Khalil Tate runs upfield to congratulate Thomas Reed III aft the offense put together a last minute drive to score at the end of the University of Arizona's spring game in Arizona Stadium, Saturday, April 14, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
New season, new coaching staff, same core.
Arizona showcased the current players on roster in Saturday's spring game in front of thousands of spectators at Arizona Stadium.
Usually fans are accustomed to the Khalil Tate show, but it was the defense that mostly shined in a 55-46 win. Safety Jarrius Wallace contributed two interceptions while cornerback Jace Whittaker tacked on a strip fumble that would've been a touchdown if the officials didn't blow the whistle.
Freshman All-American linebackers Colin Schooler and Tony Fields also returned as starters, and Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles is preparing for his final go-around at the UA. Safety Scottie Young Jr. was revealed to be suspended for entire spring period according to head coach Kevin Sumlin. Young's status on the team is still uncertain, but he's another viable piece to Arizona's youthful defense.
On top of that, Arizona added size to the defensive front with P.J. Johnson, Mykee Irving and Sione Taufahema, and all of them weigh 300-plus pounds. From first impression, the defense hasn't had any issues adjusting to the staff, which is almost expected considering Marcel Yates is entering his third season as Arizona's defensive coordinator.
The offense on the other hand is still a work in progress.
Arizona failed to score a touchdown in the red zone in the first half, but was able to capitalize on the opportunities in the second half. The first play to start the second half was Tate completing a 56-yard fade route to wide receiver Shawn Poindexter, which resulted in a post-route in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
Running back Nathan Tilford was able to show his strength as a powerful second option in the backfield with Gary Brightwell currently injured. There were several promising flashes for Arizona, but there were also a plethora of mistakes. Fortunately for the Cats, the team will take time off and regroup in July in preparation for the 2018 season.
Where does the team stand from a player's perspective?
Tate, J.J. Taylor, Schooler, Poindexter and Flannigan-Fowles all spoke after the spring game on Saturday, here's what they had to say.
