TUCSON, Ariz. — The Wildcats returned to practice on Monday evening after taking Sunday to rest and prepare for another week of fall camp.
Situational football was on display on the Dick Tomey Practice Fields, as the Wildcats practiced their two-minute drills for the first time. Presented with various game situations and victory hanging in the balance, the two sides went to work. The outcomes varied, with both the offense and defense coming away with wins.
After the completion of practice, outside receivers coach
Taylor Mazzone and redshirt sophomore wide receiver
Jamarye Joiner joined the media over Zoom to discuss fall camp.
Wide receiver stands out as one of the Wildcats position groups of strength, and coach Mazzone spoke to the depth Arizona features on the outside.
"The list kind of goes on with guys that are stepping up and getting that chance to play," he said. "Going into year three, that's when it kind of starts clicking with the offense where they know what we mean when we're installing plays; there's less thinking, they're just playing fast."
Quote of the Night
Joiner, on which defensive back he faces the most in practice and his takeaways on their game: "This year I go against
Christian Young. Me and him go at it every day — verbally we're talking trash, physically we're going at it. Blocking, running routes, guarding me, everything that you need to get better. He's an NFL-caliber guy and I see myself as an NFL-caliber receiver, so I feel like every day that we work against each other ... I feel like we're getting each other ready for the next level."
Photo of the Night
Number of the Night — 8 of 9
Of the nine receivers that logged a reception for the Wildcats in 2019,
eight return for the 2020 campaign. In terms of production, Arizona returns 165-of-189 receptions, 2021-of-2433 receiving yards, and 17-of-19 touchdowns in the wide receiver corps.
Featured Returner — RS Sophomore WR Jamarye Joiner
Joiner made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver prior to his sophomore campaign in 2019 and the shift paid dividends for Joiner and the Wildcats immediately. In his first season at wideout, Joiner appeared in all 12 games and finished the year as the Wildcats team leader with 552 yards and five touchdowns. His best game of the season came in the finale at Arizona State, in which Joiner logged seven catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns, giving Arizona their biggest game from a receiver since 2015.
"I think you could really see how relaxed he was out there," Mazzone said. "The impact he made and the explosive plays he made for us in [the ASU] game, what a great game for him to build off. I think now we know what he can do on the field at that slot position and his playmaking abilities."
Featured Newcomer — Freshman WR Dyelan Miller
Miller logged three varsity seasons at Centennial High School in Glendale before traveling south to join the Wildcats. During his prep career, Miller pulled in 70 receptions for 1,072 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a senior at Centennial, he tallied 30 catches for 460 yards and seven scores. Across three years he picked up three all-conference selections, three all-district nods, three all-region honors, and two all-state selections.
"I'm so excited about his frame, his work ethic and he'll be a big member of our outside receiver room," outside receivers coach
Taylor Mazzone said of Miller on signing day. For more insights from his film room breakdown, check out the video below.
Social Coverage
Â
