Here's who has stood out, stepped up during first half of 蜜柚直播 Wildcats' football season

Michael Lev
Oct 10, 2018
Oct 10, 2018 Updated Oct 12, 2018

Here's a look at Star reporter Michael Lev's picks for first-half MVPs, breakout candidates and unsung heroes. The Wildcats will play at Utah on Friday night.

The halfway point

University of 蜜柚直播 vs BYU — 蜜柚直播 players run onto the field under a fireworks display as they prepare to face Brigham Young at 蜜柚直播 Stadium, Saturday September 1, 2018, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

Midway through the 2018 season, the 蜜柚直播 Wildcats are 3-3. Records, however, can be misleading. Though the Wildcats are on pace to make the postseason, their past performance has disappointed those expecting big things, and their future opponents include some of the conference's best teams.聽

Here's a look at Star reporter Michael Lev's picks for first-half MVPs, breakout candidates and unsung heroes. The Wildcats will play at Utah Friday night.

Offensive MVP

蜜柚直播 Wildcats vs. Cal Golden Bears college football — 蜜柚直播 Wildcats running back J.J. Taylor (21) has some blocking help on a run during the first quarter 蜜柚直播 Stadium. Taylor had 73 yards on 15 carries.
Mike Christy / 蜜柚直播

Running back J.J. Taylor: Taylor leads the team in rushing yards (600) and touchdowns (four). His 284 yards against Oregon State were the fourth most in school history. One of Taylor鈥檚 TDs came on a kickoff return 鈥� 蜜柚直播鈥檚 first on a non-onside kick since 2010.聽

Defensive MVP

Linebacker Colin Schooler: Schooler always seems to be around the ball. He is tied for third in the nation with 11.5 tackles for losses. His 66 total tackles rank second in the Pac-12. He also has four QB hurries, two pass breakups, an interception, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a safety.

Most improved player

University of 蜜柚直播 vs Southern Utah — 蜜柚直播 wide receiver Shawn Poindexter (19) cradles a catch after beating Southern Utah safety AJ Stanley (33) and ends up outrunning him to the end zone in the third quarter of their game at 蜜柚直播 Stadium, Saturday September 15, 2018, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

WR Shawn Poindexter: Poindexter has transformed himself from a project into a productive Pac-12 player. Halfway through the season, the fifth-year senior has established career highs in catches (21), yards (407) and touchdowns (two). The 6-5 former volleyball player also has put himself on the NFL鈥檚 radar.

Unsung hero

Safety Jarrius Wallace: Fun fact: Wallace is 蜜柚直播鈥檚 third-leading tackler. The redshirt sophomore has 36 stops, including 26 solos 鈥� just one fewer than linebacker Tony Fields II. (Schooler has 37.) Wallace has started the past four games at 鈥淏andit鈥� after opening the season as the backup free safety.

Breakout candidate

Defensive end/linebacker Jalen Harris: No UA defender has a higher upside than Harris, who has the length and burst to be a pro someday if he continues to develop his game and body. The 6-4, 230-pound redshirt freshman has 1.5 sacks, all coming in Pac-12 play. He has 13 tackles in all.

He said it

BYU 蜜柚直播 Football — 蜜柚直播 offensive lineman Josh McCauley (50) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Brigham Young, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
Rick Scuteri / AP Photo

鈥淚 think we鈥檝e shown that we can play with anybody in small phases, maybe one quarter at a time. What we鈥檝e gotta show is that we can play complete games 鈥� come out and play our full game to the best of our ability. That鈥檚 something we鈥檝e gotta work on. We鈥檝e gotta all bring that same energy. I think that鈥檒l make a difference.鈥� 鈥� UA center Josh McCauley