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LATEST: The important positions Arizona Football need to address before spring

Published

5 months ago

February 10, 2024

It has been a dynamic period for Arizona Football, with significant developments such as Jedd Fisch’s departure for Washington, the hiring of coach Brent Brennan, and a flurry of player movements—departures, retentions, and new arrivals—keeping fans engaged throughout the winter.

Now, with UCLA head coach Chip Kelly announcing his move to become the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State, the landscape remains unpredictable, suggesting further fluctuations in the coming weeks.

As Spring Football approaches and the Wildcats’ roster nears completion, attention turns to key positions that Arizona must address. Here’s a brief overview of what lies ahead.

CORNERBACK

The necessity for bolstering depth at cornerback is evident. With Ephesians Prysock’s departure to Washington and Tacario Davis potentially following suit, the cornerback position faces a significant void.

Excluding Davis, the current roster only features Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, Emmanuel Karnley, and JUCO transfer Johno Price as scholarship corners. While Treydan Stukes is technically listed as a cornerback, he primarily operated in the STAR position on defense last season.

Considering the current lineup, the outlook for cornerback prospects appears somewhat bleak for the Wildcats. There’s optimism that Davis might return, which would certainly strengthen the position. However, it remains an area of concern that Coach Brennan and his staff must address promptly to ensure adequate depth and talent in the cornerback ranks.

DEFENSIVE LINE

While the defensive line situation for the Wildcats isn’t entirely dire, additional proven depth wouldn’t hurt either.

Several key players, including Tyler Manoa, Sio Nofoagatoto’a, and Taylor Upshaw, have graduated or reached the end of their eligibility. Furthermore, transfers like Isaiah Ward, Russell Davis II, and Jacob Kongaika have further depleted the defensive line ranks.

Fortunately, Arizona retains talents such as Bill Norton and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei while also adding transfers like Tre Smith, Chubba Maae, and Kevon Darton from various Division I programs. Additionally, JUCO transfer Cyrus Durham and 2024 commit Eduwa Okundaye have bolstered the roster, but another player or two would be beneficial for the Wildcats.

A strong pass rush last season significantly aided the secondary, and with potentially more challenges for the cornerback position this year, maintaining a formidable pass rush remains crucial. Arizona’s ongoing efforts to address this position with additional acquisitions will be pivotal moving forward.

LINEBACKER

Although not a glaring position of need, the Wildcats boast a solid linebacker corps with the return of key players such as All-Pac-12 First Teamer Jacob Manu, Justin Flowe, and promising youngsters like Kamuela Ka’aihue, Taye Brown, Sterling Lane II, and Leviticus Su’a.

However, if Arizona opts to utilize more linebackers in certain defensive formations next season, there might be a need for additional depth. While the group is talented, some players remain unproven, which could potentially create an area of concern.

Jacob Manu stands out as the only proven player in the linebacker unit, with a noticeable drop-off in production after him. Ideally, Arizona could benefit from adding another player either through Spring evaluations or the transfer portal to strengthen this position. As we approach Spring practices, this will be a position to monitor closely.