Richard Morrison heads for the end zone on his 63-yard punt return vs. Washington last season. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona senior Richard Morrison, seemingly stalled in his football career, decided he needed to move backward in order to push forward.

Morrison, who has been a quarterback, receiver and punt returner in his four years in Tucson, went to coach Rich Rodriguez this semester and put in for a transfer to a new position. Hey, coach, let me try defense.

Morrison, who has been working on his backpedal for several weeks, worked out with the cornerbacks Saturday morning as the Wildcats opened spring practice.

He’s happy to be spending his time going backward on the football field.

“Basically, since I got here when I was a quarterback, I had always wanted to play cornerback if I didn’t play quarterback,” Morrison said. “I got switched to wide receiver and I was good at it, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

“I went and talked to Coach Rod and he was a little iffy about it at first and then he was like, ‘OK, I’ll let you try it out.’ So he gave me the opportunity and I’m trying to make the best of it.”

Morrison’s timing is good because Shaquille Richardson and Jonathan McKnight, who combined to start 20 games last season, are limited this spring while they recover from shoulder injuries.

“It’s a big blessing because if they were here, I probably wouldn’t get these reps,” Morrison said.

“I probably would be third (team) or like on the scout team. Right now, I get more reps and the opportunity is great for me. … I feel like I can play any position and I was like, this is my chance, my last opportunity.”

Morrison practiced as a quarterback through spring of last season but he went back to receiver after the coaches became comfortable in the fall with B.J. Denker as the backup. Morrison made 23 catches for 171 yards as a slot receiver in the first six games, but he fell out of favor because of some dropped passes. He ended up as a reserve quarterback when starter Matt Scott had a concussion problem late in the season.

Morrison didn’t have a catch in the final seven games and he lost his punt return job in the final four games.

Arizona’s best and deepest position is probably receiver, but the Cats need someone to push Richardson, McKnight and Derrick Rainey at cornerback.

Richard Morrison caught 64 passes for 560 yards in the past three seasons. Photo by Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

“I think he knows we need some competition there,” Rodriguez said.

“We’re down a few corners this spring so he’s going to get a lot of reps. He’s athletic enough to help us. I don’t know if I have moved anybody this late in his career for that, but if you’re athletic enough you can do it.

“Our scheme is simple enough that it’s not going to burden him from that standpoint. I like Richard; he’s a good football player. He can play offensively; he can always go back to the other side.”

Morrison arrived as a dual-threat quarterback from Royse City (Texas) High School but switched to receiver after redshirting in 2009. He has 64 career receptions, including four for touchdowns, and is hoping to cash in that experience in order to shorten the learning curve at cornerback.

He played some safety in high school.

“I know how to read the hips and I know the intentions of the quarterback and the wide receiver,” he said. “Basically, I’ve been doing it my whole life. It’s easy to read. It’s a little different on defense, but I feel I have a better advantage than other corners do.”

Morrison said he’s hoping to get another crack on punt returns — a 63-yarder for a score was his 2012 highlight — and he’s able and willing to help elsewhere on special teams. He worked as a kick blocker off the edge in early periods of Saturday’s practice.

This experiment might be a long shot, but at least Morrison fits the description of RichRod’s kind of guy — hungry.

“He really wants to play and he wants to prove himself,” Rodriguez said, “so I thought this was a good move.”

* * *

Another possibility at cornerback: junior Jourdon Grandon, who started nine games at free safety last season. He’ll practice with the cornerbacks for now, although he could always move back to safety.

“There is a lot more fundamental work you have to do at corner rather than free, so Jourdon doing that this spring is going to give us a little more depth there,” Rodriguez said. “And he’s fast enough to do that.”

Tucson kid Jake Fischer didn’t get to play against Arizona State last season. Photo by Rick Scuteri-US PRESSWIRE

The first-year coaching staffs at Arizona and Arizona State are eager/determined/desperate to get the stronger foothold into in-state recruiting, and striking first in the Territorial Cup couldn’t hurt.

Todd Graham’s first recruiting class at ASU included running back D.J. Foster, who might turn into the Devils’ version of Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey.

Rich Rodriguez hired Scottsdale Chaparral High coach Charlie Ragle, establishing a pipeline to a school that traditionally has sent players to Tempe. Ragle is UA’s assistant operations director and liaison for high school relations.

Graham countered by hiring veteran Valley high school coach John Wrenn to a similar position.

Both programs have work to do. Of the top 10 in-state prospects last year, as ranked by Rivals.com, seven of them left the state — including five to rival Pac-12 schools.

Here’s a look at 10 in-state prospects who stayed and who could make a difference when Arizona and Arizona State clash Friday night:

Arizona RB Ka’Deem Carey, Tucson Canyon del Oro High

Well, of course. He has 570 rushing yards just in the past two games (which is more than Tulane and Washington State have had all season).

Carey’s best day as a freshman came in last season’s win over Arizona State — 13 carries for 92 yards, four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Carey is the nation’s leading rusher this season with 1,585 yards, and can you imagine how bitter Arizona fans would be if he was wearing ASU colors? He nearly committed to ASU — he called it a “great school” this week — but picked the Cats on Signing Day.

So, he’s a hometown hero who has especially impressed with how hard he plays, how tough he runs.

“I love contact,” he said. “If you’re not going to come at me 100 percent, then you’re going to pay.”

As for ASU?

“They are going to come with than 100 percent, so I have to be ready for that,” he said.

Arizona State CB Deveron Carr, Scottsdale Chaparral

The senior is an experienced cornerback who has started 32 games in his career, including every one this season. He has 21 tackles this year, with one interception and seven pass break-ups. Graham said last week: “I think Carr is probably the most improved player in the program.”

Carr had five tackles and a pass break-up vs. Arizona last season.

Arizona LB Jake Fischer, Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge

The junior is Arizona’s leading tackler with 98, putting together a successful comeback season after missing 2011 because of a torn ACL.

He remembers his first trip to play at ASU in 2009, walking out of the tunnel at Sun Devil Stadium.

“You had 60, 70-year-olds with ASU stuff on, flipping the guys off as they were walking out,” he said after Tuesday’s practice. “It shows that no matter how old you are, you’re always going to rep your colors. I like that.”

Arizona LB Marquis Flowers, Goodyear Millennium

The junior is adjusting better all the time to linebacker after being moved from safety late in fall camp. Flowers has 38 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks, in the past four games. He also has two interceptions, both against USC, in that span.

“He’s still learning. It’s like going to job training,” defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel said a few weeks ago. “For him to be doing some of the things he’s doing is remarkable.”

Flowers has the kind of ranginess and athleticism Arizona likes in its outside linebackers, although this could be just a one-year thing at outside linebacker, depending on how next year’s defense shapes up.

“He’s done it unselfishly,” Casteel said. “That I think speaks volumes for the way he is. I’m sure he’s thought of himself as a safety. He’s helped our football team immensely.”

D.J. Foster scored on this 23-yard run vs. Oregon. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizona State RB D.J. Foster, Scottsdale Saguaro

Foster was the centerpiece of Graham’s first recruiting class, and he hasn’t disappointed, sharing caries in the backfield with Cameron Marshall and Marion Grice, and being active in the passing game.

Foster has 85 carries for 443 yards and is third on the team in receptions with 34 for 484 yards. He has six total touchdowns.

Graham, in one of his weekly press conferences last month, recalled his first impression of Foster during recruiting.

“I watched him score 10 touchdowns in one game. My first impression on film was, ‘Wow, this guy’s a special player,’” Graham said.

“The dynamics of his ability to run the ball and his ability to catch the ball are special. He’s not a very big guy but he’s a really good inside runner. He’s a complete back. On film, I thought, ‘This is a guy we have to get.’ …

“He’s a guy that’s all in and is buying in. I think he is becoming a leader as a true freshman and that’s pretty hard to do.”

Arizona S Jourdon Grandon, Avondale Westview

He missed the Colorado game two weeks ago because of a concussion, then was used in a reserve role last week at Utah. Before that, he started the first nine games, and he ranks fifth on the Wildcats with 55 tackles.

In a banged-up secondary, the more he can play Friday, the better it will be for Arizona.

Arizona State NT Jaxon Hood, Chandler Hamilton

This has been one of the storylines of the week with the Hood family having a player on each side of the rivalry. Jaxon is a true freshman at Arizona State. Tevin is a junior nose tackle for Arizona.

“I won’t go out of my way to say anything (this week), but I’ll let him know what the deal is,” Tevin said.

And what’s the deal? Jaxon figures to have a chance to make a bigger impact. He has started every game at nose tackle — remarkable for the true freshman — and has three sacks. Tevin will see time behind Sione Tuihalamaka.

Arizona State FS Keelan Johnson

Johnson, a senior who has four interceptions and 73 tackles, can’t forget Arizona celebrating on the Sun Devil Stadium turf last season.

“When they were down here they stomped on the pitchfork,” he said this week. “That’s one of the things I’ll remember and I’ll use it to my advantage.”

And what kind of challenge does he see from the Arizona offense?

“It all comes back down to what we need to do,” he said. “As long as we can stop the run and rattle the quarterback, everything else should take care of itself.”

Arizona State WR/PR Jamal Miles, Peoria High

He has had a disappointing senior season after being one of the nation’s top all-purpose threats a year ago. Miles scored nine times in 2011 — six by receiving, two on kick returns and one on a punt return — but has zero scores this season.

All it takes is one good game — one key play — against Arizona to change how everyone feels about his senior year.

Arizona S Jared Tevis, Tucson Canyon del Oro

The former walk-on has been quite a find for Rodriguez, and Tevis was probably the team’s best defender through the first month of the season before being sidelined by an ankle injury.

That kept him out for two games, and he hasn’t made as many big plays since his return, although you never know when those big plays are going to happen. He had two interceptions and three forced fumbles in the first four games.

Matt Scott is almost certainly going to be more standing on the sideline than running Saturday. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats starting quarterback Matt Scott is considered doubtful to play Saturday against visiting Colorado, according to the team’s official injury report.

Scott suffered a concussion last Saturday at UCLA. His likely absence clears the way for junior college transfer quarterback B.J. Denker to start vs. the Buffaloes (11:30 a.m., FX). His backup will be receiver Richard Morrison, who worked at the position through spring and a bit of fall camp.

Two other starters are also doubtful while recovering from concussions — free safety Jourdon Grandon and offensive guard Chris Putton. Each has started every game this season.

Putton has started at both guard spots, also playing left tackle during games. Arizona can use a combination of Shane Zink, Trace Biskin (who recently returned from a toe injury), true freshman Cayman Bundage and Addison Bachman at guard.

Bachman has started the past four games at center, but can slide to guard now that Kyle Quinn is back.

Grandon’s backup on the depth chart is walk-on freshman Vince Miles, although the coaching staff can mix and match its safety combinations.

Elsewhere on the depth chart:

–Defensive lineman Kirifi Taula, who has missed the past three games because of a shoulder injury, has been upgraded to probable.

–Fullback/defensive end Taimi Tutogi, who did not play last week because of a neck injury suffered in practice, is questionable.

–Linebacker Hank Hobson, who has hospitalized last Saturday night in Los Angeles after collapsing on the field, is out because of a neck injury.

Continuing to be out are starting defensive end Dominique Austin (foot) and starting wide receiver Terrence Miller (ankle).

Sophomore safety Jared Tevis has been part of five turnovers in four games. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Back in spring, the three players who now form the Arizona Wildcats group of starting safeties were a walk-on, a guy on suspension and somebody the former coaching staff kept on the bench for half a season.

All sophomores, Jared Tevis, Tra’Mayne Bondurant and Jourdon Grandon have been the cornerstone of the Cats’ new 3-3-5 defense.

“It’s probably the most productive part of our defense,” coach Rich Rodriguez said of the safeties.

Start with Tevis.

The walk-on from Canyon del Oro High School played last season on special teams and he impressed the new UA coaches in the spring, but it would have been impossible to predict his fast start to the season:

Thirty-nine tackles in four games, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

“I had big goals coming into this season,” said Tevis, who was put on scholarship this summer. “I had a lot of goals in my mind that people wouldn’t have even been thinking of before the season.”

Now, he never leaves the field, also playing on special teams.

“That kid the other night played 90 plays (against Oregon),” safeties coach Tony Gibson said of Tevis.

“And he was playing as hard as he could from play 1 to play 90. He was wearing out wideouts. He was knocking helmets off. He’s just a tough-ass kid who does everything we ask him to do. He plays with a chip on his shoulder.”

Tevis plays the “Bandit” safety position, which is something like a strong safety spot. Bondurant is the “Spur” safety, more of a hybrid safety/linebacker who gets to be a disruptive force in the backfield. He leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss.

“They are doing a heck of a job right now, and they should in this defense,” Gibson said. “In this defense, we kind of highlight these guys to make those plays.”

Based on what we saw last season, we knew Bondurant could be a playmaker. He got his first extended chance as a true freshman in 2011 after Mike Stoops was fired at midseason.

Interim coach Tim Kish put Bondurant into the starting lineup against UCLA, and he responded with eight tackles. Playing as a linebacker/nickel back, Bondurant went on to earn honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors while essentially playing half a season.

“You would look at him on the street and wouldn’t think he’s a great football player by any means,” Gibson said.

“But he has a knack for the ball. Knows where he’s at. He maneuvers his body in ways you can’t even coach. It makes my job a lot easier.”

The only things big about Bondurant (5-10, 207) and Tevis (5-10, 197) are the chips on the shoulders. They play with a certain edge, combined with smarts and uncommon instincts. Rodriguez credits these two, plus junior linebacker Jake Fischer, as being able to quickly diagnose plays and get to the ball.

“A lot of the better players as you go through time, whether it’s Ray Lewis or Ed Reed or Tedy Bruschi or Chuck Cecil, I bet all those guys had that one genetic gene that allowed them to trigger things in their mind a step quicker than the average guy,” Rodriguez said.

Grandon, the free safety, falls under the tutelage of cornerbacks coach David Lockwood. Grandon came back from a spring suspension for his part in an off-campus fight and claimed the starting spot in fall camp. He has four pass break-ups.

Grandon played cornerback and safety last season, starting four games.

“He’s a tough guy,” Rodriguez said.

“He’s a physical guy who is a very good athlete. He’s still learning. We’ve moved him around a little bit, but I think we’ve found a home for him and he’s pretty solid there.”

Rodriguez is in one-game-at-a-time mode, so he’s not thinking of how this trio of sophomores could all grow up together in the next couple of seasons. What’s more, cornerback Jonathan McKnight is a sophomore. The other cornerback, Shaquille Richardson, is a junior.

There’s a promising future in the secondary, with Tevis and Bondurant, in particular, manning those playmaking safety positions.

“Jared probably could have been our player of the week in every week so far,” Rodriguez said. “He and Tra’Mayne, they just have a feel for the game.”

Offensive tackle Fabbians Ebbele blocks Washington defensive end Andrew Hudson last season. Photo by Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats sophomore Fabbians Ebbele, who started every game last season at right tackle, is nowhere to be found on the team’s depth chart entering camp.

For a while, it looked as if he might not be on the team at all, but assault charges stemming from a brawl at a party in early March were dismissed this summer.

Ebbele and defensive back Jourdon Grandon had been facing a court date based on the incident.

Both players are off suspension and will get a chance to work their way into the good graces of first-year coach Rich Rodriguez when fall camp begins with a Thursday night practice.

“They paid a punishment and they needed to,” Rodriguez said. “They realized they made a mistake.”

Like most positions on the team, the offensive line is in flux, despite the return of all five starters.

You can count on senior Kyle Quinn at center, and senior Trace Biskin is fairly well set at right guard. After that …

For now, 2011 starting left guard Chris Putton is No. 1 at left tackle. Mickey Baucus, last season’s starting left tackle is listed with redshirt freshmen Jacob Arzouman and Lene Maiava as potential starters at right tackle. Seniors Addison Bachman and Shane Zink enter camp as co-starters at left guard.

It might all yet shake out that Ebbele and Baucus return to their 2011 starting roles. Asked about Baucus being listed at right tackle, Rodriguez answered, “Is he?” indicating that he doesn’t much care about the depth chart right now. Let competition in fall camp sort it all out.

“I hope he can play both (tackle spots),” Rodriguez said of Baucus, who should be ready to go in camp after missing spring because of back surgery. “I’m just glad he is back healthy again.”

Arizona lists 11 offensive linemen on its depth chart, not counting Ebbele and tackle Jack Baucus, who won’t be ready for the start of camp because of a knee injury.

“I know it was really hurting him not to be out there this spring,” Rodriguez said of Ebbele.

“At the same time, I think it made him hopefully appreciate the opportunity he has to play for us,” Rodriguez said.

“I think he is ready to come out in August and prove it to the coaches because we haven’t seen him at all, other than on film. I know he is anxious to prove himself.”
 
* * *

Redshirt sophomore safeties Jared Tevis and Blake Brady earned scholarships after spring ball, Rodriguez said.

Awarding a scholarship to a walk-on who has been in the program at least two years does not count toward a team’s limit of giving out 25 initial scholarships in a year. It only counts toward the overall scholarship limit of 85 — and Rodriguez had room to spare.

“If we have an open space and a guy who is a third-year, fourth-year (walk-on), I like to reward him, rather than having it sit there,” Rodriguez said.

Tevis, from Canyon del Oro High School, is listed as a starter at one safety position. Arizona lists Brady as a backup at two of the three safety spots in the 3-3-5 defense.

Tevis (5-10, 198) doesn’t have great size, but Rodriguez — a former walk-on at West Virginia — recognizes the traits in successful walk-on stories.

“He reminds me of some guys we have had in the past — hungry, a little chip on their shoulder, wants to prove themselves,” Rodriguez said. “All they needed was an opportunity.

“Because he’s a walk-on, people assume he’s not athletic. But he’s more athletic than you think. He’s a tough guy and I know he’s going to play a lot of football for us.”

* * *

Quarterback Nick Isham isn’t eligible this season after his transfer from Louisiana Tech, but he’ll spend this fall getting ready to compete for the starting job next spring.

He joined the Wildcats over the summer.

Rodriguez said Isham, who started the first seven games last season as a true freshman with the Bulldogs, reached out to co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee this spring about a potential transfer. Isham is from Calabasas, Calif.

“He wanted to come back west and he was looking at us and another school in our league,” Rodriguez said.

“We explained to him our situation and said, ‘Would you be willing to walk-on and prove yourself. The only thing we’re going to promise you is an opportunity.’ So he came on an unofficial visit with his family and loved it.

“I really like the young man. I think he is smart. He can throw. He will be right in the mix next year at this time.”

Isham (5-10, 185) completed 155 of 257 passes for 1,457 yards, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions, last season.

Fabbians Ebbele (left) could rejoin his teammates for fall camp. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats offensive tackle Fabbians Ebbele and defensive back Jourdon Grandon, suspended for almost all of spring practice, are on pace to return to return to the team in the fall, coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday.

“They still have some things to do within the program,” Rodriguez told TucsonCitizen.com.

Ebbele and Grandon, along with two other Arizona football players and a former ex-Wildcat, were involved in a brawl at an off-campus party in early March.

Ebbele and Grandon were facing criminal assault and trespassing charges, although those won’t be pursued.

Rodriguez said from the start that he wanted to let the legal system play out before making a decision on the players’ futures.

Ebbele is a returning starter at right tackle. Grandon started four games last season and likely figures somewhere in the rotation in Arizona’s five-man secondary. But each is behind the curve as the Wildcats learned new schemes on each side of the ball this spring.

“That’s a big question for us — how quickly will they be able to pick up things in fall practice,” Rodriguez said. “Those 15 spring practices are invaluable, especially when you’re teaching new systems.”

* * *

Rodriguez wants to return to the Phoenix area next spring to hold another scrimmage, making it a bigger event next time.

The Wildcats held their first scrimmage of the spring at Glendale Community College on a Saturday afternoon.

“I loved going up there in the spring,” Rodriguez said.

“I think we’ll plan to do that every spring, having a scrimmage and then some alumni functions. There is a lot of interest in our program up there, and if we can bring our program to them, so to speak, even better.”

Rodriguez said he envisions possibly holding a scrimmage in the Valley on a Friday night.

“Maybe a lot of people could come out after work,” he said. “We had a nice crowd this year. I think we could have had a great crowd if I gave them a little more warning. Next time, we’ll give a few months’ warning.”

About 1,000 showed up for the scrimmage at Glendale Community College.

* * *

Rodriguez will have to keep an eye on next week’s major league baseball draft after one of his top recruits — defensive end Dylan Cozens — led the state of Arizona with 19 home runs.

Cozens, a left-handed slugger, hit a walk-off home run to lead Scottsdale Chaparral to the Division I state championship over Phoenix Brophy Prep.

“I think there is always that possibility,” Rodriguez said of Cozens being lured to professional baseball by being a high draft pick. “I’ve dealt with this before.”

Most notably, Pat White was a fourth-round pick in the 2004 baseball draft after signing with West Virginia to play quarterback for Rodriguez. White went on to become of the great players in school history.

Cozens (6-5, 235) signed with the Cats over Boise State and Washington after playing football for only one season.

As for Cozens considering his baseball possibilities, “If it comes to that point, then we’ll present the facts to him as to what his options would be,” Rodriguez said. “Selfishly, we want him to play football, but we’ll see how that goes.”

The student-run Arizona Daily Wildcat reported Wednesday that three of the players were arrested on criminal trespassing in the first degree and assault — sophomore defensive back Jourdon Grandon, sophomore starting right tackle Fabbians Ebbele and sophomore offensive lineman Eric Bender. Another player — sophomore safety Jared Tevis — was arrested on trespassing charges.

Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne released a statement Wednesday morning: “We are taking this matter seriously. We are cooperating fully with the Tucson Police Department, and disciplinary action will be handled accordingly. Due to federal student-privacy laws we will have no further comment.”

The Daily Wildcat, citing reports from the Tucson Police Department, wrote that the arrests occurred after a brawl at a party at the home of five UA students:

The first student who officers spoke to said they were “having a party with some of their friends,” and Tevis was the only football player who had been invited. Tevis entered the home with four other members of the team.

According to police records, residents asked Tevis and the other players to leave because they were not invited. One of the men responded by shoving one of the women backwards. The man was later identified as former safety Joshua Robbins. After being shoved, the resident slapped Robbins, who then proceeded to punch her in the face — starting a brawl between the football players and members of the party.

Robbins, the son of former UA standout Randy Robbins, recently was removed from the roster because of back problems that kept him out all of last season.

The players left but returned with other players, leading to alleged assaults against male and female members of the party.

Arizona began spring practice on Monday and is scheduled to hold another practice Wednesday afternoon on campus. Rodriguez is scheduled to speak before practice but, per Byrne’s statement, isn’t likely to address the matter, which is still under investigation.

None of the current players — who attended Monday’s practice — will be made available to the media.

Grandon started four games last season. Bender — whose last name is listed as Bender-Ramsay by UA — projects as a backup. Tevis was mostly a special teams player last season with a chance for a larger role this season.

With these arrests occurring about three and a half months after his hiring, Rodriguez’s handling of the incident will be closely watched as one that sets the tone for how he will run the program.

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.

Interim head coach Tim Kish won't have many defensive backs to yell at during the next game. Photo by Chris Morrision, US-PRESSWIRE

Arizona’s secondary will be stretched even thinner for the game at Washington on Oct. 29, as four defensive backs will be suspended for at least at a half because of their part in Thursday’s brawl against UCLA.

The Pac-12, after reviewing video of the incident Friday, handed down suspensions to 10 players, including six from UCLA.

“The Conference is extremely disappointed in the actions of the student-athletes involved in this incident,” commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable behavior and violated Conference rules, as well as NCAA fighting rules. I have taken these actions today because it is imperative that we hold our student-athletes and coaches to the highest standards of sportsmanship.”

Sophomore starting cornerback Shaquille Richardson was ejected, as was UCLA receiver Taylor Embree, with four seconds to go in the first half. The Pac-12 went further and extended their suspensions for one game.

Senior Lyle Brown replaced Richardson in the second half, but the Pac-12 has suspended him for the first half of the Washington game. Junior safety Mark Watley is also suspended for a half. Freshman nickel back Jourdon Grandon is suspended for the entire game.

“It was an unfortunate incident and one with consequences that we fully understand and support,” Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement. “The University of Arizona in no way accepts such behavior from student-athletes.

“We stress that sportsmanship is a principle to follow in everything that we do. The Pac-12 moved quickly to resolve this issue and we’ll move forward.”

Arizona has been without starting cornerback Jonathan McKnight all season, and junior safety Adam Hall played in one game after rehabbing a torn ACL before re-injuring the knee at Oregon State on Oct. 8. He is not expected to play again this season.

Who’s left?

There is senior corner Trevin Wade and starting safeties Robert Golden and Marquis Flowers. Freshman Tramayne Bondurant made his first start Thursday, coming up with a team-high eight tackles.

His success and playing time might have been aided by interim head coach Tim Kish’s switch to the run-stuffing double-eagle flex scheme against the Bruins’ run-based offense.

Sophomore Derrick Rainey probably is next in line at cornerback. True freshman Cortez Johnson, who has mostly played on special teams, has been listed as a backup but has not played in the past two games because of undisclosed reasons.

Arizona will be facing one of the top quarterbacks in the Pac-12 — Washington sophomore Keith Price, who is fifth nationally with a passing efficiency rating of 177.91. The Huskies have a veteran receiving corps, including Jermaine Kearse, Devin Aguilar and James Johnson.

The suspensions for UCLA are:

Sophomore guard Alberto Cid — half-game
Sophomore wide receiver Randall Carroll — one game
Sophomore wide receiver Shaq Evans — one game
Sophomore wide receiver Ricky Marvray — one game
Sophomore defensive tackle Cassius Marsh – two games

Is wide receiver Dan Bucker the Arizona redshirt you are most eager to see? Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

With five Arizona football practices in the books, some players who have never seen the field for the Wildcats are either emerging or solidifying key roles.

Before practice began, we ran down our newcomers to watch — those from the most recent recruiting class.

Now, let’s take a look at the top players who redshirted last season at Arizona and will be making their UA debut Sept. 3 against NAU.

5. Jourdon Grandon

He’s a good athlete who also played quarterback at Avondale’s Westview High School, although he missed much of his senior season because of injury. He arrived at Arizona in a class full of standout defensive backs — Marquis Flowers, Jonathan McKnight and Shaquille Richardson — so he has been a bit off the radar … until now.

“I tell you, Jourdon Grandon has been a bonus for us,” defensive coordinator Tim Kish said after Monday’s practice.

“Coming out of spring, we weren’t 100 percent sure where he could play in our defense. He can play nickel, he can play corner, we may look at him at safety. He’s competing. He’s comfortable. He’s confident. When you have that, you have something going.”

Grandon (6-0, 180) is listed as a backup at strong safety … and it is at the safety positions where the Cats could use an extra dose of depth.

Kirifi Taula is looking as if he will be the top backup at defensive tackle. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

4. Kirifi Taula

He’s one of several promising, young defensive tackles for Arizona, and he might even be versatile enough to give the Cats a 280-pound defensive end in some situations.

“That big sucker can play, but they won’t let me (have him),” said defensive ends coach Jeff Hammerschmidt.

“In spring, he jumped out one time to end and played pass rush and we went, ‘Wow.’ A 280-pound defensive end would be OK, but Kirifi is such a good player inside right now.”

Joe Salave’a, who coaches the defensive tackles and really oversees the entire line, agreed that he wasn’t ready to let Taula jump outside (although Taulu did get a few reps there in practice Monday.)

For now, Taula is a second-string tackle.

“Kirifi needs to earn his stripes before he decides to do something else,” Salave’a said. “We have to make sure we lock down the interior. You can’t go worry about the outside yard when the inside is not stabilized.”

3. Tyler Slavin/Austin Hill/Garic Wharton

OK, so we’re cheating here. We can’t pick just one, but we’re not sure which player should be rated ahead of the others. So we’re going to list all three receivers as one entity.

In any other year, these guys could all be breakout players, but they will be fighting for time behind talented veterans. How much will they play? We’ll see.

Beep, beep ... Garic Wharton is coming through. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Safe to say, though, this is the deepest and most talented receiving corps in school history. Including true freshman Patrick Onwuasor, Arizona seems to go fairly comfortably 10 deep at receiver.

Wharton could make the biggest impact among the redshirt receivers, if only because he’s the fastest player on the team — just ask him — and he will be returning kickoffs. He’s a slot receiver, behind Richard Morrison on the depth chart.

Hill and Slavin are outside receivers who each have caught plenty of passes in fall camp.

“They’re going to be pretty special receivers for this school,” said quarterback Nick Foles.

“This year, they are going to help us a lot and they could do down as some of the top receivers in school history. I think they’re that good.”

2. Mickey Baucus

It’s somewhat unsettling to have a redshirt freshman at left tackle. On the other hand, it’s really enticing to think that Baucus is going to have a chance to be a four-year starter at left tackle.

Before he left last December for West Virginia, then-UA offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said Baucus and fellow redshirt freshman Fabbians Ebbele had the chance to be as good as any tackles he had ever coached.

The responsibility to coax that potential out of him now falls to new offensive line coach Robert Anae.

“I think you will see a lot of improvement with that group early,” coach Mike Stoops said of the five new starters on the offensive line. “I think they’ll compete. They’re athletic.”

1. Dan Buckner

After sitting out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, the former Texas Longhorn is ready to join Juron Criner as big-play threats in the Arizona passing attack.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” Foles said.

“It’s really how good does he want to be. He’s a very talented guy. He’s matured a lot since he’s been here. … We have to keep pushing him. He can’t be satisfied with what he is right now.”

Buckner caught 44 passes for 445 yards for Texas in 2009, when the Longhorns advanced to the national title game.

In addition to his size (6-4, 220) and speed, he’s known for his high spirits, one of the “characters” on the team.

“He’s a breath of fresh air,” Foles said. “Football is a serious game, but at the same time, it has to fun. You have to play loose and Dan keeps that looseness out there.”