ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football coach Jedd Fisch spent the weekend in Las Vegas, where he watched the Wildcats men’s basketball team win the Pac-12 Tournament.
Fisch didn’t have nearly as fruitful a first season as Tommy Lloyd. Fisch’s team won one game. Lloyd’s is a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
But as soon as the offseason began, Fisch began piling up victories. He and his staff signed a top-25 recruiting class. They also landed transfer quarterback Jayden de Laura, the 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Spring football, which resumes Tuesday after a 12-day break, offers the next opportunity to build on those successes.
The Wildcats will return to the field a little after 3 p.m. for their second official practice of spring. They’ll have 13 team workouts before the April 9 spring game.
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Here are four things we’ll be monitoring over the next four weeks:
Line dance
It took all of one practice to notice ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was lacking bodies on both lines. Fortunately, the Wildcats’ lack of depth in the trenches should be temporary.
On the offensive side, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will be without Josh Baker for the duration of spring. Baker, projected to start at center or guard, suffered a pectoral injury before camp and watched the first practice on March 2 with his right arm in a sling.
Davis DiVall, expected to be part of the mix at guard or tackle, did not participate in the first practice because of what Fisch termed “personal issues.†There is hope DiVall will be able to return soon. As long as he’s out, young players such as JT Hand and Leif Magnuson will get plenty of reps. They were the starters at center and left guard, respectively, when spring practice started.
On the defensive side, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ began spring ball without its two projected starters at defensive tackle, Kyon Barrs and Tiaoalii Savea. Barrs’ absence was expected; Fisch announced the previous day that the All-Pac-12 performer would be out for spring after undergoing foot surgery. Savea, a transfer from UCLA, sat out because of an illness. He’s expected to participate when practice resumes.
Defensive tackle Dion Wilson Jr. also was a non-participant in the first practice for undisclosed reasons, although he did suit up. That left Paris Shand and Nahe Sulunga as the first-stringers. Ideally, by August, they’ll be part of a much more robust rotation.
Skill-position reps
When ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ conducted its first 11-on-11 work, Will Plummer served as the quarterback. Jordan McCloud was the next man up. It made sense: They’re both returnees, and they had seniority.
It’ll be interesting to see how the rep rotation evolves over the coming weeks at that position and the other “skill†spots. Will de Laura move to the front of the line sometime this spring? Will freshman Noah Fifita work his way into a prime spot?
At receiver, the initial first unit consisted of Dorian Singer, Anthony Simpson and Ma’jon Wright. But it would be an upset if freshman Tetairoa McMillan and transfer Jacob Cowing weren’t starting by Week 1. The talent at wideout is formidable, and the competition will be fierce.
The same can be said of running back, where ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ returns its top four rushers, has added impressive-looking freshman Jonah Coleman and is still awaiting the arrival of four-star signee Rayshon Luke. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of the veterans ends up transferring sometime after spring ball; it’s impossible to find enough touches to keep six tailbacks happy.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Jonah Coleman runs through a drill earlier this month. The talented freshman will be competing for playing time at the running back position.
Linebacker lineup
With Jerry Roberts still working his way back from injury, it was something of a mystery who’d open spring camp at middle linebacker. Fisch announced the previous day that third-year sophomore Malik Reed would occupy that position. But Reed spent the first practice working on the side with trainers. He had a mild hamstring strain that isn’t expected to linger.
Reed is an interesting choice in that he played weak-side linebacker last season, including a start in the finale vs. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State. Fisch praised his physique, noting that the 6-1, 225-pound transfer from Wisconsin falls in the weight range the coach considers ideal for linebacker (220-235 pounds).
Ammon Allen, who got the nod with the ones, is listed at 207. But at 6-3, the converted safety has ample room for growth. The Mesa product, who came to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ as a preferred walk-on, is among the most intriguing prospects on the roster.
Transfer Anthony Solomon opened on the weak side, and he’s one to watch as well. Solomon was a consensus four-star prospect out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who had 39 scholarship offers. He ended up at Michigan, where most of his contributions came on special teams. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ needs someone at that spot who can run and cover, and Solomon fits the profile.
Nuances of Nansen
Last spring, you could sense defensive coordinator Don Brown’s presence immediately. He was the loudest coach on the field, and he brought pressure at every turn.
Brown’s successor, Johnny Nansen, isn’t quite as vocal, and it remains to be seen exactly how his unit will attack; this is the first time he has run a defense at the college level.
The base formation is a 4-2-5. Gunner Maldonado, who played safety last year, opened as the nickel. Transfer DJ Warnell Jr. also will compete for that spot.
We might not get a great feel for Nansen’s style until Saturday’s 11:30 a.m. scrimmage. One thing was clear from the first practice: Nansen has natural chemistry with Jason Kaufusi, with whom he also worked at UCLA. Kaufusi is coaching ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s edge rushers, a group that includes veteran Jalen Harris; his younger brother, Jason; and transfer Hunter Echols, another former four-star recruit.
Extra points
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will conduct its annual pro day for NFL scouts Tuesday at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium. Scheduled participants include receiver Stanley Berryhill III, defensive lineman Trevon Mason, linebacker Anthony Pandy and kicker Lucas Havrisik. Pro day workouts are closed to the public.