2018 Arizona Wildcats

RTTAS

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Sep 16, 2015
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Since 2013, Arizona has started 8, 7, 7, 7, and 9 white players. In 2018 they project to drop slightly to 8 white starters - 36% of the starting players on offense and defense. Non-Hispanic whites make up 59.6% of the Arizona population (76.4% including white Hispanics).

Coach Rich Rodriguez, who started in 2012, was fired in January 2018 because of sexual harassment “claims” by an admin assistant. Kevin Sumlin takes over after being fired by Texas A&M after four straight seasons with 5 losses – a step in the wrong direction if I’ve ever seen one. The team is again quarterbacked by the massively overhyped Khalil Tate, who can run but can’t pass. Get a QB spy in and contain the runs and this Arizona offense probably won’t be moving the ball too much, despite a mostly white OL. Tony Ellison will start at wide receiver after catching 37 passes for 598 yards and 5 TDs in 2017 as a JR, while adding 3 rushes for 36 yards and a TD. Junior Matt Aragon is listed as a Punter/Receiver and could appear on offense at some point, while they have a white RB in in-state junior Branden Leon to watch - he had 13 carries for 81 yards and a TD in 2017.

On defense, Colin Schooler will return as starter after having 96 tackles, 13.5 for loss, 4 sacks and 2 interceptions for 119 yards last season as a freshman, earning PAC-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. His brother is Oregon starting WR Brenden Schooler. Justin Belknap is the other defensive starter, hoping to add to his snap counts after 3 sacks the last two seasons from limited snaps. Two in-state redshirt freshman LBs to watch in Rourke Freeberg and Rexx Tessler, both from Scottsdale, while redshirt sophomore Richard Merritt from California is also one to watch.

Offense
WR: Tony Ellison (SR)
TE: Bryce Wolma (SO)
LT: Josh McCauley (SO)
C: Nathan Eldridge (JR)
RG: Alex Kosinski (JR)
RT: Cody Creason (JR)

Defense
DE: Justin Belknap (JR)
MIKE LB: Colin Schooler (SO)

Back-ups on the two-deep include QB Rhett Rodriguez (son of Rich), TE Jamie Nunley, LG Bryson Cain, C Steven Bailey, RG Jon Jacobs, and DT Finton Connolly.
 
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Shadowlight

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Mar 16, 2013
Messages
3,882
Thanks RTTAS.

On paper this isn't a dreadful operation. If you are in the mood for that check out ASU.

They have a starting white WR in Ellison who really came on last season and who knows if he can build on it the NFL might start sniffing around. He has no NFL buzz at the moment though. And he has to deal with a look at me QB who thinks run first.

And Schooler was a fantastic young fly around the field defender last year.

But the one thing that really drags them down is the QB Tate. A running QB he is the proverbial media wet dream and as we all know it becomes insufferable. As RTTAS says he is "massively overhyped" and I expect that slant will continue unabated this season unless he stumbles and is replaced early--our best hope.

So a mixed bag to say the least.
 
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