Juron Criner was the only all-conference player for Arizona from its 2008 recruiting class. Photo by Chris Morrison-USA Today Sports

The Arizona Wildcats football recruiting class of 2008 is in the books.

Arizona was coming off a 5-7 season in coach Mike Stoops fourth season and hadn’t had a winning record in nine seasons.

The Cats weren’t operating from a position of strength and finished 39th nationally in the recruiting rankings of Rivals.com and Scout.com, which put Arizona slightly below average among BCS conference teams.

So, how did Arizona do with its 2008 recruiting class?

Somewhere around average sounds about right.

The Cats hit on about half of the class, with “hit” defined as a starting player, but there wasn’t a lot of star power and not nearly enough defense.

Let’s take a look …

Good: You wouldn’t have known it at the time, but the eventual headliner of the 23-player class was three-star receiver Juron Criner (who was rated as only as two-star recruit by Scout.com). Criner was the only first-team All-Pac-10/12 player in this class, becoming one of the most prolific receivers in school history.

“We knew in high school he was pretty special,” Stoops said in 2010.

“He was a big, strong, physical guy. Played basketball. Could jump. I don’t know … we didn’t see anything that showed us he wasn’t going to be a very talented player.”

Good: The class was heavy on offensive linemen; seven signed with the Cats and six proved to be starters, including a pair who helped lead the 2012 line as fifth-year seniors — center Kyle Quinn and guard Trace Biskin.

Bad: Three of the offensive linemen were junior college transfers, so Arizona filled a need but didn’t get much lasting benefit. And the career of promising guard Vaughn Dotsy was cut short because of injury.

Bad: The best offensive lineman of the group — junior college transfer J’Marcus Webb — never made it to Arizona but has gone on to be a three-year starter for the Chicago Bears.

Good: Defensive back Robert Golden was one of the top-rated players in Arizona’s class and became a three-year starter and a NFL player last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Criner, Golden and wide receiver David Douglas (who appeared in one game with Tampa Bay late in the season) all made the NFL from this class.

Good: Not included here is a player Arizona landed in the spring of 2008 — Michigan State transfer quarterback Nick Foles.

Good: Quarterback Matt Scott, able to redshirt in 2011 behind Foles, was a fifth-year senior last season. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 team and was the foremost reason why the Cats posted a surprising 8-5 mark in coach Rich Rodriguez’s first season.

Bad: With a class that featured six junior college transfers, five players who never played a down for the Cats, injuries, and guys who simply weren’t good enough, Arizona got useful play from only three fifth-year seniors: Scott, Quinn and Biskin. Lack of depth from the upperclassmen was a huge hurdle for Rodriguez in 2012.

Bad: Arizona went 0 for 5 in defensive linemen in this class, a huge reason why the Cats failed to have a suitable pass rush in 2011 and 2012. UA also went 0 for 2 on high school linebackers. The alarming lack of enduring defensive talent in this class helps explain Arizona’s woeful stats in the past two seasons.

Here is a player-by-player look at the 2008 class, with ratings by Rivals.com:

Keola Antolin, RB, Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman HS (3 stars)
He gave Arizona steady production for four seasons, finishing with 2,398 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards and 26 total touchdowns.

Dominique Austin, DE, La Puente, Calif., Bishop Amat HS (3 stars)
He was little-used before this year. He started the first five games before being sidelined with an injury, able to return briefly in the New Mexico Bowl.

Kenny Barnes, DE, Glendale, Raymond S Kellis HS (2 stars)
Never played. Quit the team in the summer of 2009 after redshirting.

Trace Biskin, OL, Westlake Village, Calif. Oaks Christian HS (3 stars)
Started 17 games over the past two seasons, including seven in 2012, when he battled a toe injury.

Juron Criner, WR, North Las Vegas, Canyon Springs HS (3 stars)
With excellent body control and leaping ability, Criner excelled at catching the deep pass from Nick Foles. He finished with 209 catches for 2,859 yards and a school-record 32 touchdown receptions, going on to play for the Oakland Raiders as a rookie.

Mike Diaz, OL, Cerritos, Calif., Cerritos CC (3 stars)
He started 20 games in two years, including 11 at left tackle in 2009.

Vaughn Dotsy, OL, Ventura, Calif., St. Bonaventure HS (3 stars)
He started two games as a junior early in the 2010 season before being sidelined by a back injury that forced him to give up football after the year.

David Douglas, WR, McKinney, Texas, McKinney North HS (2 stars)
Douglas caught 151 passes for 1,542 yards and 11 touchdowns at Arizona. He was on the New York Giants practice squad for most of last season before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked him up late in the season.

Zander Fabbri, LB, Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS (3 stars)
He suffered a concussion in 2008 fall camp and eventually had to give up football.

Phillip Garcia, OL, Cerritos, Calif., Cerritos CC (3 stars)
Redshirted in 2008 because of a knee injury, made a couple of spot starts in 2009 and then started every game in 2010 at right tackle.

Robert Golden, DB, Fresno, Calif., Edison HS (4 stars)
He started two seasons at safety and one at cornerback for the Cats before sticking with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season as an undrafted free agent.

Herman Hall, OL, Brenham, Texas, Blinn CC (2 stars)
He started 11 games as a senior in 2009, playing both guard spots.

Solomon Koehler, DT, Kaneohe, Hawaii, Castle HS (4 stars)
Plenty of recruiting hype but didn’t have the quickness needed at defensive tackle and was moved to the offensive line late in his redshirt freshman season. He was gone a year later.

Sterling Lewis, LB, Brenham, Texas, Blinn CC (3 stars)
Was a solid player, starting 15 games in two seasons and making 97 tackles.

Chris Merrill, DT, Scottsdale, Saguaro HS (3 stars)
He merely saw spot duty through his career, coming up with 15 tackles, including five in 2012.

Greg Nwoko, RB, Pflugerville, Texas, Pflugerville HS (2 stars)
Had a role in 2009 and 2010 as a bigger running back, but he lost 2011 to a knee injury and 2012 to a hip injury after moving to linebacker in fall camp.

Kyle Quinn, OL, Brentwood, Calif., Liberty Union HS (3 stars)
Quinn was a two-year starter at center, extending the program’s stability at the position after taking over for Colin Baxter. Worked out for scouts at the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Matt Scott, QB, Corona, Calif., Centennial HS (4 stars)
Got his chance to be the full-time starter as a senior, completing 301 of 499 passes for 3,620 yards, with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Scott has the potential to be a mid-round NFL draft pick in April.

Vuna Tuihalamaka, LB, Torrance, Calif., El Camino CC (4 stars)
He was productive as an every-game starter in 2009, with 72 tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Jowyn Ward, DT, Katy, Texas, Mayde Creek HS (2 stars)
Only saw spot duty (11 tackles) for three years before being moved to backup offensive guard during the 2012 season.

Mark Watley, DB, Encino, Calif., Crespi HS (2 stars)
He seemed to be in line to be a contributor in 2012, but he made only four tackles as he slipped on the depth chart after making 27 stops in 2011.

J’Marcus Webb, OL, Corsicana, Texas, Navarro JC (4 stars)
He was the only member of Arizona’s recruiting class who failed to qualify, landing at lower-division West Texas. Webb, who began his career at the University of Texas, was a seventh-round pick of the Bears in 2010.

R.J. Young, LB, DeSoto, Texas, DeSoto HS (3 stars)
After making 25 career tackles at Arizona, Young transferred after the 2010 season to Louisiana-Monroe, where he led the team in tackles in 2012 with 94, including 11 for loss.

Rob Gronkowski had a good time on the ESPYs red carpet with tennis player Daniela Hantuchova. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

NFL camps have started … do you know where your former Arizona Wildcats are?

Offseason news has been dominated by ex-UA tight end Rob Gronkowski, who followed up his record-setting second season with the New England Patriots with what is widely referred to as the “Summer of Gronk.”

Let the Boston Globe describe it:

“Gronkowski, in no particular order, won a celebrity home run derby at the Triple-A All-Star Game (reportedly hitting one 325 feet), appeared on The Choice, a dating show, co-hosted Access Hollywood Live, judged a celebrity bikini contest in Las Vegas and walked the ESPY’s red carpet. He also attended the premier of the movie “Ted,” hung out with Kim Kardashian, was one of the naked cover boys for ESPN The Magazine, and ran a viral video campaign trying to land on the cover of the Madden video game.

Oh, and he also signed a six-year contract extension worth $54 million – the richest deal ever given to a tight end. It includes $18.17 million in guaranteed money.”

Oh, to be Gronk.

Gronk is the headliner among the former Arizona Wildcats in the NFL, with 22 players on camp rosters.

Here is a look at who is where:

Colin Baxter, C, San Diego
Baxter, who started an Arizona Wildcats record 48 consecutive games, bounced between the Chargers and the New York Jets as a rookie. The former undrafted free agent is battling for a backup spot in camp with San Diego.

Recent story: Baxter, Molk at center of Chargers competition (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago
Briggs is the most-decorated of the former Wildcats in the NFL, a stalwart on the Bears’ defense for the past nine seasons, recording 969 tackles. Being selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls puts him in unbelievable company in franchise history; Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary are the only other Bears to accomplish that. He is still going strong at 31, and he signed a contract extension in the spring to take him through the 2014 season.

Eben Britton, OT, Jacksonville
Britton started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie in 2009, but injuries have limited him to 11 games over the past two seasons. The Jags hope he can lock down the right tackle position, again, in camp.

Antoine Cason, CB, San Diego
Cason, the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner and the brightest defensive star of the Mike Stoops era, has started the past two seasons for the Chargers, breaking up 17 passes each year. The former first-round pick has 10 career interceptions in four NFL seasons.

Juron Criner could be quite a catch for the Raiders. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Juron Criner, WR, Oakland
One of the most prolific receivers in school history (209 catches for 2,859 yards and a UA-record 32 touchdowns), Criner drew rave reviews in Raiders’ OTAs and minicamps after being selected in the fifth round. Could be a steal.

Recent story: Raiders’ Criner signs contract on eve of first practice (CBSSports.com)

Gino Crump, WR, Arizona Cardinals
The undrafted free agent had a good senior season (65 catches, 610 yards, two TDs) and was signed by the Cardinals on May 30. Before that, he attended the Buffalo Bills mini-camp, but was retained. Said Cardinals star WR Larry Fitzgerald in the Arizona Republic in June: “He’s explosive; he has really good hands, a good feel.”

David Douglas, WR, New York Giants
Douglas faces long odds as an undrafted free agent, but he showed great hands and route running at Arizona, and his athleticism was often underrated. He made 117 receptions in his final two seasons with the Cats.

Ricky Elmore, OLB, San Diego
He was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2011, but didn’t make it through camp while trying to transition from a prolific college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. Elmore, who had 21.5 sacks in his final two seasons at Arizona, is getting another chance with the Chargers.

Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia
An Arizona quarterback in the NFL? Foles, who rewrote the Wildcats passing records, will try to become the first former UA quarterback to throw a pass in an NFL game since Bill Demory in 1973. Foles, a third-round pick, could battle Mike Kafka for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Michael Vick, according to some reports.

Recent story: Foles has strategy to attack Birds’ playbook (CSNPhilly.com)

Nick Folk, PK, New York Jets
Folk, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, has connected on 49 of 64 field goals in his two seasons with the Jets and has hit from beyond 50 yards in each of his five NFL seasons. He and veteran kicker Josh Brown will compete in camp for a roster spot.

Robert Golden, DB, Pittsburgh
Golden, an undrafted free agent, started at cornerback and safety with Arizona. He’ll be trying to latch on with the Steelers at safety.

Adam Grant, OT, Denver
Undrafted after the 2010 season, Grant stuck with the Broncos’ practice squad all of last season and was invited back to camp.

Chris Gronkowski, FB, Denver
His favorable rookie season in Dallas in 2010 took a bad turn when he missed a block that got quarterback Tony Romo injured. Gronkowski played seven games for the Colts last season before being shut down because of a torn pectoral muscle. Perhaps he will get a chance to do this season what he didn’t last year with the Colts — protect Peyton Manning.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England
The NFL party boy is coming back from post-Super Bowl ankle surgery (he says it’s 100 percent) and he will try to continue his march toward being one of the great tight ends in NFL history. He caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns last season (a record for tight ends).

Recent story: Bill Simmons tells three crazy Rob Gronkowski stories from the ESPYs (BusinessInsider.com)

Spencer Larsen, FB, New England
The former All-Pac-10 linebacker was a two-way player for his first two seasons in Denver, famously starting at fullback and at linebacker in the same game as a rookie. After four seasons with the Broncos, Larsen moved on to the Patriots in the offseason. He signed a two-year contract but will have to earn a roster spot in camp; his special teams ability will help.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Houston
Mitchell is a third-year pro who has been a solid contributor to the Texans, making 55 career tackles, and he’s back to battle Shaun Cody again for playing time at nose tackle. He might not be the traditional plugger in the middle of the 3-4 front, but he puts his athleticism to good use and should have a long NFL career.

Fendi Onobun, TE, Buffalo
The former Arizona basketball power forward, who played one season of football at the University of Houston, is on his fifth NFL team after being a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2010. He has played in four NFL games, making two catches.

Brooks Reed, OLB, Houston
Reed was excellent as a rookie last season, stepping into a starting role and making 45 tackles, including six sacks in the regular season. The former UA defensive end — a second-round pick — is quick with his pass-rushing first step, and Wildcats fans know all about his relentless motor.

Recent story: Texans LB coach: Sky’s the limit for Brooks Reed (Houston Chronicle)

D’Aundre Reed, DE, Minnesota
Reed, despite being a backup at Arizona, was intriguing enough as an athlete to be a seventh-round pick in 2011. He was not active for any game last season.

Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville
Thomas, a fourth-round pick in 2009, set a franchise rookie record with 48 catches for 453 yards. He followed up with team-highs in catches in each of the past two seasons, although the Jags’ aerial attack was rather anemic last year with rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Thomas, who caught 44 passes for 415 yards last season, will have a new running mate this season to spark the passing game — two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State.

Paul Vassallo, LB, Arizona
Vassallo, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent, made 172 tackles, including 13 for loss, in his two seasons with the Wildcats after transferring from junior college.

Trevin Wade, CB, Cleveland
The seventh-round rookie had a solid senior season, bouncing back from junior struggles, and looked good in various offseason activities. “I think he’s got a feel for playing the game at corner,” Browns coach Pat Shurmer recently told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Waived
–DE Lionel Dotson (Buffalo)

NOTE: Former UA returner/receiver Travis Cobb, an undrafted free agent after the 2010 season, worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

Brooks Reed will be looking to build off a productive rookie season. Photo by Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

This stellar TD catch earned David Douglas some time on SportsCenter all night. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

A failed fake field goal at the end of Arizona’s first drive was curious for timing and its execution.

The Wildcats tried to pull it off on fourth-and-12 from the Utah after a delay of game. That’s a long way to go for a fake field goal.

What’s more, a week earlier, interim head coach Tim Kish talked about how important he thought it was to come away with three points on the team’s opening drive at Washington. John Bonano kicked a 36-yard field goal on fourth-and-2.

This time, Kish went for a fake, needing 12 yards, at nearly the identical spot on the field.

If anything, getting three points was more important against Utah than Washington because the Utes have the better defense.

But, during Arizona’s scouting, the coaches thought they could exploit something on Utah’s kick-block team.

“They come hard, hard, hard off the edge,” Kish said after a 34-21 loss to Utah on Saturday night.

“We knew if they did that, that thing would be wide open. But, unfortunately, in that particular case for whatever reason — I don’t know if they sniffed something or what — they played coverage on our wings and the guy just shot through there and foiled our attempt.”

What happened was holder Kyle Dugandzic took the snap and flipped it to Bonano, running to his right. Perhaps he would have had room to run for the first down, or even a touchdown, if the Utes had been charging off the edge.

But they didn’t … and Arizona’s game was off to a frustrating start.

* * *

Senior receiver David Douglas caught 10 passes for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns, including a pretty over-the-head 23-yard reception just inside the left boundary of the end zone.

That diving effort claimed the No. 2 on SportsCenter’s Plays of the Day.

Douglas’ previous career high was 120 yards against Oregon earlier this season.

He ended up playing more outside receiver than in the slot against Douglas because of injuries. Dan Buckner, bothered by a separated shoulder from last week, played briefly. Juron Criner also was missing late in the game.

“He can play any position,” quarterback Nick Foles said of Douglas.

“(The Utes) like to clog the middle, so you try to work the outside a little bit, and he showed what he can do. He’s a player.”

* * *

Foles, who already holds the school record for completions, will soon be awash in other school and conference passing records. But the past two weeks have not been his finest.

He threw two interceptions Saturday, giving him five for the past two weeks. He often was under pressure from the Utah defense, forced to scramble. Foles credited Utah with constantly changing its defensive looks.

“They were moving around a lot, mixing up coverages, bringing guys in the box, moving guys out,” Foles said. “They busted out almost every single coverage there is.

“It was never the same. They never stood in something. They would always show something and change it.”

Foles was 25 of 43 for 326 yards and two touchdowns.

* * *

True freshman Ka’Deem Carey did not play in the first half because of an unspecified violation of team rules.

“Ka’Deem and I talked and he would be the first to tell you he’s disappointed in himself,” Kish said. “It’s one of those lessons that needed to be learned, and I expect Ka’Deem to not make the same mistake again.”

Carey played in the second half, rushing five times for 30 yards. He also had one kick return of 11 yards.

* * *

Arizona has senior Trevin Wade at right cornerback. On the left side, the Cats were without Jonathan McKnight (ACL), Shaquille Richardson (ankle) and Cortez Johnson (concussion).

Down to its fifth-best cornerback, Arizona slid over nickel back Jourdon Grandon to start the game and went to Lyle Brown to start the second half.

Grandon, slipped, fell and recovered but still gave up a 65-yard score to DeVonte Christopher in the second quarter. Brown was beaten badly in man coverage and let Reggie Dunn run free for a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Kish said his defense played more man coverage than usual and was more aggressive up front as it tried to get inexperienced Utah quarterback Jon Hayes to get rid of the ball quickly.

“I probably didn’t do as good a job as coordinator giving them help and playing some Cover 2 over the top, just to give them some extra safety help,” Kish said of Grandon and Brown.

* * *

Derrick Williams watches from the Zona Zoo. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Sophomore Daniel Jenkins rushed six times for a career-high 59 yards, which included a 29-yard touchdown run in the final minute, showing quick cutting ability. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” he said of the run, given that it came too late to do the team any good. … For the second time in three games, true freshman Tramayne Bondurant led the team in tackle from his hybrid nickel back/linebacker position. He had eight stops vs. Utah. … Former Arizona basketball All-American Derrick Williams attended the game from the Zona Zoo student section and was shown on the videoboard at the stadium.

David Douglas celebrates a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against ASU last season. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first installment of our 24 Hours of Arizona Football Blogging — one post at the top of every hour. Keep checking back at TucsonCitizen.com through Friday at 11 a.m. or follow the entire series with the “24 hours of blogging” tag.

Arizona Wildcats receiver David Douglas is reliable. He’s solid. He’s a nice possession receiver.

Those are often thrown around as back-handed compliments.

Would you believe he’s more athletic than you probably think?

“The first time I saw him play basketball, I was like, ‘Wow, where is that on the football field?’” said receivers coach Dave Nichol.

“He is sometimes too passive on the football field. Frankly, that’s a challenge to him. What I said to him was that he wasn’t making certain plays that showcase the athleticism he has.”

Douglas is hoping that changes in his senior year. He has put on 15 pounds, playing at about 205. Somewhere behind that Opie-looking face is a maturing, tough athlete ready to punch through his previous stereotypes.

“I’ve always been a pretty good basketball player,” he said.

“I can jump, get up and dunk and do all that stuff. Last year, in football, I could show it in bursts but I have to be that way all the time. That is what I emphasized in the offseason, getting more physical, gaining weight.

“I will become a more physical blocker and be able to break arm tackles — just be a physical player. That is what I have been trying to become.”

Douglas is known for his good hands, and he made 86 catches in the past two seasons, including 52 last year with five touchdowns. Those 86 catches, though, only went for a 10-yard average.

Those hands are why Arizona has used him as a punt returner in spots, putting him back there when the return team is in “safe” mode. Just catch it. Don’t do anything fancy.

With projected starting punt returner Jonathan McKnight out with an ACL tear, Douglas is expected to get more opportunities in the return game, with shifty receiver Richard Morrison also rotating in.

On offense, Douglas can seamlessly move between Arizona’s outside receiver positions and its inside receiver spots.

“I think he’s really started to grow up and mature,” said quarterback Nick Foles.

“He’s a lot bigger than he was last year. He didn’t really change anything; he just kept working. He’s always been really confident in himself. You put him in any sport — tennis, golf, anything … he’s one of the best athletes I have ever met.

“He has to transition that to the football field, and if he does, he’ll be a really special player.”

David Roberts (left) and Juron Criner celebrate after Criner's touchdown catch against Arizona State last season. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

Here is the fifth part of our Arizona Wildcats football preview in collaboration with our Gannett partner, The Arizona Republic.

We write the words, and they have taken the cool photographs and put it all together in a slick presentation at azcentral.com.

Check back here and at azcentral.com every Friday as we roll out more of our preview every week, all the way into August.

This week: Wide receivers (I talked to receivers coach Dave Nichol this week, so there are some fresh quotes in this preview):

INTRO

Big and tall. Short and quick. Proven and promising. And deep. Very deep.

Arizona’s receiving corps, led by potential All-American Juron Criner and with an intriguing combination of route-runners and run-away threats, pretty much has it all.

This is the Wildcats’ best position group and one of the best in the nation, as the receiving corps is ranked No. 5 by Lindy’s and Phil Steele’s preseason magazines. The team will look to Texas transfer Dan Buckner to add another element of danger.

But receivers coach Dave Nichol says he wants to “tap the brakes” on any of the hype.

“Whenever we turn on the film from last year, for however talented people think we are, we realize we have a lot of stuff to work on,” he said.

Juron Criner

Criner has a chance to be the best Arizona receiver ever; certainly, the Wildcats haven’t had this combination of size, skill and passing offense at the same time. Coach Mike Stoops says Criner should be a “100-catch guy” this season.

Criner, 6-foot-4, was a unanimous All-Pac-10 selection as a junior, when he caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing through an assortment of injuries.

“Juron’s greatest attribute is he’s a very complete player,” Stoops said. “He has the ability to break short throws into big plays, to break tackles. He has great strength. He has separation speed. He has great timing, so he can up after jump balls.

“He is going to have every opportunity to make a play.”

Dan Buckner

The Texas transfer gives Arizona a 6-foot-4 bookend to Juron Criner, potentially setting up a pick-your-poison scenario for secondaries who can’t double-cover both wideouts.

Buckner caught 44 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns in 2009 as the Longhorns advanced to the BCS title game against Alabama. He was especially effective early in the season when Texas was using more of a short passing game, the kind that Arizona figures to lean on this year.

Stoops has said that Buckner has first-round talent, but the goal in the offseason was to improve his timing with quarterback Nick Foles.

“We want to be the best receiving corps in the nation,” Buckner said in the spring. “We have a lot of good guys returning. Hopefully, I can add on.”

Coaches know they will get a consistent effort from David Douglas. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

David Douglas

Douglas was the team’s second-leading receiver last season with 52 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns. He can play outside in UA’s four-wide spread offense but is set to return to an inside position this season with the addition of Dan Buckner.

Douglas gets tagged as a “possession” receiver, although he’s more athletic than most think. But having good hands is part of his skill set; coaches use him at punt returner when all they want is for someone to catch the ball.

“It’s just a consistency thing with him — how he shows up ready to work in the weight room, on the practice field and in games,” said Nichol. “He’s a great example for the rest of our group.”

David Roberts

Roberts has been a reliable option for the past two seasons, mixing in some big games (12 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown against Washington in 2009) and big plays (stretching for a 38-yard reception on the game-winning drive against Iowa last season).

Roberts, who caught 43 passes in 2009 and 44 last season, is much like the receiving corps’ other David — David Douglas. They are consistent and lead through the example of their work ethic.

“Even when he’s a backup, he is going to find a way on Saturdays to do the right thing,” Nichol said. “It’s simple: He tries really hard. He has a personal pride and a team pride.”

Richard Morrison stretches to catch a pass in spring practice. Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

Richard Morrison

It wasn’t considered much of a big deal offensively when senior-to-be Bug Wright was dismissed from the team in the offseason; that’s because Morrison is ready for a bigger role.

Morrison, a converted quarterback, becomes the team’s shorter, shiftier threat at slot receiver — kind of like Mike Thomas was a few years ago. Morrison’s development was slowed in 2010 by a midseason shoulder injury, but he finished with six catches for 66 yards in the Alamo Bowl (and had a 44-yard TD reception nullified by penalty).

In the spring game, Morrison made four catches for 63 yards and two scores.

“I think I’ve matured a lot more and I’m starting to read the defenses better,” Morrison said. “I’m really comfortable at the position.”

Terrence Miller

Tight end Rob Gronkowski sat out the 2009 season because of a back injury and then turned pro, so Arizona was without a middle-of-the-field threat for much of the past two years — until Miller emerged late last season.

Miller, at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, will serve as Arizona’s big target from a slot position. He started to put it all together late last season, when 25 of his 29 receptions came in the final five games.

“He is definitely a different body type,” said Nichol, “and many plays in our system really fit him.”

Miller’s best game last season came against USC when he made seven catches for 116 yards.

Austin Hill breaks free from cornerback Trevin Wade in a spring scrimmage. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Austin Hill

Hill might have been the most ready of Arizona’s three true freshman receivers last season, but coaches were able to preserve his redshirt season. Hill flashed the ability to make difficult catches in camp last season.

At 6-3, 205 pounds, Hill is a little bigger than fellow redshirt freshman Tyler Slavin — a high school teammate at Roosevelt High in Corona, Calif. — and both have good speed from an outside receiver position.

“Boy, if they raced, I don’t know,” Nichol said.

Like Slavin, Hill’s playing time this season likely will come only in spot duty, barring injuries to other receivers. But both figure nicely into the team’s long-range plans.

Tyler Slavin

Slavin made the two-deep for parts of last season after an impressive fall camp — and he was on the travel squad — but he never played as a true freshman.

“He’s really smooth,” said Nichol. “His pad level and the way he sinks his hips coming out of cuts … he does that naturally. But he probably had a few more drops than I like in the spring.”

The thing with Slavin and fellow redshirt freshman Austin Hill is consistency, Nichol said, and soaking up the leadership from the veteran receivers.

“Guys like Austin and Tyler, I need to feel good about, ‘Hey, man, you can go and do it,’” Nichol said. “We’re getting there.”

Garic Wharton

Wharton might be the fastest player on the team, and he’ll at least show that speed on kick returns, where he will replace the departed Travis Cobb. On offense, Arizona hopes Wharton will be a breakaway threat in the slot.

“We have to get his hands on the ball five to eight times a game,” Stoops said.

That could mean by Arizona’s usual variety of short passes, or on end arounds or other sorts of handoffs. Wharton recorded a 100-meter time of 10.39 seconds in high school.

“The thing with him is having great ball security,” Nichol said.

Gino Crump

Crump, based on his 2010 performances in spring and fall camps, seemed to be on the verge of being a rotation player, although that didn’t materialize last season. He had four catches for 39 yards in the first two games, but no catches after that.

Crump will be battling in fall camp for a backup role at outside receiver.

“We have a lot of competition,” Nichol said. “He is right in the mix. He has done everything we have asked of him. He played some important plays for us last year.”

Crump walked on in August 2009 after redshirting at West Virginia in 2008.

Flipping over on your head without catching the ball: Bad.
Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Football life is good for Arizona Wildcats receivers coach Dave Nichol.

He has an All-American in senior Juron Criner.

He has more trustworthy seniors in David Douglas and Dave Roberts.

He has a touted junior transfer from Texas — Dan Buckner.

He has promising inside receivers of differing sizes — junior Terrence Miller (big) and sophomore Richard Morrison (small).

He has three redshirt freshmen he can deploy this season — Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin and super speedy Garic Wharton.

He has, to sum up, one of the best receiving corps in the country.

“We need to tap the brakes on that,” Nichol said.

For as good as this position group might be, for all the preseason praise it might be hearing, Nichol is taking a glass-half-empty approach to the spring. He took some of the receiving corps’ worst moments from last season and cut up a video entitled, simply, “Bad.”

Poor blocks. Dropped passes. Misalignments. Wrong assignments. Substandard routes.

“It was too darn long, I’ll tell you that,” Nichol said of the length of the video. “Every now and again, when they get all ‘whatever,’ I’ll just remind them of that tape.”

Said Douglas: “Yeah, there are quite a bit of plays on there. We had way too many mistakes last year. It makes you see, man, we have a lot of stuff we have to get better at if we want to be as good as they’re talking about us as a group.”

Call it some preventative medicine. It’s not that Nichol is seeing signs of his receivers growing out-sized egos — not that an out-sized ego is the worst thing for a receiver. It’s just that he wants to keep the temperature turned up on the competition in Arizona’s four-wide spread offense.

“They know what it takes,” Nichol said.

“They know you can’t just show up. If you just show up, you’re going to be average. That goes for Juron, too. He’ll get covered up in a heartbeat if he doesn’t work. That’s a fact.”

Criner showed up last season to the tune of 82 catches for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite often battling injuries.

Douglas had 52 receptions for 515 yards and five scores. Roberts made 44 receptions for 487 yards and two touchdowns.

Coaches know what these guys can do.

Then there’s Buckner, whom coach Mike Stoops has said has first-round talent.

Miller emerged late last season as an inside receiver; 25 of his 29 catches came in the final five games. He’s not big enough (225 pounds) for a tight end role, but, at 6-4, he’s potentially the target over the middle that was missing for much of the past two seasons.

“That’s a work in progress quite honestly with us as coaches and him at practice in terms of how we use him,” Nichol said. “There are things he can do, there are different things he can’t do.”

Slavin (6-2) and Hill (6-3) are outside receivers. They will be, at worst, insurance against an injury to Criner or Buckner.

“We’re a play away from them playing a lot,” Nichol said.

“There were times last year when I left Juron in because Juron at 70 percent was still better than other guys at 100 percent. … Where I want to get is if Juron is huffing and puffing, I can give him a breather. I didn’t feel like I could do that all the time last year. That’s where their playing time, I think, comes in.”

Wharton, who should see ample time as a kick returner, might be the fastest player on the team. Coaches are giving him a long look this spring, or, as Nichol put it, “I’m repping the dog out of him.”

“He is so fast, but guys don’t always play fast. It ain’t track,” Nichol added. “He has got to play fast.

“He’s willing to learn and he’s competitive. That’s what I like about him. He’s probably tougher than people would think he is being a quote, unquote, track guy. He’s hungry.”

As much as anything right now, that’s what Nichol wants to see from the entire group.

And if the guys aren’t listening, he’ll just point them to the new addition to his video collection: “Bad.”

It just might help them be great.

NOTES
Stoops said after Monday’s practice that safety Adam Hall and running back Greg Nwoko were scheduled for surgery next Tuesday to repair torn ACLs. As for the shuffle in the second, Stoops said Robert Golden will move back to strong safety, which leaves free safety as something of a question mark for now … With a few offseason departures (WR Bug Wright, LB Trevor Erno, LB R.J. Young), Stoops has some scholarships available. He said those could go to walk-ons who prove themselves; he added that the coaching staff is also keeping its eyes open for transfers or late additions to the recruiting class.

The second printing of the UA schedule poster won't include now-departed Delashaun Dean, No. 18 on the left.

In an interview this week with Fox 11′s Vinnie Vinzetta, Arizona football coach Mike Stoops said that “outside of Autzen Stadium, I think we have the best stadium in the Pac-10 when you look at the overall environment. Hopefully, that will improve and we can have the same environment that they do in Oregon.”

The Zona Zoo deserves a lot of credit for making Arizona Stadium a much crazier place that it used to be on game day, and, hopefully, the student section now has learned its lesson about prematurely rushing the field.

A full Stoops interview will appear on Fox 11′s Sports Force on Sunday night. …

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles was selected last week to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien quarterback award, which only seems right. There are 30 names on the list, and Foles is probably around 20 to 25 if you had to rank everyone in order.

Foles is not taking a second-semester summer class, but he did in the first session, when his routine also included about two hours in the weight room with strength coach Corey Edmond, followed by working on quarterback fundamentals for 15 to 30 minutes, and then some one-on-ones and seven-on-seven drills with his teammates in the late afternoon. …

Foles told us this week that in the wake of the transfer of senior receiver Delashaun Dean that inside receiver David Douglas is now working at the “Z” outside position in informal workouts. The pre-fall depth chart lists Travis Cobb (who made no impact in the passing game last season) and junior college transfer Dexter Ransom at “Z”.

NOTE: This story was part of the “Nothing but the Notes” package at our TucsonCitizen.com Sports Network partner, WildcatSportsReport.com. Follow the link for basketball recruiting news, including on Mesa guard Jahii Carson and more.

A few weeks ago, WildcatSportsReport.com reported that Ransom had successfully completed his coursework and was awaiting his paperwork to clear. That will now take longer. Ransom has had to re-submit some paperwork and is still waiting clearance. He is currently working out but is not able to attend summer school at Arizona.

Gino Crump, listed as a backup to Juron Criner at the other outside position, could also help fill Dean’s void. …

New Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne was in South Bend this weekend with former UA coach Dick Tomey as part of the UA contingent to help usher in Chuck Cecil to the College Football Hall of Fame. …

Quite naturally, given his status as a starter and would-be fifth-year senior, Dean was included in the first printing of Arizona’s football schedule poster, which features action cutouts of players on either side of senior center Colin Baxter, ready to snap the ball. That is also the picture on the schedule magnet.

Dean’s suspension and transfer came too late for Arizona officials to change the image on those products, but Dean will be scrubbed from future printings of the poster. Dean’s image had appeared between those of defensive end Brooks Reed and cornerback Trevin Wade on the left side of the poster. …

Jennie Finch takes a swing at the 2010 All-Star celebrity softball game at Angel Stadium/Photo by Kirby Lee, US Presswire

Not that it’s ever bad to be Jennie Finch, but the former UA All-American pitcher had an especially interesting A-list kind of week.

She started with an appearance in Monday’s celebrity softball game at the All-Star Game — she delivered a slow-pitch offering that Rickey Henderson took over the temporary fence for a home run, and he then strutted around the bases with a “flaps down” home run trot.

From there, Finch walked the red carpet at Wednesday’s ESPY Award ceremonies and then was back in uniform for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league. In the celebrity softball game, Henderson seemed especially motivated after Finch got a first-pitch strike using one of her more traditional fastballs. …

Former Arizona first baseman C.J. Ziegler is playing for Traverse City (Mich.) in the independent Frontier League. Ziegler was the runner-up this week in the league’s Home Run Derby, and he went 2-for-3 at the All-Star Game for the East team.

It’s a long road to the majors from the independent leagues, but it does happen — as was the case this season for outfielder Daniel Nava, who was purchased a few years ago from the Chico Outlaws for $1 by the Red Sox.

What’s more, backup running back Keola Antolin, who offers some of the big-play potential that Grigsby has, is questionable because of a shoulder injury that forced him out early in the second quarter of last Saturday’s game against Oregon. Antolin, however, was asked Monday about that, and he said, “I didn’t know that until right now.”

Antolin still has to be further examined before a decision is made.

Arizona likely will be down to third-stringer Greg Nwoko and fourth-stringer Nick Booth.

“It has hurt us,” offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said, talking about dealing with chronic injuries to Grigsby and Antolin through the Pac-10 schedule. “We’ve not had as many big plays as we’re used to having around here.”

Also, slot receiver David Douglas is out for this week because of a thigh injury, Stoops said.

Phillip Garcia was part of a 2008 junior college recruiting class that is providing five key players for the Wildcats/Tucson Citizen photo

In UA’s case, let’s chop that time frame down to about 18 months.

Arizona is 4-2 at the halfway point of the 2009 season, and, barring an upset, will go to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-10, which would make the Wildcats a legit contender for the conference title (and the program’s first Rose Bowl … but you knew that).

The Cats get UCLA on Saturday and then, after a bye, Washington State. Both games are at home. Those two opponents are a combined 0-7 in the Pac-10.

One of the reasons the Wildcats are doing so well is that 2008 recruiting class. The UA signed 23 players in that class, and then added another guy late in spring. You might have heard of him. Quarterback Nick Foles, a transfer from Michigan State.

The Wildcats would be in a bad way (or at least a not-as-good way) if the coaches hadn’t successfully plugged holes with junior college transfers. After all, that’s why you recruit those guys in the first place.

It’s often hit and miss with junior college recruits, but Arizona “hit” with offensive linemen Mike Diaz, Phillip Garcia and Herman Hall, and linebackers Vuna Tuihalamaka and Sterling Lewis. Not only are they starting-level players (a combined 21 starts this season), they successfully bridged the recruiting gap so UA could develop younger recruits who will be ready to take over next season.

The only JC transfer miss was offensive lineman J’Marcus Webb. He was the highest-rated of the bunch but was the only member of the entire class to not qualify. He is now at lower-division West Texas. Anyway, it’s a blessing to hit so well on five of six junior college recruits.

Among the high school kids in that class, Arizona is already getting key production from running backs Keola Antolin and Greg Nwoko. At receiver, David Douglas (25 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns) and Juron Criner (23 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns) are key members of the rotation.

Robert Golden is the starting strong safety. Vaughn Dotsy was starting at right guard before suffering a concussion and is back at least as a key member of the playing rotation.

It’s hard to know what to make of the future of quarterback Matt Scott, who was supplanted as the starter after three games by Foles, who shows no intention of giving it back. Foles, because of his late transfer, wasn’t factored into the UA’s class ranking in 2008 … which shows one of the inherent flaws of banking opinions on recruiting rankings.

Other members of the class, such as OL Trace Biskin, LB R.J. Young and DT Jowyn Ward, seem ready to emerge next season.

There’s another trend at work here.

Call it the Rise of the Two-Star Recruits.

(That’s another reason to not get all aflutter over football recruiting rankings.)

USC gets all five- and four-star recruits, and good for them. You’d rather take your chances with those kind of guys than a team filled with two-star prospects. Arizona’s recruits tend to be of the three-star variety, with a few bigger stars mixed in.

But take a look at the players signed by UA coach Mike Stoops who were rated only two stars by either Rivals.com or Scout.com, or both:

2004
DL Yaniv Barnett
OL Joe Longacre
DB Dominic Patrick
CB Antoine Cason

2005
LB Spencer Larsen (coming back from a church mission)

2006
DT Lolomana Mikaele

2007
CB Trevin Wade
WR Bug Wright

2008
RB Greg Nwoko
WR Juron Criner
WR David Douglas
OL Herman Hall

That’s a major-award winner and a first-round draft pick (Cason), a first-team all-conference linebacker and valuable 2008 NFL rookie (Spencer Larsen), a 40-game starter on the offensive line (Longacre) … and several players from 2006 to 2008 who look to be significant contributors for a few more years.

When I was recently doing a story on Wade, I asked defensive coordinator Mark Stoops about finding those kind of gems.

“Certainly, some kids get so much hype and so much recruitment that it’s undeserved,” Stoops said. “And other kids, you find that they’re just good ball players.

“We don’t have the bells and whistles around here to go get a bunch of four- and five-star recruits. It’s just not going to happen. So we have to do a great job of evaluation and do a great job of developing.

“We’re always going to go after them (the four- and five-star recruits) — and not just because they are four- and five-star guys. We’re going to recruit the best players we can get. But there are a lot of good programs out there, and we have our obstacles that we must overcome.”

Getting back to the original point … it seems as if Arizona overcame everything just fine in its modestly ranked but high-performing 2008 recruiting class.