Overhaul. Influx. Monsoon.
Whatever word you want to use to describe 蜜柚直播鈥檚 roster overhaul leading up to Jedd Fisch鈥檚 second season, this much is true: the Wildcats will feature dozens of new faces when they start training camp on Wednesday morning.
蜜柚直播鈥檚 roster of 113 players includes a whopping 54 newcomers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a better football team,鈥 Fisch said last week. 鈥淭he players that were on our roster last year that are on our roster this year have improved. They鈥檝e committed to being better in the weight room. They鈥檝e committed to being better in film study. They鈥檝e committed to being better fundamentally.
鈥淲e brought in some good football players. What it looks like come Saturday, Sept. 3 (against San Diego State) is very different than how I feel right now. We鈥檒l have to see. We鈥檒l have to see if our team can come together in this training camp and how well we can play as a team.鈥
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Many of the Wildcats鈥 top newcomers 鈥 transfer quarterback Jayden de Laura, transfer wide receiver Jacob Cowing, former USC edge rusher Hunter Echols and two top recruits, receiver Tetairoa McMillan and tight end Keyan Burnett 鈥 enrolled in January, took part in spring ball and figure to be more comfortable in Fisch鈥檚 system as camp opens.
Others, including a pair highly-touted defenders and a former Florida State running back, are just arriving in 蜜柚直播 and will have to learn on the fly. Here are five brand-new Wildcats to watch as the team starts practicing.
D.J. Williams
Position: Running back
Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Weight: 213 pounds
Hometown: Sebring, Florida
The rundown: The Wildcats weren鈥檛 necessarily in the market for a running back given their depth at the position. But when Fisch turned on the tape, Wlliams 鈥 a former Florida State and Auburn rusher 鈥 was too talented to turn. A recommendation from Williams鈥 former head coach at Auburn, Gus Malzahn, helped convince Fisch.
He said it: 鈥淲e鈥檙e never going to turn down a good player 鈥 There was no way that when I saw D.J., watched his film, that I didn鈥檛 think he would be an upgrade.鈥 鈥 Fisch
蜜柚直播鈥檚 coaches have raved about incoming freshman Rayshon 鈥淪peedy鈥 Luke.
Rayshon 鈥楽peedy鈥 Luke
Position: Running back
Height: 5-8
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown: Bellflower, California
The rundown: During his senior season at powerhouse St. John Bosco, Luke provided a glimpse of what he鈥檚 capable of. He scored two touchdowns 鈥 one rushing, one receiving 鈥 in the Army All-American Bowl, receiving MVP honors following the game. The do-it-all speedster will join a loaded backfield that includes Williams, returning starter Michael Wiley, fellow freshman Jonah Coleman and returners Stevie Rocker, Drake Anderson, Jalen John and James Bohls. Luke is expected to have a role in 蜜柚直播鈥檚 return unit right away.
He said it: 鈥淗e is a special back. What does that mean? It means that we can put 鈥楽peedy鈥 in about every position we possibly can put him in and feel like we鈥檒l have success with him there.鈥 鈥 Fisch
Four-star linebacker Sterling Lane is among 蜜柚直播's most highly regarded defensive signees.
Sterling 鈥楧euce鈥 Lane
Position: Edge rusher
Height: 6-4
Weight: 235 pounds
Hometown: Westlake Village, California
The rundown: Call him an outside linebacker or an edge rusher. Either way, Lane is considered one of the top overall prospects in 蜜柚直播鈥檚 freshman class. Lane, who chose the Wildcats over offers from LSU, Oregon, Michigan, Tennessee, Arkansas, 蜜柚直播 State and Utah, will be a part of a group that includes Echols, Jalen Harris and his younger brother, 6-7, 252-pound Jason Harris.
He said it: 鈥溾橠euce鈥 Lane is just a fantastic defensive end, edge rusher, outside linebacker, he fits so many boxes. We want to really improve our pass rush, and this class of guys we have coming in are going to make some noise.鈥 鈥 蜜柚直播 defensive line coach Ricky Hunley
Tacario 鈥楤obo鈥 Davis
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 pounds
Hometown: Long Beach, California
The rundown: It鈥檚 no secret that 蜜柚直播 needs to get better at taking away the football. In 2021, the Wildcats ranked last in the Pac-12 with four interceptions. Davis鈥 height and versatility should help the Wildcats in that category. 蜜柚直播 returns Christian Roland-Wallace, Treydan Stukes and Isaiah Rutherford while adding Davis, four-star freshman Ephesians Prysock and Miami product Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine 鈥 also known as 鈥淕7.鈥
He said it: 鈥淟ength. The one thing I was really attracted (to) with him was he鈥檚 light on his feet (while also being) so tall. We鈥檙e going to play a lot of press coverage. ... I think he鈥檚 capable of playing all the different techniques with all the different coverages we鈥檙e gonna play. ... He was recruited by other schools. Once he committed, he stayed firm. He showed some great loyalty.鈥 鈥 UA cornerbacks coach DeWayne Walker
Jacob Rich Kongaika
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-2
Weight: 280 pounds
Hometown: Santa Ana, California
The rundown: Kongaika falls into the under-the-radar category, but he could turn some heads very soon. The Santa Ana Mater Dei product finished his high school career as a First Team All-Trinity League selection. Kongaika had scholarship offers from Colorado State, Utah State and UCLA, but when Johnny Nansen left the Bruins to take over 蜜柚直播鈥檚 defense, Kongaika followed him 鈥 as a walk-on. Scholarship or not, the Wildcats have high expectations for Kongaika, who joins an interior defensive line group that includes Kyon Barrs, UCLA transfer Tiaoalii Savea, Paris Shand, JB Brown, Nahe Sulunga and Dion 鈥淭ank鈥 Wilson, among others.
He said it: 鈥淛acob Kongaika has really shown up. I think that we got a nice one right there. Excited about what he can bring.鈥 鈥 Fisch
Contact sports producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter: @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
