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

Rob Gronkowski celebrates his 10th touchdown of his rookie season, which came against Miami on Jan. 2. Photo by Stew Milne-US PRESSWIRE

Updates with the Vikings waiving OL Conan Amituanai, and the Lions waiving RB Mike Bell and S Michael Johnson on Monday. The Bengals, according to a report, reached an injury settlement with DT Lolomana Mikele before releasing him.

As of Monday night there were 19 former Arizona Wildcats football players on NFL rosters; teams have to cut to 80 by Tuesday and then to 53 by Sept. 3.

Several ex-Cats won’t survive those cuts but could end up on practice squads or hook on with other teams.

Since camps began, seven former Arizona players have been waived — rookie free agent OL Conan Amituanai (Minnesota), rookie free agent receiver Travis Cobb (Chicago), rookie free agent DT Lolomana Mikaele (Cincinnati), running back Chris Henry (Seattle), running back Mike Bell (Lions), defensive back Michael Johnson (Lions) and veteran tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, who failed his physical in Chicago.

Here is a breakdown of who is still standing, for now:

Colin Baxter, C, San Diego
Baxter, who started an Arizona Wildcats record 48 consecutive games, probably won’t crack the final roster as an undrafted free agent, but he does seem a good bet for the practice squad. He also has played guard in preseason games.

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago
The six-time Pro Bowl player is the most-decorated of the former Wildcats in the NFL, and he has been a stalwart on the Bears’ defense for the past eight seasons, recording 864 tackles. But there could be trouble brewing.

The 30-year-old Briggs is unhappy about his contract, according to the Chicago Tribune, and will demand a trade if he doesn’t get a new one before the end of this season. He will make $3.9 million this season (with bonuses), $4 million next season and $6.5 million in 2013, according to the Tribune.

Eben Britton, OT, Jacksonville
Britton started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie in 2009 and appears to have a long career ahead of him. He missed the final nine games of last season with a shoulder injury, and is suffering from a back injury right now, but he hopes to be ready for the season-opener.

Antoine Cason, DB, San Diego
Cason flourished last season as a starting cornerback in his third year in the NFL, making four interceptions and breaking up 17 passes. He also averaged 16.5 yards on 14 punt returns.

Lionel Dotson, DT, Buffalo
Dotson has been on and off the Miami Dolphins active roster for the past three seasons, appearing in seven games. He seems to be on the bubble with the Bills.

Ricky Elmore, OLB, Green Bay
The rookie sixth-round pick has struggled in camp, according to various reports, as he adjusts to outside linebacker after being a standout defensive end for the Wildcats. He has to work to do to make the final cut.

Nick Folk, PK, New York Jets
Folk, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, connected on 30 of 39 field goals last season, his first with the Jets. He re-signed with New York on a one-year deal and is battling Nick Novak for a Jets’ roster spot in the preseason. Folk has made 94 of 120 field goals in four NFL seasons (94 of 120) and all 168 of his extra-point attempts.

Adam Grant, OT, Denver
Overcame injury problems at Arizona to land as a rookie free agent with the Broncos.

Nic Grigsby tries to get away from Atlanta linebacker Robert James in a preseason game. Photo by Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

Nic Grigsby, RB, Miami
Grigsby, probably the most intriguing of the rookie free agents from Arizona, wowed the scouts at UA’s Pro Day in the spring. The Dolphins’ recent signing of veteran Larry Johnson adds to the competition, as Miami already has Reggie Bush and rookie second-rounder Daniel Thomas ahead of Grigsby on the depth chart.

Chris Gronkowski, FB, Dallas
Gronkowski became the Cowboys’ starting fullback last season after joining the team as an undrafted free agent. He’s fighting for a roster spot now with Shaun Chapas and Jason Pociask.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England
Had an excellent 2011 season, making 42 catches for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns, which was a franchise record for a rookie. He finished the regular season with his first 100-yard day — with six receptions for 102 yards against Miami. No former Arizona Wildcat had ever made more than seven TD receptions in an NFL season.

Chris Jennings, RB, New York Jets
Jennings, who walked-on to Arizona as a junior college transfer, was playing in the Canadian Football League in 2009 when the Cleveland Browns called. He ended up rushing 63 times for 220 yards that season. He didn’t play in the NFL in 2010, but signed with the Jets in January. Jennings, trying to make the team behind Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson and Joe McKnight, had a 69-yard run against the Bengals in a preseason game.

Spencer Larsen, FB, Denver
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 as a rookie. Now, he is exclusively an offensive player, and he appears headed for a more prominent blocking role as the Broncos will feature more of a power running game this season.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Houston
Second-year pro is battling with former USC Trojan Shaun Cody for a starting spot at nose tackle in the Texans’ new 3-4 scheme. Mitchell made 28 tackles last season as a rookie.

Nate Ness, DB, Miami
Has spent time with four teams after originally signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2009. Hooked up with the Dolphins during the 2010 season after being released by Seattle. He played in three games with Miami.

Brooks Reed, LB, Houston
The second-round pick is making a successful transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, and had two sacks in a preseason game against New Orleans. From the Houston Chronicle: Texans rookie Reed a real stand-up guy.

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. Reports indicated he looked good early in camp before suffering a camp injury. He’s a solid bet to survive the final cut.

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 in 2010 with team-highs in catches (66) and receiving yards (820), highlighted by one of the plays of the year in the NFL, catching a deflected Hail Mary pass from David Garrard for a last-play touchdown for a 31-24 win over Houston (see video below).

Vuna Tuihalamaka, LB, Indianapolis
He signed in early August after spending the 2010 camp with the Colts as an undrafted free agent. He spent brief time on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad late last season.

Sunday’s action in the NFL was capped by New England’s victory at Pittsburgh in which rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski caught three touchdown passes for the Patriots.

Soon after the game, “Gronkowski” was trending on Twitter.

As for former Arizona Wildcats in the NFL, that wasn’t the half of it Sunday.

Mike Thomas, a second-year receiver with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was involved in the play of the day (the season?), catching a deflected Hail Mary pass from David Garrard for a last-play touchdown for a 31-24 win over Houston.

And it never hurts to have Gus Johnson on the call.

“It was definitely a surprise,” Thomas said. “You don’t expect that kind of play to go the way it’s supposed to go. I was shocked and a little stunned.”

Look for Money Mike to be on ESPN First Take on Monday morning to talk about the catch.

Elsewhere, there will be headlines for the first career touchdown pass from Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow. I didn’t much care about that one way or the other. I prefer to think of it as the first career touchdown for ex-Cat linebacker Spencer Larsen, now a full-time fullback with the Broncos.

Larsen almost never touches the ball; he had one carry and three receptions before Sunday. And, now, he’s the guy who caught Tebow’s first touchdown pass. You can see video of it here.

Gronk (left) celebrates the first of his three TDs with running back Sammy Morris and receiver Deion Branch (right). Photo by Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

And then there was Gronkowski, catching three touchdown passes to give him six scores for the season. He had five catches for 72 yards in the 39-26 victory over the Steelers.

Oh yeah …

Can’t forget about the best ex-Wildcat in the NFL: Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. He intercepted a pass from Brett Favre and had five solo tackles as Chicago beat Minnesota 27-13.

Even former Arizona kicker Nick Folk was part of the drama on a thrilling Sunday. He was only 2 of 5 on field goal attempts — missing from 48, 24 and 47 yards (in overtime) — but the Jets still won 26-20 at Cleveland, getting a touchdown in the final minute to let Folk off the hook.

All in all, perhaps the best day ever for ex-Wildcats in the NFL.

ESPN and ESPN The Magazine have been in the McKale Center weight room recently, focusing on former Arizona Wildcat linebacker Lance Briggs, who has been working out in Tucson.

In the video above from the Arizona athletics official site, Briggs explains that ESPN is working on a story on veteran players — such as Briggs, an All-Pro with the Chicago Bears — returning to their alma maters.

ESPN paired Briggs with Arizona sophomore linebacker Jake Fischer in the photo shoot. Briggs said he hoped he could get together with all the UA linebackers and break down some game film.

Briggs, who leads the pack of ex-Wildcats in the NFL in terms of honors, has been a great representative of Arizona football.

As a three-time all-league linebacker, Briggs would have been my choice as UA’s Defensive Player of the Decade, although voters in a poll at TucsonCitizen.com went for cornerback Antoine Cason (also a very reasonable choice). Cason also trained in Tucson this spring, working on speed and flexibility with UA assistant track coach Francesca Green.

“The most important thing here really is U of A,” Briggs said in the video. “I could be a Bear for 16 years, I could be Washington Redskin, but I will always be a U of A Wildcat. And the pride starts here.”

In a story and video posted last month on the UA athletic department site, Briggs praised the work of strength coach Corey Edmond, who actually carries the title of Director of Performance Enhancement.

In any case, Edmond has been here with coach Mike Stoops every step of the way for the past six seasons, helping to shape a team that has the depth and the strength to compete week in and week out in the Pac-10. That was far from the case when both arrived.

And it only helps the cause when somebody like Briggs returns to give his endorsement of everything that is going on.

ESPN.com has done a series of stories this summer on strength coaches and training facilities, including this column from Pat Forde, and you’ll find plenty of other good reading in the related links box near the top of that story.

Former Arizona linebacker Spencer Larsen is now a full-time fullback for the Denver Broncos/Photo by Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

NFL teams have been holding minicamps and other offseason training activities, so let’s take a look at where former Arizona Wildcats stand as everyone gears up for the start of training camp in late July:

Mike Bell, RB, Philadelphia
Earned a Super Ring with New Orleans last season — leading the Saints in carries during the regular season (172 for 654 yards) — before signing a one-year free-agent deal with the Eagles worth $1.7 million. He is expected to back up second-year pro LeSean McCoy and be a more powerful change of pace.

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago
The five-time Pro Bowl pick will be going for his seventh consecutive 100-tackle season as he welcomes back Brian Urlacher to the Bears’ linebacker corps this season. He’s a popular teammate and popular in the Windy City … hey, how else do you get chosen to be a judge at Chicago’s version of Playboy’s 50th Anniversary Party.

Eben Britton, OT, Jacksonville
A 2009 second-round pick, Britton started 15 games at right tackle last season and looks to be a fixture on the Jags’ offensive line, along with fellow second-year pro Eugene Monroe at left tackle.

Copeland Bryan, DE, Detroit
He was signed by the Lions last year after being cut from Buffalo at the end of training camp. He played in five games for Detroit, starting one, making five tackles, including one sack.

Antoine Cason, CB, San Diego
The Chargers traded Antonio Cromartie, so they expect Cason, who has been a nickel back, to take over as a starting cornerback. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune blogged recently that Cason “is having an excellent offseason. He is always on the ball, is blanketing receivers, knows what he’s doing. Of course, he hasn’t been going against Vincent Jackson or Malcom Floyd (until recently) or even Legedu Naanee.” For sure, check out this great story from Acee in April, talking about how Cason spent several weeks training in Tucson with a UA assistant track coach.

Lionel Dotson, DE, Miami
Was on the Dolphins’ roster all of last season, but was mostly inactive on game days, appearing in two games. The 2008 seventh-round pick again will be fighting for a roster spot in training camp.

Nick Folk, PK, New York Jets
Folk was super in his first two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, making 46 of 53 field goal attempts and earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie in 2007. But he had hip surgery after the 2008 season, struggling to regain his form. The Cowboys cut him in December, and then Folk signed with the Jets in February.

Chris Gronkowski, FB, Dallas
He is versatile as a blocker and pass-catcher, willing to do the blue-collar work. Coach Wade Phillips told DallasCowboys.com, “We’ll see when we get the pads on, but he looks good so far.”

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
The second-round rookie is helping to remake the position in New England, which also drafted Florida’s Aaron Hernandez in the fourth round. While Hernandez is considered more of a pure pass-catcher, Gronkowski has all-around tight end skills and, according to Patriots.com, made the play of the day at a recent full-squad scrimmage on a pass from Tom Brady.

Chris Henry, RB, Houston
He was the 50th overall pick in the 2007, drafted by Tennessee because of his excellent workout at the scouting combine rather than his production on the field. Henry got little use in his first two years, and the Titans released him early last season. He landed with the Houston Texans, but did not have a carry. He’s competing for a roster spot this summer.

Chris Jennings, RB, Cleveland
Jennings has been a nice success story, walking-on to Arizona as a junior college transfer and becoming productive in the running and passing games. Undrafted, he was playing in the Canadian Football League last season when the Browns called, and Jennings was able to stick with the team, rushing 63 times for 220 yards. He’ll be facing a roster crunch at running back in training camp.

Michael Johnson, FS, N.Y. Giants
He won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in the 2007 season and became a starter in 2008, but neither he nor the team’s secondary was stellar in 2009. Considering the Giants signed ex-Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle to a five-year, $37 million contract, have youngster Kenny Phillips and veteran Deon Grant, and used a third-round pick on LSU safety Chad Jones … Johnson’s days in New York might be numbered.

Spencer Larsen, FB, Denver
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 as a rookie. Now, he will be exclusively an offensive player … and you can be sure he’ll do it with a great attitude. “Football is football,” he told reporters earlier this month. “A lot of it is the same techniques. Linebackers have a different personality but to me it is all football. By doing this, I can still be a special teams member and it is something I care about.”

Brandon Manumaleuna, TE, Chicago
He’s entering his 10th NFL season, after spending five years with the St. Louis Rams and four with the San Diego Chargers. Manumaleuna, a true blocking tight end (he’s really like having another tackle on the line), signed a five-year contract with the Bears in the offseason.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Houston
Big Earl, after playing the position for only two seasons at Arizona, was a third-round pick in 2010. Coach Gary Kubiak was quoted in the Houston Chronicle as calling Mitchell an “effort player.” Kubiak added: “Earl is going to be a part of our rotation if he continues to do in pads what he did in the OTAs. He’s pushing for somebody’s job, and he makes it very competitive in that group.”

Nate Ness, DB, Miami
Ness, undrafted after the 2009 season, signed with Cleveland, then had roster stints with the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks before landing on the Dolphins’ practice squad in October. He was active for one game.

Dennis Northcutt celebrates a touchdown against the Colts in December 2008/Photo by Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Dennis Northcutt, WR, Detroit
He’s had a productive 10-year career, with 399 catches for 4,941 yards, and three career punt returns for touchdowns. Northcutt, who was traded from Jacksonville after the 2008 season, made 35 receptions for the Lions last season.

Syndric Steptoe, WR, Cleveland
Suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp last year and appears to be on the outside looking in as the Browns head into camp this season. He caught 19 passes as a rookie in 2008.

Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville
The 2009 fourth-rounder overcame a hamstring injury in training camp to set a franchise rookie record with 48 catches, good for 453 yards. Thomas, who can also return punts, could be the Jags’ No. 2 receiver this season behind Mike Sims-Walker.

Vuna Tuihalamaka, LB, Indianapolis
The undrafted free agent is trying to hang on for a backup spot and a role on special teams.

Bobby Wade, WR, Washington
Wade’s most productive stretch was his two years in Minnesota, where he caught 107 passes across the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He spent last season with Kansas City before signing as a free agent with the Redskins. Washington is the fifth NFL team for Wade, who has 244 receptions in eight seasons. At last count, the Redskins had 12 receivers on the roster, so it’s no guarantee Wade will be catching passes from Donovan McNabb this season.

OTHERS

Wilrey Fontenot, CB
A seventh-round pick in 2008, Fontenot was cut by the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the 2009 season.

Antonio Pierce, LB
Undrafted after the 2000 season, Pierce developed into one of the fiercest linebackers in the NFL. He was a standout at middle linebacker for the N.Y. Giants, the defensive leader of the team that won Super Bowl XLII. But a herniated disc in his neck cut short his 2009 season, and the Giants released him in the offseason. After a nine-year NFL career, Pierce recently said he’s leaning toward retirement.

Devin Ross, CB
The undrafted rookie free agent went to minicamp with the Eagles, but he was released on Thursday.

Marcus Smith, DT
Cut by Buffalo in February, Smith is playing with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Arizona ended the decade with its best defensive line since the late 1990s, but this was one of the major problem areas for the team this decade. The Arizona Wildcats were the only Pac-10 team this decade to not have a first-team all-league defensive lineman.

USC had a first-team all-league defensive lineman 11 times this decade. Oregon State was next with seven. The Wildcats haven’t had such a player since Joe Salave’a in 1997.

TucsonCitizen.com’s picks for Arizona football’s all-decade team on offense.

What the Cats have had this decade are two of the best at their position in the entire league — linebacker Lance Briggs (first-team all-conference in 2000, 2001 and 2002) and cornerback Antoine Cason (winner of the Jim Thorpe Award in 2007). Take your pick: One of these guys is your Arizona Defensive Player of the Decade.

Not to influence your selection, but Cason was chosen to SI.com’s All-Decade team in college football.

Note that one of the most prominent UA alums — New York Giants mega-millionaire linebacker Antonio Pierce — is absent. First of all, he played at UA for only one season of the decade (2000) when he had an honorable mention all-league season (77 tackles, 10 for loss). Good, not great.

Defensive end Joe Tafoya also played only year this decade, and it was nearly good enough to make the list. He was second-team All-Pac-10 in 2000, making 18 tackles for loss, which is a season high for Arizona this decade. (In general, I preferred an all-decade candidate who had a longer resume for the time frame.)

The defensive line is where there could be the most debate, mostly because there are few standouts. Others considered were Tafoya, Marcus Smith, Young Thompson, Yaniv Barnett, Louis Holmes (well, not really) and Ricky Elmore, whose 10.5-sack regular-season is fresh in everybody’s mind.

Here are our choices for UA’s All-Decade team for defense:

DE — Copeland Bryan (2002-05)
A very nice walk-on find for Arizona, Bryan developed into an NFL-caliber player by the time he left, coming up with 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss as a senior. Finished with 14 career sacks.

DT — Lionel Dotson (2004-07)
“L Train” started 20 games in his first three seasons — a solid, if unspectacular performer in the middle of the line. He then played his way into an NFL prospect as a senior after a season with 50 tackles, including nine for loss and 6.5 sacks. That earned him second-team All-Pac-10 honors.

DT — Earl Mitchell (2006-2009)
Spent his first two seasons as an underused fullback/H-back/tight end before making the switch to defense. Big Earl had 40 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in his first season at the position before earning second-team all-conference honors in 2009, making 12.5 tackles for loss with 6.5 sacks — big numbers for an interior lineman.

DE — Brooks Reed (2007-09)
Why Reed and not Elmore? Fair question. Reed missed about five games this season with an ankle injury, during which time Mike Stoops repeatedly referred to Reed as the team’s best pass rusher and kind of the glue of the line. Always a high-energy player, Reed ended up with two sacks and five tackles for loss, coming off a sophomore season in which he had eight sacks and made honorable-mention all-league.

Lance Briggs tackles ASU quarterback Andrew Walter in 2001/Tucson Citizen photo

LB — Lance Briggs (1999-2002)
Briggs nearly de-committed to USC on Signing Day 1999, but the Sacramento kid once described as the next Tedy Bruschi became one of the great Wildcat defenders. After playing running back as a true freshman in 1999, Briggs requested a move back to linebacker, where he posted 113 tackles as a sophomore, earning the first of three consecutive all-conference honors … which really says it all. He led the team in tackles (93 and 98) in each of the next two seasons before going on to a successful and lucrative career with the Chicago Bears.

LB — Spencer Larsen (2002, 2005-07)
Well-liked, well-spoken and a coach’s dream, the hard-working Larsen was the team’s defensive newcomer of the year in 2002 and then left for a two-year church mission. He overcame a knee injury upon his return in spring 2005, managing to pick up where he left off. Larsen had 131 tackles as a senior in an All-Pac-10 season, and his 312 career tackles are the most for a UA player this decade (and 15th-best all-time).

LB — Ronnie Palmer (2005-08)
More steady than flashy, Palmer started 41 games in his UA career. The middle linebacker led the team in tackles (85) and tackles for loss (11) in 2008, giving him career marks of 275 stops, including 21 for loss.

Antoine Cason returns an interception for a touchdown aganist Cal in 2006/Tucson Citizen photo

CB — Antoine Cason (2004-07)
He was the face of the Wildcats for a couple of seasons — photogenic, good with a quote and bringing a confident air to his battles with the league’s best receivers. Highlights include a 39-yard fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown that fueled a 24-20 upset of No. 8 Cal in 2006, and scoring twice — on an interception return and a punt return — in a 34-24 upset of No. 2 Oregon in 2007. That latter game — on Thursday night on ESPN — propelled Cason to the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. His 15 career interceptions are fourth in UA history.

CB — Michael Jolivette (2000-03)
He’s the UA career leader in passes broken up (44), despite missing most of his junior season because of injury. He also was able to corral his fair share of passes, coming up with 12 career interceptions. Current UA sophomore Trevin Wade might end up being a better player, but had only one season as a starter this decade.

S — Darrell Brooks (2002-05)
His leadership and on-field play helped guide the Wildcats through some tough times. A four-year starter, Brooks made 295 tackles and four interceptions, earning second-team all-league honors as a junior and first-team recognition as a senior.

S — Michael Johnson (2005-06)
The junior college transfer was a key recruit for coach Mike Stoops, and he gets the nod here on the strength of his second-team All-Pac-10 season in 2006. Johnson had 107 tackles in two seasons, with five interceptions, and his physical style of play has served him well with the NFL’s New York Giants.

AP — Syndric Steptoe (2003-06)
Finished with 3,931 all-purpose yards, ninth in school history. He had 131 career catches for 1,584 yards; he scored twice on punt returns and returned 80 kicks for an average of nearly 22 yards.

P — Danny Baugher (2002-05)
A starter for nearly all of four seasons, Baugher has the highest season-average in school history — 47.5 yards on 37 attempts in 2005, when his season ended in the seventh game because of an ACL injury. He was leading the nation in punting at the time. His 225 punts are a school record.