(Photo via Arizona Athletics) The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire sporting world. For college football teams, including the Arizona Wildcats, that means no spring football. However, it's not just current Wildcat players who have been affected. A handful of NFL-hopeful former 'Cats have been affected in a big way. The more time passes, the more it becomes apparent Arizona's Pro Day won't happen. Pro Days are a great way to get players who weren't invited to the NFL Combine in front of NFL scouts to workout and test in many of the same drills run at the Combine. J.J. Taylor was the only Arizona player to be invited to the Combine this year, meaning all other former 'Cats were relying on their Pro Days. But former 'Cats won't let that stop them. Multiple players have conducted taped individual Pro Days and sent the results to all 32 NFL teams. One such player to complete his Pro Day is safety Tristan Cooper. The El Paso native had a fairly successful career while playing in Tucson. Cooper finished his career with the 'Cats with 123 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and 9 passes broken up. He was a multi-year starter for Arizona, with his sophomore season the only year he didn't start...and he lost that role to now Tennessee Titan Dane Cruikshank. I caught up with Cooper last week to discuss how his offseason and training have gone, as well as a few other topics. Read on below for the interview. Brandon Combs: How has training gone for you this offseason? How has COVID-19 affected you and your training? Tristan Cooper: "It's actually been really smooth. I decided to stay back in El Paso. I felt like I had everything I wanted back here. You know I was thinking about going to train in California, but it was just very convenient staying here. I have my own car, my own place to stay, dudes are taking care of me. So training was smooth. I didn't really know how, I guess, consistent it would be or frustrating it could get. I was training probably six days a week. Sometimes you have two-a-days, so you'll be on the field or the weight room. It was like 'Dang, okay. I'm back on a schedule that I was really trying to get away from in college.' But you're going to need that again in the NFL. "Just doing that, and with this crisis going on, I told someone else I was battling with some demons on this. I was telling Jace (Whittaker): 'Man of course it would happen our year. What are the odds? What's the luck that we get that this would happen our year? Our Pro Days are probably cancelled. People were saying it's postponed, but it's most likely cancelled.' But Jace was the one that gave me the idea: 'Yeah, I'm doing an individual one in Las Vegas.' I said, 'Oh, that's smart!' It makes perfect sense because the probability of having to reschedule Pro Day is very unlikely. "So doing all that, getting my mind right for that, it was something that was very tough. I got hit with some adversity. But I went through with it and I like my results." Brandon: Speaking of results, what were the results of your Pro Day? Cooper: "I actually did pretty good. I will post a link with my numbers later. But I did pretty well. I will let you know I measured in at 6-foot-2, 201 (pounds). You know they have been putting weight on me down here, which I kind of didn't want to, but I felt good with it. I want to be the fastest, move the best as I possibly can on Pro Day, you know? When I figured out this weight they were putting on me was good, and I was pretty mobile, I kept it. "As for the numbers, I was pretty satisfied with them. However, the weather was a little windy and I live in a desert, so it was a little dusty. So that was one thing that irked me. I was thinking, 'You know what? Maybe I should reschedule it for Tuesday.' I did it Monday. Well, thank God I didn't because they shut everything down on Tuesday. That's when we went into lockdown and all that in El Paso. So that was my luck too." Brandon: During your training this offseason, have any NFL scouts reached out to you and shown interest? Cooper: "They've reached out to my agent, the (Miami) Dolphins and the (San Francisco) 49ers. They were talking about where I am projected. They are all saying undrafted, that someone will pick me up. Which I'll probably be fine going undrafted, you know? I don't feel like I was given enough attention this year, like being able to be on a big watchlist. So I was perfectly fine with undrafted, as long as I make it on a squad. I know I can play ball, my tape shows I can play ball. Film doesn't lie. I'm not really worried a lot about what people say because, at the end of the day, things can switch up. Rounds can switch up, draft picks can switch up. With how all this crazy stuff's going on with this virus, a lot of things can change." Brandon: Now that your college career is over, how do you view your time at Arizona? Cooper: "It taught me a huge lesson. Being from El Paso and a two-star prospect, it was a grind. I love the University of Arizona. Some things I didn't agree with. Some people I enjoyed playing for, some people I didn't. Overall, though, it taught me how to be resilient. That was something that was very hard because I wasn't really hit with much adversity in high school. Everyone in high school is the man on their team. So going there and playing, it was a great experience and an eye-opener. I don't regret anything. I loved going there and playing. I learned a lot and, hopefully, I can continue my career in the NFL and represent Arizona again." Brandon: Personally, what was your favorite play you had while at Arizona? Cooper: "I was, of course, last year's Oregon hit. Everything was going so good in that game. I remember we destroyed them and they were ranked in the to 20 I think. To this day people bring it up. That was something that was very memorable for me. Not just because it was a big hit, but also because we destroyed them. That was something a lot of people never saw coming. I bet you a lot of people on our team didn't even see that coming. Being able to shock the critics and then being able to go celebrate with your team after, which was probably the wildest celebration we had at the University of Arizona while I was there. It was a great experience, the whole night." Brandon: That hit reminded me of Will Parks' hit on Jordan Villamin in 2015. Cooper: "I know! They were like, 'How do you think your hit compares to Will Parks'?' I said, 'You know, I think Will Parks' was a little more savage.' So he'll have that. And he even commented on it, saying things like 'good stuff' and 'keep your head up.' He was just encouraging me. It was cool, but I for sure remember his hit too." Brandon: What do you want NFL teams and scouts to know about what you can bring to the field for them? Cooper: "Of course size. I think I will pass an eye test, but that's not the main thing. I thought my biggest specialty was my physicality and tackling. Go and watch every game this past season, let me know how many tackles I missed. I'm not going to tell you how many I missed because I promise you, it's going to be very hard to find them. When people ask how many tackles I have, I'm going to be real, I don't even count those...I count the ones I miss. Those are the ones I remember play-by-play. What didn't I read right? Being a sure tackler, being physical, being able to play in the box, and being able to guard the tight ends, I feel like I was a pretty good nickel or SPUR. Being able to play in the box, play the slot receiver, just being able to play that great hybrid position." Brandon: What aspect do you feel you have improved upon the most, from your first game as a true freshman to your last against Arizona State? Cooper: "I think being more confident and comfortable. Man-to-man was always a struggle for me. We didn't run much man in high school, so I didn't really get the techniques down. So being able to transition from high school to college was pretty hard for me. But getting with my DB coaches, getting to learn their techniques throughout the years, that really helped me a lot. I was always a pretty good tackler, making sure I got every little thing down with tackling and perfecting it, I thought I did a pretty good job this year. To this day I still want to get my man-to-man a little bit better and my zone coverage, being able to anticipate things a little better. "I did, however, improve my man-to-man a lot, especially since my freshman year. If you watch my freshman film, you'll see how timid I was and how inconsistent I was in my technique. I did give up my only two touchdowns this year in man-to-man, so that sucked. Overall, I thought I did a pretty decent job guarding man-to-man in the slot." Brandon: What message do you have for players who have a dream to play in the NFL? Cooper: "You got to stay focused. For me, battling for my position all four years, you're going to find out if you want it or you don't. I was never content with getting my spot taken. I got my spot taken by a good friend of mine, Dane Cruikshank, my sophomore year. I understand that as big of a competitor I was, I knew that I was going to try to beat him out. Sometimes you just get a dude put in front of you and you're like, 'Damn alright, well I don't think I'm going to beat him out.' Being able to improvise and learn so much from him and his man-to-man coverage. Dane and Jace, they would always break down things for me, especially the man-to-man techniques. "Also, being able to learn little things. You know, even if you do some little things better than your competition, you can also learn a lot from someone else who does certain things better than you do. You got to be able to apply yourself to the book, to the film, things like that. You can't just go out there and be good. Maybe some people can, but that is very rare. Being book smart, as well as football smart, is a big thing for me." Cooper is a very detail oriented, studious player that has a legit chance to be picked up during free agent signings after the draft.
I really like his physicality and tackling ability that he brings to the field. He was not lying when he stated he doesn't miss a lot of tackles, often finishing plays where the carrier already broke free from another defender. His coverage game definitely has taken multiple steps up from when he arrived to campus as well. His junior season was extremely impressive from a coverage standpoint, finishing that year with a career-high six pass breakups. I wish Tristan the best of luck in his endeavors as he works his way to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL!
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(Photo via @OttoHess1 on Twitter)
Despite the halt to pretty much everything worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have continued to actively recruit and send out offers to new prospects for the 2021 class...and Arizona is no exception.
Arizona's staff has been studiously reviewing prospects and film during this time, and it has led to the Wildcats extending offers to several recruits. One such offer went out to Oswego High School offensive lineman Otto Hess in Illinois. Offensive line coach Kyle DeVan is well aware of the 'Cats' need to add more linemen this cycle, making the offer to Hess one of significance. DeVan has been an aggressive recruiter since joining Arizona's staff last year, and he continues to show that same style of assertiveness this year. During the 2020 cycle, Arizona added three offensive lineman and a transfer to their roster. That number of additions was more than we typically saw under the previous regime and shows that UA understands that recruiting linemen is a priority. This continued prioritization is exactly what Arizona will need to continue to build up the necessary depth of their offensive front and make a run at the Pac-12 South and more. They are hoping that Hess can help with that success. Read on below for my interview with Hess. Brandon Combs: How many offers are you up to? Otto Hess: "I'm standing at 11 as of right now." Brandon: Out of those offers, which schools are standing out to you? Hess: "Arizona, UVA (Virginia), and some MAC schools stand out. However, because I'm still in the middle of all this, I'm not necessarily narrowing it down yet." Brandon: What makes those particular schools stand out over the others this early in the process? Hess: "Well a couple of the MAC schools stand out because of their attention towards me. The same for UVA and Arizona, but they are Power 5 schools outside the Midwest." Brandon: What visits, if any, have you taken so far? Do you have any visits in mind once you are able to visit campuses again? Hess: "I've only visited Miami (OH), but they've filled up very fast. Definitely want to go to UVA, and Arizona wants me to come out for an official (visit), so definitely them as well. Others might pop up." Brandon: When it comes to the Arizona visit, do you have an idea of what you'll be looking for once you get to campus? Hess: "Just to see how I fit into the energy on campus and how the whole place fits me as a person honestly. I can't really put it into words, but wherever I go, just has to feel right." Brandon: How did your offer from Arizona come about? Hess: "Coach (Kyle) DeVan has followed me on Twitter for awhile, but we talked for about a day. Then he reached out to my coach, and after a conversation with him, he offered me." Brandon: How is your relationship with Coach DeVan? What does he say he likes about your game and what you could bring to Arizona? Hess: "He likes how I finish blocks and move laterally. Plus he likes that I have a high football IQ and that I carry myself well off the field." Brandon: Last cycle, Arizona signed a defensive lineman from Chicago in Shontrail Key. Being from the Chicago area yourself, what does it mean to you that Arizona, a West Coast school, is interested and actively recruiting players from Chicago and the Midwest? Hess: "It means a lot because I've always wanted to go out West, but that's always difficult from the Midwest. Plus, it's nice to hear people think that Midwest football is better and tougher because that's the truth." Brandon: When it comes to making a commitment, what are you looking for in a school? Do you have a time frame in mind to come to a decision? Hess: "I'm looking for a great academic experience, coaches I relate with, and the opportunity to compete for playing time regardless of how old I am...obviously redshirt year not included. And at this point I honestly don't know my timetable." Brandon: Finally, what aspects of your game are you looking to improve this offseason? Hess: "Mostly my strength and overall athleticism, especially upper body strength and losing fat. I want to be as physically dominant as I can this season." One thing that stands out to me about Hess' game is one of the things Kyle DeVan likes: his ability to finish blocks. Hess is very competitive, which was evident when I talked to him, and that is not a bad thing at all. You want that type of competitive spirit in an offensive lineman and a football player in general. He plays with a nastiness to his game, which also feeds into him finishing blocks. Plus, he also has a knack for setting a good edge for his skill players on his side of the field. Overall, a solid player who has a large amount of upside and some good tools in his possession. Junior Season: (Photo via Arizona Athletics) With the Arizona Wildcats a week down in Spring Practice and practice currently on hold, I figured now would be a good time to start a series looking at high impact players, players poised for breakout seasons, and instant impact newcomers. Today, let's start with 5 high impact players on Noel Mazzone's side of the ball.
Grant Gunnell, Sophomore QB 2019 Stats: 8 games, 101-for-155, 1,239 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT; 32 car, 14 yards, 1 TD There's no other place to start then Arizona's signal caller. Gunnell lit up the Texas High School football scene and did a fantastic job during his playing time in 2019. He even led the 'Cats to a victory in his first career start against UCLA. He flashed great touch, vision, and decision-making, especially for a true freshman. This season, Gunnell enters Spring Practice as the de facto number one player in the QB room. The starting job is his to lose, and to be honest, I don't see that happening. He has a fierce competitive side, but one that is beneficial instead of detrimental. Behind him you have veteran Rhett Rodriguez, redshirt sophomore Kevin Doyle, and newcomer Will Plummer. That is a fantastic QB room. I'd expect to see an uptick in QB play this year and expect the ball to be spread all over the field. Gunnell is going to surprise some people this year. Gary Brightwell, Senior RB 2019 Stats: 11 games, 66 car, 390 yards, 5 TD; 4 rec, 59 yards, 1 TD I'm really eager to see how Brightwell performs this season. This'll be the first time in his career that he'll be RB1 after J.J. Taylor left to pursue his NFL dream. The RB room is possibly Arizona's deepest position group on the team, but that'll only help Brightwell. He will be complimented by a number of different running styles that'll only make the group even more dangerous. Brightwell also has great size and has proven to be a difficult player to tackle. My favorite part of his running style is when he gets in the open field and uses his speed to outrun everyone. Speaking of speed, Brightwell is one of the fastest players on the team and has shown incredible explosiveness. He created a dynamic one-two punch with J.J. and I expect him to continue his production, if not increase it. Jamarye Joiner, Redshirt Sophomore WR 2019 Stats: 12 games, 34 rec, 552 yards, 5 TD There is probably no one's progress and growth I'm more excited to see than Joiner's. He is arguably the best athlete on the team, which made his transition from quarterback to receiver extremely easy. Last season it felt like it was a matter of time before he had a breakout game and it finally came during the last game of the season during the T-Cup. Right now he's dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot and has yet to practice this spring. This extended break will do nothing but help his healing and get him back on the field once practice starts again. Even with the injury Joiner will be one of the most important receivers this year, once healthy. He has such a high ceiling and has yet to fully tap into his potential as a receiver. His speed and dynamic playmaking ability make him one of the most dangerous receivers in the Pac-12. I expect a large jump in his progression this offseason and into the season, especially with Gunnell behind center. Donovan Laie, Junior OL 2019 Stats: 12 games, 12 starts Laie has been a staple on the offensive line since arriving on campus. He busted onto the scene as a true freshman after fall camp and became one of the best young offensive linemen in the Pac-12. He did have somewhat of a sophomore slump last year but was still a very good lineman. He was a little dinged up so that could explain his perceived slump. Laie also showed some versatility as he moved inside to left guard from left tackle. Laie is an NFL talent in my opinion. I feel that he will make a big jump in his game this season and have his best year yet. He recently expressed his feelings on Spring Ball being postponed, and I can't help but think he'll use that as motivation this season. Josh McCauley, Redshirt Senior OL 2019 Stats: 10 games, 10 starts Last but not least, we come to scholarship offensive lineman Josh McCauley. He is another great story as he came to a Arizona as a walk-on and earned a scholarship because of his play and work ethic. McCauley earned the starting gig at center in 2018 after Nathan Eldridge was unable to go because of a knee injury...and he made the most of that opportunity. He started all games in 2018 and cemented himself as a leader on the offensive line. Fast-forward to the 2019 offseason and McCauley was awarded a scholarship for all of his hard work. And man, he is someone who deserves it. He was injured during the Oregon State game and the offensive line suffered without him and his leadership. McCauley's also extremely tough, playing in the Territorial Cup still injured. McCauley figures to, once again, be a major leader in the trenches for the offensive line this season. I believe that if he has a great year he can position himself to become an NFL draft pick. Who do you feel are Arizona's high impact players on offense this coming season? Feel free to comment!
(Photo via Hudl)
For the Arizona Wildcats, the 2020 recruiting cycle is in the rear view mirror, for the most part. And with that the staff's attention will turn to the 2021 class.
Last year, offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone stated that he is looking to add at least one quarterback every cycle. In 2019, the 'Cats added Grant Gunnell. For the 2020 class, Will Plummer. The 2021 cycle is still young, but Arizona's recruitment of QB's isn't. One player UA is sitting well with is Texas-based gunslinger Jalen Kitna, son of former NFL QB Jon Kitna. Mazzone and Arizona offered Kitna at the beginning of February and have quickly made a good impression with the talented prospect. Read on below for my interview with Kitna. AZDS: How many offers do you have? Kitna: "I have 11." AZDS: Out of those offers, who is standing out the most right now? Kitna: "Right now Florida, Arizona, and Oregon State have stood out the most. I'm still getting to know some of these other schools better, but I have had really good conversations with those three as of right now." AZDS: Concerning those three schools, what stands out about them over the others? Kitna: "Well the coaching staffs for those schools have been very communicative with me. I have made good connections with all the offensive coordinators and we have really hit it off in terms of talking ball and about the team." AZDS: What visits have you taken? Do you have any visits lined up this spring and summer? Kitna: "I was up in the Portland (Oregon) area this week and go to go to Oregon State for a little bit and visit with them. I am planning to go to Florida and Arizona coming up this spring break." AZDS: Concerning Arizona, have you set a date for your visit yet? What will you be looking for while on campus in Tucson? Kitna: "I believe the date is the 18th (of March). I'm looking to talk ball with Coach (Noel) Mazzone. I'm going to get to experience a full practice day and get to hang with the QBs. I'm really excited and can't wait to learn about their scheme and see the way they develop their athletes." AZDS: You mentioned have a good relationship with Noel Mazzone. How do those conversations go? Kitna: "He's a really fun guy, you know? Easy to talk to and really confident. He's got a lot of experience under his belt." AZDS: What does Noel Mazzone like about your game and what you could bring to Arizona? Kitna: "He likes my footwork and just how I rip the ball. The Lord has blessed me with a great talent to pick up things really well and learn fast. That's what he said he likes, I'm still growing and still developing and getting better." AZDS: Do you have a date or time frame for your commitment? When that time comes, what are you looking for in a school? Kitna: "I'm looking to commit in the summer after my official visits. I think God will reveal to me the place He wants me to be after those visits. I'm just looking for a place that will allow me to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have big dreams and I know how important it is to have people around you that want the best for you and truly care about your success and your grind." AZDS: Finally, what aspects of your game are you looking to improve upon this offseason? Kitna: "I'm working on tightening up my throwing motion a little and just being sudden and playing fast. I've been doing a lot of training for speed and explosiveness so far this offseason. Just looking to use that to my advantage." Flipping on Kitna's film makes it very easy to see what Noel Mazzone likes about him. He has a great frame, sitting at 6-foot-4 and around 190 pounds. He has a big, accurate arm and can make just about any throw. Much like Gunnell and Plummer, Kitna can make plays with his legs if needed. I'm interested to see how his visit goes and to see how that impacts his recruitment. Junior Highlights:
(Photo via @ParisShand on Twitter)
Arizona added a raw, but underrated, edge player in Paris Shand in early February. Much like Shontrail Key, Shand has a background in basketball and hasn't been playing football for very long. But that doesn't seem to be much of an issue as the big, athletic defensive end is an effective and successful pass rusher. In fact, Gabe and I really enjoy watching his film and are very interested to see how he translates to the Pac-12.
Read on below to learn more about Arizona's third international player added in 2020. Favorite Food: “Probably shrimp. I really like them with mashed potatoes or pasta.” Favorite Music Artist: “My favorite artist is Drake.” Hobbies: “I like to play basketball and video games.” Favorite Sports Team/Pro Athlete: “I like the Toronto Raptors. My favorite athlete is LeBron James.” Biggest Supporter Throughout Your Career: “Definitely my mom.” What You Like Most About Playing Football: “Definitely the contact. In basketball you got to be more casual of fouls and stuff like that.” Fondest Memory of High School Career: “Scoring from offensive tackle. I had to play both ways this year. They ran a trick play where the ball was passed back to me and I ran for a touchdown.” Paris' Thoughts on Being a Wildcat: “I'm grateful to be a Wildcat and join something special with a team that I think has the potential to do great things.” Career Highlights: |