TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona football team embarked on a four-week spring practice season, utilizing the Davis Sports Center and adjacent outdoor practice fields for the first time on Monday evening.

Energy was high as the Wildcats warmed up inside the Davis Sports Center, before moving outside for the majority of the 90-minute initial practice.

The first practice of any season always brings energy, and Monday was no exception. However, head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff have a clear list of objectives they need accomplished in the next few weeks.

"Solidify our two fronts [offensive and defensive lines], improve defensively, be more consistent as a football team and develop leadership," said Sumlin in his summation of spring goals.

Leadership was a common theme for Sumlin both in his messaging to the team and throughout his 12 minutes with local reporters after the first practice.

"We talked about goals today," Sumlin said. "The big one today is we have to find some leadership. We didn't really have that last year. We have to find some internal leadership on this team, and that's through practice. And we have to find some consistency."

Junior running back J.J. Taylor, who was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press last fall, echoed those sentiments.

"I personally feel everyone should be a leader to take initiative and hold each other accountable," Taylor said.

The Wildcats will return to action Tuesday evening for the second of 15 practices between now and the April 13 Spring Game Presented by DentalPros.
 

Davis Sports Center Making a Difference

The Wildcats opened their first practice with stretching and warmups inside the Davis Sports Center, before moving outside to the grass practice fields for the majority of the workout. The transition is seamless as the east side of the Davis Sports Center has garage doors that open up to adjacent outdoor practices fields. It provides for an easy flow inside and out for the team to use all the available space, especially if there are any weather concerns.

"It's been great," Sumlin said of the facility. "We utilized it last week when it was a little rainy and cool. Players have been in here for PRPs [player run practices], and we've done some conditioning in here the week after spring break when the weather was a little iffy. Like I said at the dedication, there's a lot of bells and whistles here. It's a great-looking facility. For our student-athlete experience, we can keep a consistent schedule and get a lot of work done no matter what the weather is like."

Fans can take an aerial tour of the Davis Sports Center here.
 

New Faces

The spring roster includes the addition of eight mid-year enrollees, including junior college transfers Paiton Fears and Joshua Donovan along the offensive line and Myles Tapusoa on the defensive side.

"Those junior college guys came here to play and we recruited them to play," Sumlin said. "We have to get those guys going. They will have a significant impact on our success next fall. But we need to leave spring football with an idea where they stand and them having an idea what to do and how to do it."

Along with the junior college additions, high school early enrollees include receivers Jalen Curry and Jaden Mitchell, quarterback Grant Gunnell, and defensive backs Maurice Gaines and Christian Roland-Wallace.
 

New Faces, Coaching Edition

Sumlin's second staff includes two new assistant coaches who made their on-field debut Monday night. Former NFL All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray, who was recruited by Sumlin at Oklahoma, has assumed running back coaching duties and he'll also assist with the special team returners. Up front, Kyle DeVan is the Wildcats' offensive line coach.

When asked about what he looks for in assistant coaches, Sumlin said: "The first thing we look for are guys that can teach. It's not always about what you know, it's about what you can convey and what you can get your players to understand and execute."
 

Follow Spring Football

Fans can follow the Wildcats throughout spring practices online at www.arizonawildcats.com and via social media on Twitter (@ArizonaFBall), Instagram (@ArizonaFootball) and Facebook (@ArizonaFootball).
 

2019 Arizona Football Tickets & Wildcat Club Renewals

Football season tickets and Wildcat Club membership (including men's basketball priority seating) renewals are underway. The deadline to renew is May 1st. New season tickets are also now available. To renew or purchase your season tickets you visit arizonawildcats.com/FB or call 520-621-CATS (2287) and secure your seats today.