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6th in a series
The first preseason training camp under Brent Brennan is set on Wednesday, a month of workouts and practices ahead of the 2024 season opener Aug. 31 at home against New Mexico.
To get you primed for camp, we’re breaking down each position group on the roster. Today we continue with the defensive line.
Players on roster: 20 (15 scholarship, 5 walk-on)
Projected starters: Tre Smith (Jr.), Chubba Ma’ae (Sr.), Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei (Jr.), Jarra Anderson (Soph.)
Nearly 20 percent of Arizona’s roster is defensive linemen, and for good reason. Last year under Johnny Nansen the Wildcats regularly rotated 10 players into the four spots to keep them fresh, and new defensive line coach Joe Seumalo seems inclined to keep that practice going with the blessing of new DC Duane Akina.
Nearly all of the regulars from that 2023 rotation are no longer on the roster, though, and with five newcomers added to the group since spring ball training camp is a full-on open competition.
The one returner expected to be in line to start is Uiagalelei, who had the fifth-most snaps on the line last year. He had a sack with 4.5 tackles for loss and has the ability to play inside and out. Smith, a transfer from San Jose State, all but locked up an edge spot during the spring and he brings with hi 15 career TFL.
Ma’ae, from UC Davis, is a massive interior presence at 6-foot-2 and 347 pounds and will anchor the run defense, while Anderson comes to Tucson after a solid first season at Memphis.
Top backups: Kevon Darton (R-Sr.), Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (R-Sr.), Isaiah Johnson (R-Soph.), Dominic Lolesio (R-Fr.), Chase Kennedy (R-Soph.), Cyrus Durham (Soph.)
Johnson and Lolesio are the only UA returners in this group, and each fared well in their limited action last season. Lolesio will be on the outside while Johnson, who is 6-1 and 305, will be part of the interior rotation.
Also rotating inside will be Darton, a transfer from Syracuse who started 24 games the past two seasons, and Ta’ufo’ou, who started 27 games during his career at USC. Durham, a junior college transfer from College of San Mateo, will be on the edge like he was a year ago when he had 10.5 sacks and 15.5 TFL.
Next up: Linebackers