Tevin Hood started three games for Arizona last season. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

At the worst of times, Arizona senior defensive lineman Tevin Hood had a friend on the coaching staff.

Head coach Rich Rodriguez had sent Hood home with his parents from the New Mexico Bowl for fighting on the sideline with teammate Cody Ippolito, missing the thrilling finish as the Wildcats scored twice in the final minute to defeat Nevada 49-48.

Hood said he got a phone call within five minutes after the game. It was defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich.

“He told me that whatever happened, he’s going to go to bat for me,” Hood said this week. “I know if I have him in my corner, I really wasn’t worried about too much.”

Hood and Ippolito, a linebacker, did work themselves back in Rodriguez’s good graces after the bowl game and were ready to go at the start of spring ball. Hood gives the Wildcats something they otherwise lack — a true 300-pounder in the middle of the defensive line.

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Arizona linebacker Hank Hobson is carted off the field with a neck injury at UCLA on Nov. 3. Photo by Andrew Fielding-US PRESSWIRE

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The Arizona Wildcats’ injury problems started during their spring game. That’s when safety Adam Hall tore his ACL for the second time in a year.

The bad news kept coming for Rich Rodriguez in the summer and fall camp.

Four players never made it to the start of the season, including sophomore linebacker Rob Hankins, who had to give up football because of a concussion. Senior Greg Nwoko, who moved from running back to linebacker in camp, suffered a career-ending hip injury.

Injuries hit hard at offensive tackle. Jack Baucus, a converted tight end who might have been able to help, succumbed to a knee injury and is no longer on the roster. Promising redshirt freshman Jacob Arzouman suffered a torn ACL in August practice. Another redshirt freshman tackle, Lene Maiava, played in four games before tearing his ACL.

The offensive line further had to be a mix-and-match unit to cover for in-season injuries to guard Trace Biskin, center Kyle Quinn and guard/tackle Chris Putton.

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Reggie Gilbert

Arizona Wildcats redshirt freshman defensive lineman Reggie Gilbert was famished. He hadn’t played in a football game in nearly a month.

“I was so hungry,” he said after Wednesday’s practice.

“I would come out here to watch my teammates, and I saw them practicing, running around, having fun. I got kind of jealous. I was saying, ‘I’ve got to get back on the field.’”

Gilbert (6-3, 254) suffered a high ankle sprain in the first half at Oregon on Sept. 22 and missed the next two games before returning Saturday against Washington. Gilbert had 1.5 sacks — the first sacks of his career.

“I love football to death,” he said. “It was so great to be out there and help my teammates win.”

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