The Arizona Wildcat football team began spring drills last week and have a number of questions to answer, especially on the defensive side of the ball. One of the biggest questions involves the defensive line.

QUESTION: Can Arizona replace Earl Mitchell and Donald Horton?

Answer: The Wildcats lose two of their top three defensive tackles, and while they will not be easy to replace, all is not lost. The Cats have a lot of quality bodies, even if they are relatively inexperienced.

The Cats return starter Mana Mikaele and Dominique Austin who saw a lot of time last fall. Austin will miss spring drills but will be full strength by the time fall camp opens.

Wildcat coaches are high a number of players including JC transfer Jonathan Hollins. Hollins was a JC transfer last year but was able to redshirt and still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Also impressing the staff is redshirt freshman Justin Washington. He’s another big, athletic tackle. He isn’t a huge run stopper, but could be a very similar player to Mitchell.

Jowyn Ward has seen action the past two seasons, but has yet to be more than a role player. Ward is one of the strongest players on the team as well the second biggest of the interior defensive linemen.

Chris Merrill is another big body inside that has impressed and Sione Tuihalamaka is arguably the fastest, most athletic of the big guys inside.

This group will need to impress in the fall. The Cats signed four defensive tackles in the recruiting class. Ohio State (via a JUCO) transfer Willie Mobley has been brought in to play right away and the Cats are high on the three freshmen, especially Kirifi Taula and Sani Fuimaono. While they’d love to redshirt all three, they won’t hesitate to play them if they are ready.

The Arizona football team has added three “surprises” to the 2010 recruiting class. Two players committed and signed with the program this morning, while a third made his two-month old commitment known Tuesday night.

For full signing day coverage including interviews, video and bios make sure you check out WildcatSportsReport.com.

Arizona received two surprises when Fabbians Ebbelle and Jonathan McKnight each faxed in Letters of Intent.

Ebbelle is a huge 6-8, 295-pound offensive lineman from Chicago’s Simeon High School. Ebbelle chose Arizona over Illinois and Kansas. He is a rare commit from Illinois, but is the fourth player from the state to commit to the Wildcats in the past two seasons.

Assistant coach Bill Bedenbaugh has worked hard to open up the area and so far it is paying dividends with the big fellas. The Cats have landed three offensive linemen and a blocking tight end from the area.

The Cats also ventured to another unusual area to land their second surprise of the morning. Jonathan McKnight hails from the New Orleans area and become the second player from the Crescent City to commit to the Wildcats in the Mike Stoops era. Linebacker

McKnight is an athlete who can play either cornerback or wide out and had some nice SEC offers, including Arkansas and Tennessee.

He is also the brother of USC running back although they are different players.

“They are two different types of players,” McKnight’s high school coach J.T. Curtis told NOLA.com in August. “Jonathan is a pure corner/receiver type.”

Honolulu defensive tackle Defensive tackle Sani Fuimaono has actually been committed since December but was just a “soft commit” and wanted to keep things quiet until he was sure Arizona was the place for him.

Fuimaono fell in love with Tucson and the school.

“The main reason is probably just the place, you know, Tucson,” Fuimaono said. “It’s a great college town and I fit in real well. I like the campus and everything just fits me.”

The Cats’ entire class was signed by 11:30 local time and we’ll have a full re-cap this afternoon.

One player who did not sign was OL Matthew Jakubiec, who will likely go the junior college route.

The Cats will announce their 2010 recruiting class on Wednesday afternoon. As we discussed yesterday, the offense addressed most of their needs. For the defense it is much of the same.

For all your signing day coverage, including the FAX TRACKER, player bios and breaking news visit WILDCATSPORTSREPORT.com all day long on Wednesday.

Defensive Tackles

Committed: (3)
Kirifi Taula 6-4, 275  Servite (CA) HS
Willie Mobley  6-2, 270 Orange Coast College/Ohio State
Sani Fuimaono 6-2, 270, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI

Fills Needs: A
The Cats lose two DTs but grab three in the class. Mobley can come in and play right away and Taula and Fuimaona have very bright futures. All three have the size and athleticism to be good players in the Wildcats’ system.

Defensive Ends

Committed: (2)
Dan Pettinato 6-5, 222 Nevada Union HS – Grass Valley, CA
Mohamed Usman 6-1, 240 Navarro College

Fills Needs: C+
This rating goes up if Pettinato surprises. He’s an unknown commodity at this point, but has intriguing size and if he can develop, then maybe he can bolster the group. Usman is a speed rusher who will get a chance to fight for playing time right away.

Paul Vassallo

Line Backers

 

Committed: (2)
Derek Earls 6-3, 220 North Dakota State College
Paul Vassallo 6-3, 240 Sierra College
Kyle Benson 6-2, 215 Corona Del Sol HS – Tempe, AZ

Fills Needs: B+
The Cats wanted JC backers who could transfer at the semester and found two. Both Earls and Vassallo have great size and are already in the strength and conditioning program. After losing all three starters and their nickel back, the Cats will need both Vassallo and Earls to fight for starting jobs. Benson is overcoming a knee injury but is ahead of schedule in his rehab and he has great upside.

Defensive Backs

WildcatSportsReport.com

Committed: (3)
Jourdon Grandon 6-0, 180 Westview HS – Avondale, AZ
Josh Robbins 6-3, 195 Canyon del Oro HS – Tucson, AZ
Marquis Flowers 6-2, 195 Millenium HS – Goodyear, AZ

Fills Needs: B-
Flowers will see the field right away and could be a starter, but the other two are terrific athletes, but likely projects. The Cats needed a cornerback in the class and did not get a pure cover corner, but did get three quality athletes.

Special Teams

Committed: (1)
Chase Gorham 6-2, 225 Chaparral HS – Scottsdale, AZ

Fills Needs: A
The Cats rarely offer special teams performers, but Gorham is not only a terrific long snapper but a Wildcat legacy.