5-foot-10 junior-to-be now weighs 215 pounds.
“I feel good. I feel fresh,” Wilson said. “I like where I’m at right now.
“You have to prepare and get your body right. It’s a big boys’ game.”
Wilson believes he is better prepared to absorb and deliver hits. He knows his reputation depends on it.
Anduze out
Redshirt freshman tight end Brion Anduze will have knee surgery soon and will miss at least the rest of spring practice.
“He may be out for the fall,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We don’t know yet.”
Anduze injured his left knee about halfway through the first spring workout on Feb. 12.
First day in pads
The Wildcats donned pads for the first time this spring. Rodriguez like the intensity and enthusiasm with which they played, especially during the one-on-one “board drills” at the outset of practice.
“The effort was real good,” Rodriguez said. “We’re certainly not in game shape, so I think we had some loafs at the end of practice. But I’m not worried about that. We don’t need to be in game shape until August.”
Talking ball
Rodriguez was in Hawaii earlier this week to attend a Nike event with other coaches.
He spent much of that time talking ball with the likes of Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Washington’s Chris Petersen, Washington State’s Mike Leach, Oregon’s Mark Helfrich, Duke’s David Cutcliffe and North Carolina’s Larry Fedora.
“If you just pick up one or two things that can help your program, it’s beneficial,” Rodriguez said. “I come out of that trip with a couple new ideas. It could be in recruiting. It could be on the field. It could be practice-related.”
Rodriguez played golf with Fedora.
“Some bad golf,” Rodriguez said, “but good football talk.”
Extra points
- Offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa, who’s been limited because of a lingering knee injury, exited the practice field on crutches. His right knee was heavily wrapped.
- Rodriguez on freshman quarterback Khalil Tate’s learning curve: “It’s like drinking water from a fire hose right now.”
- Rodriguez said UA’s defensive players have to get used to “a new normal.” He wouldn’t specify what thatmeant. Arizona is learning new techniques and schemesunder an entirely new defensive coaching staff.
- UA practiced on the grass at Sancet Field after working on the turf at Arizona Stadium last week. Construction has begun on the C.A.T.S. Academic Center, which is being built where the third-base stands used to be.
- Arizona announced plans for the team’s open practice on March 4. The practice will begin at 6 p.m. at Arizona Stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is free. The practice will serve as the Wildcats’ spring game.
