Arizona Wildcats Insiders Podcast: UA Training Camp Bold Talk
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Welcome! To another edition of the Arizona Wildcats Insiders Podcast featuring your host Troy Hutchison, who will be delivering a daily podcast discussing everything happening surrounding Arizona athletics giving you an inside look at all the programs on campus.
Hutchison has been covering Arizona for the last seven years with his coverage spanning all-across UA’s campus from football and men’s basketball to Title IX sports. Plus, with so many former Wildcats playing at the next level in their prospective sports there will be moments where he will take a deep dive into the Cats excelling outside of Tucson.
To watch today's episode, view below.
The energy at practice was high, loud despite the team not even in full pads, or in shells at this point in time. The pace of play was a complete 180 from the previous season and matches the mindset and mentality that the coaching staff wasn’t to bring to the 2025 season.
Although there was no contact and players weren’t in shells, there were still takeaways to be made with what the media was able to see throughout the duration of the day.
Three Observations
Tristan Bounds
- During the offseason, Brennan and offensive line coach Josh Oglesby went out trying to fix the issues of the 2024 line and add depth to the position group, which was depleted with injuries last season.
- One of the lineman that Arizona brought in was Michigan transfer Tristan Bounds, who comes in at 6-foot-8, 291 pounds as a redshirt senior. Bounds didn’t see much playing time and only played in seven games.
- So far in camp, Bounds has been solid but at times, he has struggled in the running game where his 291-pound frame has failed him. He has a great frame to put on weight and become a high-level lineman but the one year of eligibility is an issue.
- Although he has gotten reps with the first-team offense, I see him more of a backup that can be plugged in when the team needs him. I just don’t see him starting when the line is at full strength.
Deshawn McKnight
- Last season, Arizona’s defensive line was riddled with injuries and it caused issues later in the season to the point where the team couldn’t stop the run and saw ASU and running back Cam Skattebo have their way with them rushing for 281 yards.
- Gonzales and Salave’a have gone about adding depth to the line and finding high-level defensive tackles to slow things down up front against opposing offenses.
- One of the additions to the room was UT Martin transfer Deshawn McKnight, who picked the Wildcats over offers from several Power 4 programs.
- In camp, McKnight has been the best defensive lineman on the team and has stuffed the run while creating issues in the backfield for the offense.
- Arizona has found a gem in McKnight, who seems like he could help the defensive line turn things around from the previous season.
Braedyn Locke
- It is clear that Fifita will be the starting quarterback this season for Arizona despite the addition of Wisconsin transfer Braedyn Locke, who played in 16 games and tossed 18 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions.
- Locke has looked really good in practice, showing off his cannon of an arm and fitting the ball into tight windows similarly to former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler. He has that gunslinger mentality but hasn’t put the ball in harm's way.
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Troy Hutchison grew up attending Arizona athletic events, which gave him a unique perspective and knowledge of the athletic department's rich history. He attended UA and began covering the Wildcats in 2018. As the Arizona Wildcats Beat Writer on SI, he is set to deliver wall-to-wall coverage to give fans an in-depth perspective.
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