Arizona Football

Takeaways from Arizona football practice: Wildcats clash on first day in full pads

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Noah Fifita sets his eyes downfield in search of an open receiver (Mike Christy/Arizona Athletics).

Day 8 of fall camp is officially in the books and the Arizona Wildcats football team is looking more and more like it is prepared for the season with each passing practice.

It was the Wildcats’ first day in full pads Friday and the energy and excitement showed on the field. The defensive group, in particular, was eager to finally show their physicality during drills, using precise tackling techniques paired with ferocity before the 11-on-11 session toward the end.

Midway through practice, Arizona players and the coaching staff huddled in the Cole and Jeannie Davis Practice Facility to honor the university’s President, Suresh Garimella. Senior quarterback Noah Fifita gave Garimella a football helmet signed by the players and he thanked the team for the gift alongside head coach Brent Brennan.

It was business as usual following the intermission and the Wildcats went back to practice with the same intensity as before.

The Wildcats will need that intensity for the rest of August, as they head into a physical game in Provo, Utah, after their week-one opener at home against the NAU Lumberjacks on Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Casino del Sol Stadium.

Harris and Mahdi back in action

In just their fourth practice since rejoining the Wildcats for one more season, running back Ismail Mahdi and linebacker Max Harris were in full pads along with the rest of the team. Neither player was spotted during the live 11-on-11 session, but they were running drills with their respective units.

Mahdi donned the navy blue practice jersey while Harris wore red for non-contact.

The two Class of 2022 veterans rejoined the team after a federal judge approved the NCAA’s five-for-five rule, meaning that a college athlete can play for up to five years of a sport from their high school graduation year.

Tyler Powell back in the groove

A season-ending injury in the first week of last season looked to have derailed tight end Tyler Powell’s chances of having a successful college career, but he is back, and it seems he hasn’t missed a step. During Arizona’s 2-point conversion session, the fifth-year senior made a spectacular catch just across the end zone, showing that an injury won’t keep him down.

Powell headlines the tight end room that is filled with many new faces. Arizona will need his leadership in a fast-paced offense that heavily utilizes tight ends as both extra receivers and blockers.

Defensive backs unwavering

Replacing the big three (Dalton Johnson, Genesis Smith, and Treydan Stukes) is no easy feat, but Arizona’s safeties are more than up to the task of living up to the legacy they left behind. All fall camp, safeties coach Brett Arce and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales have been mixing a number of combinations during first-team reps to see who is the right fit.

Nebraska transfer Malcolm Hartzog had a dazzling pass break-up in the corner of the end zone, displaying his explosiveness and ball-hawking talent.

USC transfer Matai Togoa’i, Northern Colorado transfer Cam Chapa, and others, have all gotten a shot at first-team reps.

They could all see action at the start of the season.

Wide receivers looked outstanding

Overall, it was another up-and-down day for the Wildcats offense, but Fifita and his group of wide receivers were stellar in Friday’s practice.

Senior Chris Hunter had two breathtaking catches during the 7-on-7 portion of practice. Colorado State transfer Jordan Ross made an impressive catch with both feet narrowly in bounds for a touchdown.

With a loaded running back room, a much improved offensive line and a quarterback hell-bent on proving why he should be considered among the best at the Division I level, the Wildcats offense should be one that is difficult to deal with for opposing teams.

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