(http://www.arizonawildcats.com/images/2017/8/3/080217_sliu_0424.jpg)
Despite losing some key cogs from last year, Rich Rodriguez sees plenty of potential in his wide receivers this season.
Coach Rich Rod stood in the lobby of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility after Wednesday night's practice and sounded like a proud papa talking about Arizona's wide receivers.
Sure, Trey Griffey, Samajie Grant and Nate Phillips, the three anchors of the position in 2016, are gone, but that doesn't mean Rodriguez isn't excited about the potential of this year's group. The Wildcats have a solid mix of veterans, who have bided their time behind Griffey, Grant and Phillips, and newcomers, who are eager to contribute.
"I think we are more talented there than most people think," Rodriguez said," because we have some guys who haven't played a great deal and we have some new guys."
And then Rodriguez ran down the list of several players who could contribute this year in a big way.
"Shun Brown proved himself last year," Rodriguez said. "He's one of the most valuable players we have on offense. He's a great competitor; a really good football player. Tony Ellison is a guy who has been in the program, and is having a good camp. He's ready to have a big year. Cedric Peterson is healthy, and has had a good camp so far. Tyrell Johnson, when he's healthy, can help us. Shawn Poindexter, he's a really good athlete, and has been working hard. Cam Denson, he needs to have a big year. It's his time. We're going to be counting on him quite a bit."
As a sophomore last season, Brown led the team with 521 receiving yards on 29 catches. He also tied for the team lead in touchdowns with three. Poindexter suffered an injury in the fourth game of the season against Washington, and had his playing time limited thereafter and had six catches for 82 yards on the year. Denson finished with 15 catches for 242 yards, and like Brown, played in all 12 games last season.
The position group will have a new leader this year in Theron Aych, who is in his first year as the wide receivers group. Aych coached receivers at UTEP last year, and is excited about his group at Arizona this season.
"I think it's a group right now that's really buying into what we're teaching," Aych said. "They're working really hard. We have some new faces out there because we have to replace some great players from last year. But each and every day, I see those guys getting better."
Boettcher Proving Himself
When Christian Boettcher arrived at Arizona, he was determined to play football for the Wildcats. An offensive lineman from Scottsdale's Desert Mountain High School, Boettcher didn't have any scholarship offers or invitations to walk-on at any major colleges.
But Boettcher came south to Tucson and decided to try his hand at walking on for the Wildcats. He made the team in 2014, and redshirted. In 2015, he saw his first playing time, and then last year, he played in 11 games and made seven starts on the offensive line. Rodriguez said after Wednesday's practice that he likes to have eight offensive linemen ready to play, and Boettcher is definitely one.
"It's a neat story," Rodriguez said. "He was an unrecruited, show-up, try-on, walk-on. He earned a scholarship. He can play center, guard. Technique wise, he's as good as anyone we have. Coach (Jim Michalczik) has done a great job with him. We need eight we can win with, and Christian is one of them."
Defense Wins
The defense won the third practice of the year, having a strong showing. The unit specifically excelled on third downs and played aggressively.
"We were active, got hands on the ball," Rodriguez said. "Everything we do in practice is competitive, and the defense overwhelmingly won the third down stuff."
Overall, Rodriguez was pleased with the first practice of the year in shoulder pads and is eager to get into full pads Friday.
"We can tell some things now, and we'll tell more in two days when we're in full pads," Rodriguez said.
What I have been saying. Everyone writing off our receivers will be surprised!
I have missed this board this week and will catch up the countdown soon. Been tied up in a big cross country move.