Last year the Wildcat defense got a pleasant surprise in the form of Ricky Elmore who led the Pac-10 in sacks despite injuries to fellow starter Brooks Reed. How do the Wildcat defensive ends stack up this year?

• Brooks Reed 6-3, 255, SR* (23 tackles, 5.0 tfl, 2.0 sacks)
• Ricky Elmore 6-5, 250, SR* (44 tackles, 11.5 tfl, 10.5 sacks)
• Apai Tuihalamaka 6-3, 258, JR* (3 tackles, 1.0 tfl)
• D’Aundre Reed 6-4, 258, SR* (17 tackles, 2.5 tfl/sacks)
• Mohammed Usman 6-2, 240, JR
• Dan Pettinato 6-4, 235, FR
• C.J. Parish 6-2, 235, SR (3 tackles)

Brooks Reed

My Honest Assessment:

If Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore are healthy, this group has no problems. The two of them are as good an end duo as you will find in the league. Tuihalamaka and D’Aundre Reed are very nice rotation players, but I am not sure they can play a bigger role if either of the starters go down for a significant time. Those four mean the Cats bring back their top four ends from a year ago, including two players who can contend for All-Conference honors. Elmore led the Pac-10 in sacks, and when healthy Brooks Reed is as good as any pass rusher in the league.

D’Aundre Reed and Apai Tuihalamaka are both experience players who are capable back-ups and the defensive staff is intrigued with getting all four top ends on the field at the same time.

The Cats will need those for to play well, because unless Usman is ready to go, they have no depth behind that. While Parish is intriguing, it is hard to imagine that he will be an impact player.

Did You Know:

• Three of the top six ends are seniors.
• Pettinato is the only underclassman at end.
• Usman played one year at the University of Houston before moving on to Navarro Community College.
• Reed is one of three scholarship players from Tucson. Defensive backs Adam Hall and Josh Robbins are the others.
• The Cats will utilize the “Cheetah Formation” that puts four defensive ends on the field at the same time.

For more on the Wildcats’ defensive ends, check out WildcatSportsReport.com.

We’ve taken a long look at the offense, now with just a few days between now and fall camp, we take a look at the defense. First up is the interior defensive line.

Defensive Tackles

• Dominique Austin 6-4, 292, JR (4 tackles, 1 for loss)
• Mana Mikaele 6-2, 305, SR*  (12 tackles, 2.5 TFL, .5 sacks)
• Sione Tuihalamaka 6-2, 275, FR*
• Jowyn Ward 6-2, 295,  JR (1 tackle)
• Justin Washington 6-2, 275, FR*
• Jonathan Hollins 6-4, 280, JR*
• Chris Merrill 6-2, 285, SO*
• Willie Mobley 6-2, 277, SO
• Kirifi Taula 6-3, 280, FR
• Sani Fuimaono 6-2, 260, FR
• Aiulua Fanene 6-4, 280, FR

Mana Mikaele

My Honest Assessment:

This unit has a lot of potential, but nothing is proven. The thing that I like best is the depth. Even assuming the three freshmen redshirt, the Cats have eight players who all look like they can play. This may not be the league’s best collection of defensive tackles, but it is a good, solid group who fit the style of athlete the Mike Stoops likes for his interior defensive linemen.

Mikaele is an experienced player with a nasty streak, while Austin brings some nice athleticism to the mix. Ward and Merrill are big, strong run stoppers and two of the stronger players on the team. The two big wildcards could be Willie Mobley and Jonathan Hollins. Both were big time recruits, but have not played a game in over a year. If they can shake the rust off, both could make an impact.

Did you Know?

• Sione Tuihalamaka is the brother of defensive end Apai Tuihalamaka and the brother of former linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka.
• Willie Mobley left Ohio State two years ago and spent last year at Orange Coast Community College but did not play football.
• Jonathan Hollins is a rare JC transfer who did not play his first year after transferring from College of the Canyons. He was able to redshirt last season and still has two years of eligibility.
• Freshman Aiulua Fanene was featured on a 60 Minutes documentary about high school football in Samoa.
• Mana Mikaele did not play in 2008 because of an “administrative issue”, although he was eligible and did compete in practice.

For more on the Wildcat Defensive Tackles, go to WildcatSportsReport.com

Shane Zink

The past few seasons the offensive line has been a strength for the Wildcats. With players with starting experience back, it looks like that could be the case again. As fall camp creeps closer and closer, we take a longer look at the offensive linemen.

TACKLES

• Adam Grant 6-6, 325, GR*
• Phillip Garcia 6-7, 330, SR*
• Jack Julsing 6-8, 310, SR
• Shane Zink 6-7, 302, SO*
• Trent Spurgeon 6-7, 270, FR
• Mickey Baucus 6-8, 275, FR
• Fabbians Ebbele 6-8, 295, FR

GUARDS

• Conan Amituanai 6-4, 335, SR*
• Vaughn Dotsy 6-5, 335, JR
• Jovon Hayes 6-2, 320, SR*
• Chris Putton 6-4, 295, FR*
• Trace Biskin 6-5, 295, SO*
• Eric Bender-Ramsay 6-6, 325, FR*
• Carter Lees 6-5, 320, FR

CENTERS

• Colin Baxter 6-4, 295, SR*
• Kyle Quinn 6-2, 310, SO
• Jake Baratz 6-5, 285, FR*

Honest Evaluation:

I think this is a solid group. Under Bill Bedenbaugh the Cats have been able to plug in pieces to deal with injuries and the line has responded. Baxter is a beast, and Grant and Garcia are very good when healthy. The Cats may be a little weak at guard, especially if Amituanai and Dotsy have any more injury issues. That being said. Bedenbaugh likes Putton and Biskin, and Hayes may be the next late bloomer to make the leap on the line. Quinn is a guy who can step in for Baxter at center and could slide over the guard if need be. The freshmen appear destined for a redshirt season.

On paper this is a better pass blocking unit than a run blocking group, but the Wildcats’ offense has the ability to adapt to its strengths.

Did You Know:

Grant was granted a sixth year of eligibility due to his numerous injury issues.

The Cats have six seniors among the group, but two were JC transfers.

The team will boast three linemen from Illinois, and TE Jack Baucus would make a forth if he converts to guard as some have suspected he may eventually. No coincidence that Bedenbaugh is from Illinois originally.

This is a diverse group from a recruiting geography aspect. In addition to the players from Illinois, the Cats have plucked these guys from Washington, California, Oklahoma and Arizona.

For more on the OL, go to WildcatSportsReport.com

Juron Criner (Brad Allis/WildcatSportsReport.com)

One of the big headlines of the off-season was the departure of senior wide receiver Delashaun Dean. Dean was a solid pass catcher, but failed to live up to his potential. The Cats have plenty of potential, but do they have players who can put it together?

Outside Receivers

• Juron Criner 6-4, 210, JR (48-582 12.9 9 TD)
• Travis Cobb 6-0, 180, SR (1-15 15.0)
• Gino Crump 6-2, 210, JR*
• Richard Morrison 6-0, 180, FR*
• Dexter Ransom 6-4, 217, JR
• Tyler Slavin 6-2, 190, FR
• Austin Hill 6-3, 200, FR
• Kyle Day 5-11, 180, SR*

Inside Receivers

• Bug Wright 5-9, 175, JR* (23-234 10.2 1 TD)
• David Douglas 6-1, 198, JR (31-320 10.3 2 TD)
• David Roberts 6-0, 190, JR* (43-410 9.5 1 TD)
• Terrence Miller 6-4, 225, SO (2-26 13.0)
• Devin Veal 5-11, 188, JR*
• Garic Wharton 5-11, 168, FR
• Mike Descisciolo 5-8, 175, SO
• Tommy Papillon 6-4, 200, SO
• Dan Buckner 6-4, 208, JR (Must sit out due to transfer rules)

Tight Ends

• A.J. Simmons 6-3, 255, SR* (13-57 4.4 0 TD)
• Jack Baucus 6-6, 255, FR*

Travis Cobb (photo by Brad Allis/WildcatSportsReport.com)

Honest Evaluation:

I think the Cats are talented, deep, but do not possess any big-play guys with the exception of Juron Criner. While Wright, Douglas and Roberts had big moments a year ago, they really have not shown they are game breakers and of the group, only Wright really has the opportunity to develop into one.

While Cobb, Ransom and Miller look great on paper, they have a lot to prove and it is hard to project what they can bring to the offense at this stage.

The loss of Dean hurts from a talent standpoint, but he could also be a real distraction and at lest one person close to the team says his dismissal may benefit the Cats in practice situations where he could become the center of attention.

Did You Know?

• Criner had just 11 catches through the first five games, but had 12 against Stanford and 34 the final eight games, but never had more than six in any other game.
• Criner had six catches of 25 yards or more, including a 71 yarder.
• Miller, a sophomore, just turned 18 in January.
• Incoming freshmen Tyler Slavin and Austin Hill were high school teammates, while Travis Cobb and Dexter Ransom were teammates at Blinn College.
• Don’t expect Ransom to put up big numbers. No JC receiver has been a contributor in his first year since the 90’s.
• Cobb may have been a non-factor at wide-out, but set a school record for kickoff return yards.
• The Wildcats have five receivers listed at 6-4.
• The team has two four-year transfers in Crump and Buckner, though Buckner has to still sit out a season after leaving Texas.
• The Cats have five new scholarship receivers. They signed three freshman receivers and one JC player, plus allowed Buckner to transfer into the program.

For more on the Wildcats receivers go to WildcatSportsReport.com

Although the Cats run the spread, they still put a huge emphasis on the running game. In fact the Cats were pretty close to a 50-50 split last season, running the ball over 47% of the time. With that, we take a look at the Wildcats’ running situation.

Depth Chart

Nic Grigsby

• Nic Grigsby 5-10, 190, SR (79-567 7.2 5 TD)
• Keola Antolin 5-8, 195, JR (114-637 5.6 5 TD)
• Greg Nwoko 6-2, 228, SO* (76-273 3.6 3 TD)
• Taimi Tutogi 6-1, 258, SO (11-50 4.5 1 TD)
• Daniel Jenkins 5-9, 187, FR*
• Kylan Butler 5-8, 180, FR*

Honest Evaluation:

If healthy, this should be a really good group, but you really can’t count on it. Grigsby is among the better runners in the Pac-10 if he can stay on the field. Stoops was noticeably agitated with Grigsby’s injuries in the spring and you have to wonder if the opportunity to steal carries from the senior are there. Antolin is a more than capable back and Nwoko had a few flashes, especially against Oregon State. Antolin, with his big play ability, will see plenty of time, especially if Grigsby is banged up again.

Tutogi had a great spring and could see his role increased. His ability to pass block, combined with an apparent ability to carry the ball as a tail back, could see him shoot up the depth chart. He will be used more as a H-Back/fullback, but he could see time as a lone setback.

Jenkins showed me some talent in the spring, but has a lot to prove.

Did You Know?:

• Grigsby, Antolin and Nwoko each led the Cats in rushing at least once last season.
• The Cats did not sign a running back in the 2010 class, but already have to verbally committed for the 2011 class.
• The top four rushers are back, but five and six are gone (Nick Booth and Delashaun Dean).

For a more detailed look at the Arizona running backs, go to WildcatSportsReport.com