DL Preview

[Little George]

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2024/7/27/24207173/arizona-wildcats-football-preseason-preview-defensive-line-maae-uiagalelei-smith-anderson-2024


I love this projection and the depth. Will it work? I believe we will have the details worked out by the time we hit KSU. The rotation will be continuous, so who starts and who doesn't comes off the bench will not matter much.

[Little George]

Projected starters: Tre Smith (Jr.), Chubba Ma'ae (Sr.), Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei (Jr.), Jarra Anderson (Soph.)

Ta'ita'i is the known player here. I love his game and he will bloom this year. Tre and Jarra are making a step up, but Tre knows the staff well and should be an impact player. Jarra had a solid first year at Memphis but is the first question guy listed as a projected starter. Chubba is a beast of a man, but this is a major step up in competition. Can he live up to his potential against much better competition?

[Little George]

Top backups: Kevon Darton (R-Sr.), Stanley Ta'ufo'ou (R-Sr.), Isaiah Johnson (R-Soph.), Dominic Lolesio (R-F
r.), Chase Kennedy (R-Soph.), Cyrus Durham (Soph.)

The top backups listed are very interesting to me.

Isaiah is a big guy and was here last year. Issue? We were more about eating blocks last year and this game where we will be more aggressive this year will be more to his strength. Plus there should be that Sophmore jump.
Dominic also returns. I am very high on this kid as an impact player. Great kid, great motor!

Keven was a beast for Syracuse. I consider him a known in what we have. I can easily see him as a starter. Definitely a more aggressive player!
Stanley is also a mostly known player. These two should be solid for us. Looking forward to seeing them play a lot. This also speaks for the quality of the projected starters listed.
Chase was good enough for Utah which speaks volumes to me. Let's see what he brings to the table.
Cyrus has great numbers from the JC level, but can he make that jump?

This is a solid top nine if they can all make the jump.

[Little George]

The staff would like 12 players ready to rotate. They like to rotate a lot of players. Who else could step into this top 12ish?

Julian Savaiinaea was very strong the day he walked onto campus. His size is small for the interior. His speed is slow for the outside. Where does fit in?
Keanu Mailoto had good reviews last year but never got in the rotation. Can he break the ice this year?
Nick Fernandez also fits that description.
Bryce Echols is a WO guy that could play his way into a rotation as well. Yet to be seen.
Tristan Davis came in as a mid 3 star guy but has been quiet since arriving on campus.