Rang’s “Diamonds in the Rough.” Is Matt Scott the next Russell Wilson? #NFLDraft @robrang fb.me/1BxpplNhg

— NFLDraftScout.com (@DraftScout) April 16, 2013

Matt Scott’s postseason workouts have elevated his draft status (Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports)

Former UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel, now an analyst for the Pac-12 Networks and Sirius-XM’s College Football Playbook show, echoed the thoughts Tuesday of NFL Draft scouting guru Rob Rang: Former Arizona quarterback Matt Scott is this year’s Russell Wilson.

The NFL Draft commenced tonight with the first round. The second and third rounds will take place tomorrow. According to Neuheisel and Rang, don’t be surprised to see Scott taken by the third round. Wilson is Seattle’s franchise quarterback who was selected last year in the third round as the 74th pick overall and five spots after a punter.

Scott, 6-3 and 200, flourished in his only season playing in Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense, completing 301 of 499 pass attempts for 3,620 yards. He threw for 27 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. He also ran for 506 yards on 113 attempts.

“You know, my Russell Wilson in this draft, the guy who is going to be a second- or third-round pick who will end up being a big time player, I’m going to tell you, is Arizona’s Matt Scott,” Neuheisel said on Sirius/XM. “And I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go to the 49ers, as they say goodbye to Alex Smith, to be Colin Kaepernick’s backup for a few years.

“He can run. He can throw. (He is) unheralded, did not get the credit he deserved in terms of learning RichRod’s system, flourishing in RichRod’s system in just one season.”

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Austin Hill becomes the fourth significant Arizona player to be potentially lost for the season because of injury following Rob Gronkowski, Jake Fischer and Adam Hall

Season-ending injuries to significant players debilitated the Arizona football program since its fortunes appeared to be golden after the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl win over BYU.

The Wildcats have been forced to endure season-ending injuries to starting tight end Rob Gronkowski (back), linebacker Jake Fischer (knee) and safety Adam Hall (knee and ankle) in the last four years. The UA’s top returning receiver, Austin Hill, a bonafide pro prospect, suffered a torn ACL last week in practice, requiring surgery and endangering his chance to play in the 2013 season.

Knee injuries have riddled the UA football program to the point that former defensive lineman Willie Mobley (who has transferred to New Mexico State) tore his ACL playing a pickup basketball game in 2011.

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez was quoted as saying by Anthony Gimino of TucsonCitizen.com that he is “sick” about Hill’s injury.

“It just makes me sick, because he was such a great player. But he still will be,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know when his time frame is to return, but he’ll be back bigger and stronger with the way technology is today and all that.

“I really felt bad for him. I know Austin is a tough, strong guy, and he’ll bounce back.”

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Javier Morales is the site founder, editor and writer for WILDABOUTAZCATS.net. He is a former Arizona Press Club award winner

Arizona receiver Austin Hill celebrates the win over Oklahoma State with the Zona Zoo (Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE)

In the waning seconds of Arizona’s 59-38 victory over No. 18 Oklahoma State last night at Arizona Stadium somebody behind me in the press box mentioned the victory was one of the greatest wins in the history of the program.

After compiling my recent Top 50 ranking of games in the history of Arizona football, I am hesitant to rank the Wildcats’ victory — as tantalizing as it was — there quite just yet.

I have the same mindset as Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, who was asked during the postgame press conference how the victory ranks among those in his 11-year coaching career.

“How does it rank?” he asked. “Well, it’s the best win I’ve had at Arizona.”

The press room filled with laughter. With only two games into the season, and nobody — including Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy — knowing how good the Cowboys really are, it is too early to jump to conclusions about the historical significance of the victory.

Does it mean everything to this season especially with how Rodriguez wants “to make Arizona relevant” nationally as he said more than once after the game? Of course. The Wildcats, who had lost six straight games to teams in the Top 25, are on the mind once again of everybody who follows college football. They are on the tip of everybody’s tongue for the right reason.

The Wildcats cracked the Top 25 with a No. 24 ranking in the AP poll.

“I told our guys that Top 25 teams get on that ticker at the bottom of the screen,” Rodriguez said. “We want to be on the right side of that ticker.”

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