Jake Fischer left last season's spring game on a cart. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

New Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez says much of his first spring with the Wildcats will be about evaluation, and he’ll withhold judgment — and a depth chart — until the end of spring ball.

That won’t stop him from being eager to see, among others, linebacker Jake Fischer.

Fischer, who was one of five UA players who sat out last season because of a torn ACL, is a “full-go” for the spring, Rodriguez said Thursday.

“He’s worked so hard,” Rodriguez said.

“Without question, Jake Fischer is going to be one of our leaders defensively. I can see why the coaching staff missed him so much last year. He’s an athletic guy who is a tough guy. He’s a football player. I’m sure that was a huge loss.”

Fischer started as a sophomore in 2010, making 58 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. He suffered a torn ACL near the end of spring game.

Although depth is an issue at linebacker, Fischer and Akron transfer Brian Wagner — a graduate student who is the nation’s leading returning tackler — give the Wildcats a solid starting point. Rob Hankins and Hank Hobson played as true freshmen last season. Dame Ndiaye, a rangy, raw freshman who redshirted last season as a defensive end, is now listed at linebacker.

As for the other players returning from injury, safety Adam Hall — another potential leader on defense — “is doing everything now.” Running back Greg Nwoko and defensive tackle Willie Mobley should be able to do everything, or close to it, this spring, as well.

The fifth member of the ACL club, cornerback Jonathan McKnight, is on a later rehab schedule because he was hurt in fall camp. Rodriguez sounded encouraged by McKnight’s progress, saying he is “doing most of the stuff right now,” although the sophomore likely will be held out of scrimmage situations.

Other injury news: Starting left tackle Mickey Baucus underwent back surgery and will be limited this spring. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready for August,” Rodriguez said. Older brother Jack Baucus, who was moved from tight end to tackle last season, also will be limited this spring. Jack suffered from a variety of injuries last season.

* * *

Rodriguez said he approved of the new kickoff rules that go into effect in 2012.

In an effort to reduce the violent collisions and injuries on kickoffs, the NCAA moved the kickoff from the 30-yard line to the 35, increasing the odds of a touchback. Additionally, members of the kick coverage team can be 5 yards behind the ball, not 10, reducing their running start.

“That is, without question, the most dangerous play in football,” Rodriguez said of the kickoff.

Touchbacks will not be marked at the 25-yard line, not the 20.

There has been some speculation that the new rules would encourage kickers to pooch the ball near the goal line, with the coverage team trying to make the tackle before the 25.

Rodriguez said he won’t mess with that strategy.

“I don’t know if we’re fast enough to get down there and cover it in time, especially with only a 5-yard start,” Rodriguez said.

Senior kicker John Bonano has a strong leg and recorded 22 touchbacks on 67 attempts last season.

“When the rule come in, I told him, ‘It’s the 35-yard line,’ and he had a big smile on his face,” Rodriguez said.

“I said, ‘So that means you’re going to kick every one through the end zone.’ He said, ‘I should be able to, Coach.’ I’ll take that every time.”

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Rodriguez confirmed that defensive linemen Sani Fuimaono and Aiulua Fanene — who aren’t listed on the spring roster — are on two-year church missions. They each indicated they intend to return to Arizona after their missions. … Safety Josh Robbins is unable to continue football because of a back injury. Robbins, from Canyon del Oro High School, redshirted in 2010 and missed last season because of injury. … Rodriguez said he would like to look into uniform changes, but it was too late to any tweaks for next season. … Rodriguez spoke recently to TucsonCitizen.com contributors Victor Rodriguez and Matt Minkus of the local 110SportsPodcast.com. Here is a link to the interview.

Former Ironwood Ridge High quarterback Tyler D'Amore is one of several new walk-ons on the roster. 2010 photo by Andy Morales, TucsonCitizen.com

Spring football is right around the corner — the Arizona Wildcats start Monday — and the university has updated the team’s roster.

What’s new?

Well, there are a couple of sophomore walk-on quarterbacks that we have told you about it — Tyler D’Amore from Ironwood Ridge High and Alex Cappellini, who graduated from Pinnacle High in Phoenix.

Coach Rich Rodriguez added several other walk-ons at the semester break, including a pair of former Scottsdale Chaparral High players. They are freshman linebacker Kyle Combs, who redshirted at Southern Illinois last season, and offensive lineman Carter Wood, who redshirted last season at Colorado Mesa College.

Wood is the son of former defensive tackle David Wood, who started at Arizona in the early 1980s, and is the nephew of ex-Cat linebacker Brent Wood, who played from 1983 to 1986.

Other walk-ons include:

–Junior kicker Jake Smith, who began his career at Syracuse and was a kickoff specialist at Youngstown State before his transfer.

–Defensive tackle Tevin Hood, a former All-Arizona player from Chandler Hamilton High (more info on him at the bottom of this story).

–Wide receiver Vince Miles, a freshman from St. Francis High in Mountain View, Calif. He mostly played defensive back as a senior in 2010, leading the team with 64 tackles.

Also, as expected, long-snapper Chase Gorham is back. He started as a true freshman in 2010 before leaving the team for personal reasons in 2011 fall camp.

So, who isn’t on the roster?

Defensive tackle Sani Fuimaono, who started two games last season as a freshman and made seven tackles, said last fall he was going to take a church mission. Another freshman defensive tackle, Aiulua Fanene, isn’t listed, either. It’s possible he is on a church mission, too.

Rodriguez could clarify Fanene’s status at a pre-spring press conference Thursday morning.

Also, safety Josh Robbins from Canyon del Oro High School, is no longer on the roster. He missed last season because of a back injury.

Coming off a disappointing junior season, Trevin Wade was more dedicated this spring. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Here is the ninth 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: I talked with new secondary coach Ryan Walters to get his breakdown of a position group that should be the strength of the defense.

INTRO

Perhaps the biggest news of the offseason in the Arizona secondary was the surprising coaching changes.

Head coach Mike Stoops, in a bold move, hired arguably the best in the business — former UA assistant Duane Akina — away from Texas. A few weeks later, in mid-February, Akina, citing family reasons, returned to the Longhorns when his old job became available again.

Stoops then went from the veteran savvy of Akina to the rookie coaching of 25-year-old Ryan Walters, who served last season as a graduate assistant, working with the defensive backs.

“I knew instantly he was going to be a rising star in this profession,” Stoops said.

Walters, a former defensive back at Colorado, inherits the defense’s best position group, led by established senior starters Trevin Wade and Robert Golden and a promising trio of sophomores.

Trevin Wade

He’s a “bounce-back” candidate after a disappointing junior season in which he briefly lost his starting job. Wade entered last season as a legit candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.

“Trevin did a great job this spring in putting last year’s performance behind him,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “His practice habits from last fall to this spring were leaps and bounds better.”

Wade, one of the several unheralded recruiting gems unearthed by coach Mike Stoops and his staff, intercepted four passes as a backup in 2008 and picked off five passes as a starter in 2009. He made just one interception last season, and his number of passes defended went from 14 to four.

“He really had an outstanding performance this spring, interceptions after interception,” Walters said.

Robert Golden

Golden was fine at cornerback last season after starting at strong safety in 2009. He broke up a team-high 12 passes.

But the Wildcats have plenty of cornerbacks, including a pair of athletic sophomores in Jonathan McKnight and Shaquille Richardson — and Golden was needed back at safety full time when safety Adam Hall suffered an ACL injury this spring.

“I just have to adapt to the position again,” Golden said.

Safety might not be as glamorous as cornerback, but Golden said he embraced the change. His
experience and versatility make him a leader in the secondary.

“Safety is probably his better position anyway,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “I think it worked out for the better.”

Marquis Flowers should step into a starting role as a sophomore. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Marquis Flowers

Flowers, from Goodyear Millennium High School, was the headliner in Arizona’s 2010 recruiting class, arguably the best player from the state. He was a multi-purpose threat in high school, but the UA coaches immediately put his size and athleticism to work on defense as a true freshman.

At 6-3, 220 pounds, he might be the secondary’s fastest player, said secondary coach Ryan Walters.

Flowers’ role, entering the spring, was going to be as the nickel back, but Adam Hall’s ACL injury launched Flowers into a starting job at safety. He made 11 tackles last season in limited duty.

“Marquis is a guy who has to come into his own,” coach Mike Stoops said. “And I think he will this year.”

Adam Hall

The hard-hitting junior was projected to be one of the top playmakers on Arizona’s defense this season, but his availability is in doubt because of an ACL injury suffered during spring practice. Hall, who was a two-way star at Tucson’s Palo Verde High School, has a redshirt year available if he can’t make it back for 2011.

As the team gets into camp and he continues his rehab, the coaches might better be able to peg a possible return date.

“We would love to have Adam,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “He was going to be a premier safety in this conference and in college football.”

Hall was the nickel back a year ago, making 54 tackles and intercepting two passes, and his aggressive play gave opposing ball-carriers someone to fear.

Jonathan McKnight

With Robert Golden moving back to safety and fellow sophomore Shaquille Richardson sitting out spring because of a shoulder injury, McKnight got all the practice work he could handle in the spring. He absolutely took advantage of the opportunity.

“He got a tremendous amount of reps that he needed, and he was impressive in terms of the improvement he was able to make,” secondary coach Ryan Walters said.

“He was lights-out in terms of practice. He came out to compete, and that competitiveness is what makes him a good corner.”

McKnight, the brother of former USC running back Joe McKnight, played some last year as a true freshman, making 12 tackles and breaking up two passes. From the arrival of McKnight and Richardson, coach Mike Stoops has said they were as advanced as any young cornerbacks he had been around.

Shaquille Richardson

The one-time UCLA signee will resume his push for a starting job in camp after sitting out the spring because of a shoulder injury. He seemed to be next in line last season, when he started three games, made 29 tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up seven.

“I expect him to be leaps and bounds better than what he was last year,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “He is still physically maturing.”

Walters said that Richardson has been going through the team’s summer program, putting up good workout numbers under the eye of strength coach Corey Edmond.

Whether it’s Richardson or Jonathan McKnight who wins a starting cornerback job, the other figures to be the nickel back, which is nearly a full-time spot in Arizona’s scheme.

Josh Robbins will have to be ready to catch some playing time as a redshirt freshman. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Josh Robbins

Robbins was an important recruit for coach Mike Stoops in the 2010 class. Not only is Robbins a local kid from Canyon del Oro High who earned Arizona Republic first-team Class 4A all-state honors, but he was a legacy recruit. His father, Randy, is a former UA star defensive back and NFL player, as well as an ex-UA assistant coach.

And Josh has size and talent.

“Josh is a big safety who shows a lot of potential,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “We have to see how he competes in the fall and how fast he picks up the defense on a weekly basis. I definitely expect him to get some playing time this season.”

Robbins redshirted last season as a true freshman.

Jourdon Grandon

He didn’t arrive with the same fanfare as some of the other defensive backs in the 2010 recruiting class, but perhaps that’s because he missed nine games as a senior at Avondale’s Westview High School. Still, his past performances helped him land on the Tacoma News-Tribune’s Western 100 list.

Grandon redshirted last season but made a case this spring to earn backup’s minutes at cornerback or at nickel back.

“He had a tremendous spring, and he’s had a good offseason,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters.

Grandon also played quarterback in high school, throwing for 1,526 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior at Westview.

Mark Watley

Watley, a redshirt junior, is entering his fourth season in the program, so he should know his way around the defense. He will enter camp vying for time at a safety position, and he should continue to contribute on special teams as he did last season.

“He’s got to show progress in fall camp and be more aggressive,” secondary coach Ryan Walters said. “We need him to be more aggressive.”

Others to watch in the secondary include sophomore cornerback Derrick Rainey and incoming freshman safety Cortez Johnson, who seems to have the size and physical skills to contribute right away.

Adam Hall (middle) reacts to a defensive stop in the fourth quarter of last season's game against Arizona State. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats starting free safety Adam Hall, who suffered a torn ACL during Wednesday’s practice, says the injury won’t cost him the entire 2011 season.

“I do anticipate playing at some point of this year,” Hall said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Arizona Stadium.

As far as when he’ll undergo surgery and the timeline of the rehab … well, that will just have to wait for now.

Head coach Mike Stoops estimated it could be a seventh-month injury, which means the Wildcats would be through October by the time Hall is ready. Hall said he is hoping for a shorter recovery time.

In the meantime, he will be doing a lot of what he did Saturday — yelling encouragement to his fellow defensive backs.

“That’s going to be my role until I’m ready to play,” said Hall, who appeared to be in good spirits.

“There is a lot of stuff that goes into our defense and there are a lot of young players who are just starting the system. … It will still be an opportunity for me to take mental reps and still be a leader and part of the team as far as being able to get ready for the season. It’s going to be around the corner really fast.”

Hall, who was the team’s nickel back last season and fifth-leading tackler (54), was projected into an even bigger role as a junior. He does have a redshirt season available.

In his absence, senior Robert Golden moves from starting cornerback to full-time safety, where he played for his first two seasons. He likely was going to play a lot of safety anyway, as Arizona is well-stocked at cornerback with senior Trevin Wade and sophomores Shaquille Richardson and Jonathan McKnight.

“Just trying to adapt to the position again,” Golden said. “I have been getting a lot of reps at safety through spring ball so once Adam went down, then that made it official. … I know I have to fill some big shoes.”

Stoops said he likes some of his younger safeties, naming redshirt freshmen Josh Robbins and Jourdon Grandon.

Sophomore Marquis Flowers, who likely would have been the nickel back this season, likely becomes a starting safety, although Stoops said the team will have to evaluate whether he is better closer to the ball or as a deep safety.