To get ready for the upcoming Arizona football season, All Sports Tucson offers a countdown, which will include history notes and a look ahead to the season — a good way to keep Arizona football on the mind in the summer months leading up to fall camp in early August and then kickoff against New Mexico on Aug. 31 in the start of the Brent Brennan era.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PREVIOUS DAYS IN THE COUNTDOWN
A LOOK BACK — NO. 21 KELLY MALVEAUX
With it being the 21st day until kickoff between the Lobos and Wildcats, the best player to wear No. 21 for Arizona is cornerback Kelly Malveaux, a four-year starter with the Wildcats from 1994 to 1997. He was selected an All-Pac-10 second-team player as a sophomore in 1995. The Long Beach, Calif., product started every game his last three seasons at Arizona and 39 overall. He earned a degree in psychology with a minor in African-American studies in his time at Arizona with Dick Tomey as the head coach. After playing in the World Football League for the Amsterdam Admirals in 1998 and 1999, Malveaux played in the CFL from 1999 to 2009. His longest stint was with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2006 to 2009. He was a two-time CFL All-Star and Grey Cup champion in 2001 with the Calgary Stampeders. After his retirement from football, Malveaux joined Abundant Family Living Church in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. He coached the church’s youth soccer team and was a volunteer with the church’s Family-to-Family Thanksgiving Food Giveaway. He worked for more than 10 years with BNSF Railway as a conductor and engineer. He was also an avid golfer. Malveaux, 47, passed away on Jan. 24 this year because of health reasons. His family, including his wife Sherell (whom he met at Arizona), son Seneca and daughter Brooklyn, was by his side at the time of his passing.
NO. 21 IN 2024 — RB RAYSHON LUKE & CB JOHNO PRICE
Luke, a speedster at 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds, appeared in all 13 games during the 2023 season, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt and 11.8 yards per game. Rushed for 153 total yards and one touchdown on 37 carries. Gained a career-high 71 yards (including a 40-yard TD run) on 10 carries against Washington State on the road. He also had a 66-yard reception against UCLA. As a true freshman in 2022, he rushed for 105 yards on 15 attempts with a long of 28 yards. He starred at Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco High School and was a four-star recruit who chose Arizona over Duke, San Jose State (coached by Brennan at the time), Arizona State and Boston College.
Price, 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, appeared in nine games during one season with the College of San Mateo last year. He made 16 total tackles (13 solo, three assists) and averaged 1.8 tackles per game with one sack. He also tallied two interceptions. He was an unrated prospect out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton (Calif.). He made 37 receptions for 576 yards and two touchdowns over three seasons on varsity. On defense, he made 121 total tackles (58 solo, 63 assists) with 2.0 tackles for loss.
NOTE
According to Arizona Daily Star columnist Michael Lev, the “star” of Friday night’s practice, that included scrimmaging, was safety Owen Goss. He is a graduate transfer from Colgate, an FCS school, who is trying to work his way into Arizona’s crowded rotation in the defensive secondary.
Late-night observations after @arizonafb practice under the lights at Arizona Stadium on Friday evening:
1. The star of practice, which featured some “live” scrimmaging, was defensive back Owen Goss. The transfer from Colgate was all over the field. In 11-on-11 work, he had a…
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) August 10, 2024
THEY SAID IT
“The transfer from Colgate was all over the field. In 11-on-11 work, he had a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a tackle-for-loss on a jet sweep. He also had two PBUs in one-on-ones vs. tight ends. Coach Brent Brennan praised Goss’ physicality and personality afterward. Look for Goss to carve out a role on special teams and in the dollar defense at the very least.” — Lev
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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