Less than a week into fall football camp it is hard to tell a lot about the team, but stories and themes are starting to emerge.

So far Nick Foles has been sharp and it is obvious that Matt Scott is attempting to redshirt this season, allowing him to battle for the starting job as a fifth year starter in 2012. Bryson Beirne has been getting the bulk of the snaps with the second team, while Scott, the back-up in 2010, works with the scout team.

Keola Antolin and Daniel Jenkins are holding down the top two spots at running back and the real competition seems to be for the third running back job. Sophomore Kylan Butler has the edge early in camp, but walk-on Terris Jones and true freshman Ka’Deem Carey are getting their opportunities.

Heading into fall camp we knew the Arizona receiving corps was deep, but this appears top be the deepest the unit has ever been. Juron Criner is back with the team after attending to some personal matters over the summer. He does not appear 100% in shape, but is still making plays. Once he improves his conditioning, watch out.

Newcomer Dan Buckner, the Texas transfer, appears as good as advertised, while Tyler Slavin has made play after play.

Terrence Miller has been a go-to guy during 2:00 drills and he gives the Cats yet another big target.

All eyes are on the offensive line and so far, so good. The starting five of Mickey Baucus, Fabbians Ebelle, Chris Putton, Trace Biskin and Kyle Quinn have been solid and early on have fended off challenges from second teamers.

The biggest news among the line is the addition of Jack Baucus, who moves from tight end to tackle.

Another position of interest has been the defensive ends who have to replace three players drafted by the NFL. So far Muhammed Usman and C.J. Parish have been very good and true freshmen Reggie Gilbert and Dame Ndiaye have shown that the future at the position seems very bright.

Junior college transfer David Lopez will start alongside Paul Vassallo and Derek Earls when the Cats go with their 4-3 base defense, but all indications are that the Wildcats will spend a lot of time in their nickel and dime packages.

So far the defensive backs have also played well. Shaq Richardson and Jonathan McKnight are in a real battle to start opposite of senior Trevin Wasde and Derrick Rainey is also showing well at corner.

There is less competition at safety where Rob Golden and Marquis Flowers have their jobs all but sewn up.

Alex Zendejas and Jaime Salazar are in a duel for the place kicking job. Many assumed that after last year’s disasterous finish that Zendejas would be out of a job, but he worked hard over the summer and the job probably won’t be decided early in camp.

So far the Wildcats have remained relatively injury free, which is especially good news after all of the injuries during spring ball. Two of those injured players, linebacker Jake Fischer and safety Adam Hall, appear to be ahead of schedule and may have a tough decision to make about whether to play this year or use a redshirt.

Adam Hall (Brad Allis/WildcatSportsReport.com)

While most of the eyes of Wildcat sports fans were on the terrific run of the Arizona basketball team, the football team quietly began spring drills.

The football team may be coming off their third straight bowl game, but many fans are more fixated on their five game losing streak, including a lopsided loss to Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.

While the Wildcats return a ton of talent, they also lost some key players at some key positions. After looking at the offense on SUNDAY, we look at the defense today.

The defense has a lot or promise and a lot of returners at all but one position group. The Wildcats will have to replace their top four defensive ends from a year ago thanks to the graduation of Brooks Reed, D’Aundre Reed and Ricky Elmore, plus the loss of Apai Tuihalamaka to a career threatening concussion.

“We probably won’t be able to create as much pressure with for man rushes,” confessed Mike Stoops.

Mohammed Usman is the most experienced defensive end and he only played five games last year. C.J. Parish moved from linebacker to end late last year and was granted a sixth year of eligibility. The Cats will also look at redshirt freshman Dan Pettinato and converted defensive tackle Dominique Austin.

The Wildcats lose Mana Mikaele at defensive tackle, but return the bulk of the unit, although fellow starter Justin Washington will miss spring drills due to an injured shoulder that required offseason surgery.

“I think we’ll be better inside than we were a year ago,” Stoops said.

Sione Tuihalamaka made a name for himself last spring and hopes to expand his role this season. Jowyn Ward had a nice start to camp and Chris Merrill has some experience. Also expect youngsters Kirifi Taula and Saneilia Fuimaono to get long looks.

The Wildcats return all three starting linebackers, plus intriguing youngsters Kyle Benson and Trevor Erno. Gone is R.J. Young, but he is not much of a loss with the return of Paul Vassallo, Derek Earls and local product Jake Fischer.

The Wildcats lost two senior defensive backs, but expect the position to be addition by subtraction. The Wildcats have four cornerbacks with experience and talent. Starters Trevin Wade and Robert Golden will be pushed by sophomores Jonathan McKnight and Shaq Richardson.

“This is the best set of four corners that we’ve ever had,” Stoops said.

At safety expect Adam Hall to become a full time starter and sophomore Marquis Flowers to expand his role.

“Marquis is a guy who has to come into his own and I think he will this year,” said Stoops. “Adam Hall has come into his own as a leader and a playmaker.”

New defensive backs coach Ryan Walters will also work hard with younger players like Jourdan Grandon, Derek Rainey, Mark Watley and Josh Robbins to build depth.

Get all your Wildcat Football news at WildcatSportsReport.com

Jonathan McKnight

Although the Arizona Wildcats football team is still basking in the glow of the 2011 recruiting class, it is the 2010 class that is preparing for its first spring practice. A number of 2010 signees enter the 2011 season with chances to make an impact.

• Marquis Flowers – Should compete for a starting safety spot
• Cam Allerheiligen – If Matt Scott redshirts he will probably be the third-string quarterback.
• Mickey Baucus – Should be in the mix for one of the starting tackle spots.
• Fabbians Ebbele – Like Baucus, will likely compete for a starting tackle spot.
• Chase Gorham – Already the starting long snapper.
• Austin Hill – In the mix at the crowded outside receiver spot.
• Carter Lees – Could compete for a starting guard spot with a strong spring.
• Kirifi Taula – May get a shot at defensive tackle.
• Jonathan McKnight – Will battle for a starting cornerback spot. Will see the field in 2011.
• Dan Pettinato – Should be in the defensive end equation.
• Shaquille Richardson – Will battle for a starting cornerback spot. Will see the field in 2011.
• Trent Spurgeon – Will be in the mix at tackle.
• Tyler Slavin – In the mix at the crowded outside receiver spot.

Courtesy Rick Faust/WildcatSportsReport.com

Last Saturday’s scrimmage was not a good one for the defense, but was a great one for the offense. Matt Scott had a great performance, but to me all he did was solidify that Nick Foles is the guy.

Scott threw for 196 yards and two scores, completing 16 of 21 passes (76.1%). Great numbers, but it was the play of another player who makes Scott’s accomplishments seem a little less impressive. Third string quarterback Bryson Beirne had nearly identical numbers. Beirne was 13-18 for 171 yards and two scores. He completed 72.2% of his passes

While I think Beirne is a solid player and could lead the Cats if needed, he is the third stringer for a reason. Had Scott played that well and Beirne struggled, then I’d be very impressed and wonder if Scott needed a longer look. As it stands, it looks like the Cats have three solid quarterbacks but a defense that may be worthy of some concern.

The fact that Foles was very good in the first scrimmage, outplaying Scott (who was good himself), leads me to believe that there is no doubt he’s the guy. In that first scrimmage Foles completed over 66% of his passes and tossed three touchdowns.

The bigger issue is that the defense has now given up seven touchdowns in two scrimmages. While the Wildcat offense projects to be one of the more potent units in the Pac-10, but the defense is clearly behind where they should be.

Right now the coaches are still trying a variety of players and schemes. New co-coordinators Tim Kish and Greg Brown are big on using more man-to-man coverages, while Mike Stoops has always been more of a zone coverage proponent.

It looks as if Robert Golden has been shifted back to cornerback, the position he was originally recruited as, meaning seniors Joseph Perkins and Anthony Wilcox will get the nod at the two safety spots, with Adam Hall becoming the team’s top nickel back. Of course, I would be willing to bet that sooner rather than later freshman Marquis Flowers winds up earning a starting spot.

Jonathan McKnight

Although Arizona’s recruiting class did not wow the national analysts, it has wowed many who have watched the Wildcats at fall camp. While not many of the newcomers will play huge roles this season, the future certainly looks bright.

Marquis Flowers – The big safety has already made and impact in camp. Although a concussion has sidelined him at Ft. Huachuca, it sure seems like he will see the field this year. He’s big, physical and fast, the only thing keeping him from the two-deep is learning the system. The early returns are that the Army All-American will live up to his high school billing.

Shaquille Richardson – Another big, impressive athlete. Richardson, like Flowers, has made an instant impact and is getting work with the first and second team. He seems really poised to make a run at playing time, and the thought of a 6-3 cornerback has a lot of people intrigued. If the older corners continue to scuffle, then Richardson could really make a run at a starting spot, or at least some quality snaps.

Fabibans Ebbele – Ebbele won’t play this year, but the future is really bright. He’s tall, strong, athletic and has a frame that can handle a lot of weight. He’s shown some nice lateral quickness when going up against veteran ends and it is not a stretch to envision the Chicago native competing for a starting tackle spot next season.

Mickey Baucus – Nearly everything I just wrote about Ebbele could be said for Baucus. Ebbele may be a slightly better athlete, but Baucus may be a tad stronger right now. He too has had his moments against veteran defensive ends.

Tyler Slavin/Austin Hill – The two freshman receivers have already turned some heads in camp. Hill has made some spectacular catches, while Slavin has been consistently solid as an outside receiver. About the only thing keeping them from the receiver rotation is the team’s great depth at receiver. Despite that, it would not be a shock if they saw the field as true freshmen.

Jonathan McKnight – Like Flowers and Richardson, but McKnight has impressed coaches as well. He is not as big as the other two, but has shown all the athletic ability the Wildcat coaches want in a cornerback. Mike Stoops had a lot of praise for him the other day and he could seriously be in the mix next year for a starting spot.

Fabbians Ebbele (Photo by Brad Allis, WildcatSportsReport.com)

Garic Wharton – Mike Stoops called him the fastest high school football player in America on signing day. Nick Foles says he’s among the fastest, if not the fastest, player on the team. The only problem? He weighs 160 pounds soaking wet. He’s skinny, there is no getting around it. His fellow freshmen, Tyler Slavin and Austin Hill, are more advanced physically and it shows in there performance. However, Wharton has already shown flashes and Stoops was quick to lump him in with Slavin and Hill in praising the group. He had a few catches in the scrimmage and a run for 11 yards. After a year or two in the training program, Wharton could be a game-breaker.

Trent Spurgeon – Okay, I have to start with the beard. Trent’s facial hair resembles that of the lead singer from the Spin Doctors or an Ultimate Frisbee enthusiast. It’s thick, but so is Trent. He’s a tall, athletic blocker who has a decent build but a frame that looks like it can add a lot of weight. He,  Ebbele and Baucus all look like they will be monsters.