QB Khalil Tate tops our way-too-early 蜜柚直播 Wildcats depth chart

Take a look at where the Wildcats' depth unofficially stands.

By Michael Lev 蜜柚直播

Projecting the Cats鈥� two-deep heading into summer workouts

University of 蜜柚直播 spring game — Running back Branden Leon gets met at the line by lineman Josh McCauley at the University of 蜜柚直播's spring game in 蜜柚直播 Stadium, Saturday, April 14, 2018, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

The 蜜柚直播 Wildcats did not release a depth chart at the end of spring practice 鈥� but that鈥檚 not stopping us from giving it a shot.

Below you will find a post-spring two-deep (in some cases three-deep) for the UA offense and defense based on practice alignments and discussions with Star sources.

Players who have been arriving on campus over the weekend are categorized separately. Each position group features brief analysis, including some previously unreported personnel updates.

Quarterback

蜜柚直播 Wildcats spring football scrimmage — 鈥淗e鈥檇 be the first to tell you there鈥檚 room for improvement,鈥� says new 蜜柚直播 coach Kevin Sumlin of quarterback Khalil Tate. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got huge potential. There鈥檚 some things we can help him with.鈥� Tate unofficially was 18 for 28 for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the spring game.
Mike Christy / 蜜柚直播

1. Khalil Tate (6-2, 215, JR)

2. K鈥橦ari Lane (6-1, 245, RS FR)

QB newcomer to watch: Kevin Doyle (6-3, 210, FR)

Comment: The backup job remains up for grabs. All the candidates are in their first or second year, including Doyle and fellow freshman Jamarye Joiner. Sophomore Rhett Rodriguez might be the best short-term option.

Running back

1. J.J. Taylor (5-6, 180, RS SO)

2. Nathan Tilford (6-2, 206, SO) / Gary Brightwell (6-1, 196, SO)

RB newcomer to watch: Darrius Smith (5-9, 170, FR)

Comment: Assuming a knee injury suffered during spring ball doesn鈥檛 linger, Brightwell will be a big part of what has the makings of a dynamic rotation. Tilford, Branden Leon and converted safety Anthony Mariscal excelled in the spring game.

Receiver

Wide receiver

1. Shawn Poindexter (6-5, 212, RS SR)

2. Drew Dixon (6-3, 203, RS FR)

Slot receiver

1. Shun Brown (5-10, 177, SR)

2. Stanley Berryhill III (5-9, 169, RS FR)

Wide receiver

1. Cedric Peterson (5-11, 188, RS JR)

2. Tony Ellison (5-11, 188, RS SR)

WR newcomer to watch: Tre Adams (6-3, 190, FR)

Comment: As you can see, size is lacking across the receiver group. Freshmen Adams and Thomas Marcus (6-3, 180) have it, as does Keyshawn Johnson Jr., whose status remained unclear as of this writing. Johnson, a transfer, enrolled at 蜜柚直播 in January but was not part of the spring roster.

Tight end

蜜柚直播 58, Washington State 37 — 蜜柚直播 Wildcats tight end Jamie Nunley (85), right, celebrates his first-quarter touchdown with 蜜柚直播 Wildcats tight end Bryce Wolma (81).
Mike Christy / 蜜柚直播

1. Bryce Wolma (6-3, 239, SO)

2. Jamie Nunley (6-5, 230, RS SO)

TE newcomer to watch: Jake Peters (6-4, 240, FR)

Comment: Tight ends weren鈥檛 very involved in the spring game and weren鈥檛 targeted often under Kevin Sumlin/Noel Mazzone at Texas A&M. But Mazzone has praised the returnees, and Sumlin is coaching them directly, so we鈥檒l see.

Offensive line

蜜柚直播 vs. UTEP — 蜜柚直播 guard Michael Eletise (75) should be in line for a much bigger role this season after playing as a reserve in 2017.听
Brian Kanof / Special to the 蜜柚直播

Left tackle

1. Layth Friekh (6-5, 302, RS SR)

2. Tshiyombu Lukusa (6-5, 330, RS SO)

Left guard

1.听Michael Eletise (6-3, 318, RS SO)

2.听Jon Jacobs (6-4, 300, RS SO)

Center

1. Nathan Eldridge (6-3, 297, RS JR)

2. Alex Kosinski (6-4, 299, RS JR)

Right guard

1. Bryson Cain (6-4, 291, RS SO)

2. Josh McCauley (6-2, 292, RS SO)

Right tackle

1. Cody Creason (6-4, 294, RS JR)

2. Tshiyombu Lukusa (6-5, 330, RS SO)

OL newcomer to watch: Steven Bailey (6-2, 290, JR)

Comment: There鈥檚 more to sort out along the offensive line than any other position. Lukusa鈥檚 talent says starter, but he missed the end of spring (ankle) and has much to prove. Jacobs could be a sneaky-valuable swing man at the interior positions.

Defensive end

University of 蜜柚直播 vs Northern 蜜柚直播 (Justin Belknap) — Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

1. Justin Belknap (6-3, 259, RS JR)

2. JB Brown (6-3, 244, SO)

DE newcomer to watch: Nahe Sulunga (6-3, 255, FR)

Comment: Belknap keeps getting bigger and better, and Brown has made a successful transition from linebacker. Sulunga gets the nod over Adam Plant, who might have trouble qualifying academically.

Interior defensive line

蜜柚直播 58, Washington State 37 (copy) — D-lineman Dereck Boles (99) will have some help stopping the run this year, with 300-pounders PJ Johnson and Mykee Irving added to the mix.
Mike Christy / 蜜柚直播

Nose tackle

1. PJ Johnson (6-4, 330, RS JR)

2. Sione Taufahema (6-1, 330, RS JR)

Defensive tackle

1. Dereck Boles (6-2, 296, RS SR)

2. Finton Connolly (6-5, 275, RS JR)

DT newcomer to watch: Mykee Irving (6-4, 330, FR)

Comment: 蜜柚直播 should be deeper at the inside positions. JC transfer Johnson enrolled early and impressed immediately. The UA expects to get sophomore Kurtis Brown back after he missed most of spring.

Stud linebacker / edge rusher

University of 蜜柚直播 vs UCLA (Kylan Wilborn) — Kylan Wilborn, who's entering the NCAA transfer portal, had four sacks and a forced fumble for 蜜柚直播 vs. UCLA in 2017.
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

1. Kylan Wilborn (6-2, 245, SO)

2. Lee Anderson III (6-1, 235, JR) / Jalen Harris (6-4, 212, RS FR)

Comment: It鈥檚 too close to call between veteran Anderson and youngster Harris, who might be the best pure pass rusher on the team. He just needs to get bigger and stronger.

Linebacker

蜜柚直播 Wildcats vs. 蜜柚直播 State Sun Devils in the 2017 Territorial Cup — Colin Schooler (7), who had 13.5 tackles for losses, was named the Pac-12鈥檚 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Mike Christy / 蜜柚直播

Mike linebacker

1. Colin Schooler (6-0, 226, SO)

2. Jacob Colacion (6-1, 218, RS SO)

听

Will linebacker

1. Tony Fields II (6-1, 225, SO)

2. Anthony Pandy (6-0, 225, SO)

LB newcomer to watch: Issaiah Johnson (6-2, 210, FR)

Comment: 蜜柚直播 is moving sophomore Troy Young from safety to Will to boost its depth and maximize his skill set. As good as Schooler and Fields are, look for the coaches to find playing time for Pandy.

Safeties

University of 蜜柚直播 vs Northern 蜜柚直播 — 蜜柚直播 safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) gets swarmed by his teammates after snaring an interception against Northern 蜜柚直播 in the second quarter.
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

Spur

1. Tristan Cooper (6-1, 188, JR)

2. Xavier Bell (6-2, 192, RS FR)

听

Bandit

1. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6-2, 205, SR)

2. Chacho Ulloa (5-11, 192, JR)

听

Free safety

1. Jarrius Wallace (6-1, 180, RS SO)

2. Isaiah Hayes (6-0, 191, RS SO)

Safety newcomer to watch: Dayven Coleman (6-2, 210, FR)

Comment: If reinstated from suspension, Scottie Young Jr. will push for playing time at free safety. His availability could determine how much freshman Christian Young plays. Coleman projects to Spur.

Cornerback

University of 蜜柚直播 vs UCLA (copy) — 蜜柚直播 Wildcats cornerback Jace Whittaker will sign with the 蜜柚直播 Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. The UA didn't have a player selected in the 2020 NFL draft.听
Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

1. Jace Whittaker (5-11, 182, SR)

2. Tony Wallace (5-10, 184, SO)

听

1. Lorenzo Burns (5-10, 173, RS SO)

2. Tony Wallace (5-10, 184, SO)

CB newcomer to watch: McKenzie Barnes (6-2, 170, FR)

Comment: Wallace is the clear No. 3 corner and thus the listed backup at both spots; he might even nudge Burns out of the lineup. Barnes will have every opportunity to become the No. 4 corner.