Arizona Football is a go for this weekends game against NAU, and there will be some freshmen talent starting, including free safety Scottie Young Jr. out of Helix High School in San Diego, Cal.
Arizona Football Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is excited. The reason he is excited is that he feels confident coming out of fall camp. Rodriguez believes this season will be similar to the 2015 season with the talent he is seeing with his newcomers. When we asked him on the Pac-12 Coaches Teleconference call this is what coach Rod had to say:
Rodriguez: It feels kinda similar to a couple of years ago when Scooby Wright and Deandre Miller, all those guys, and freshmen linebackers, and there was a big influx of freshmen talent especially defensively. And with so many new guys, it feels a little bit like that but I’ve been really pleased, it’s been a long camp. Our guys have been very focused. I think we are ready to play a game. And I’m excited about the future and also about what’s going to hopefully happen this season!
The positivity is a good sign. He usually won’t act positively if he is not feeling that way. You can count on Coach Rod for being transparent, except when it comes to who will play quarterback.
Arizona Wildcats Football
What stood out to me, was all the freshman on the depth chart published this week. We had seen some nice words written about Kylan Wilborn, Tony Wallace, and Colin Schooler. In addition to those freshmen, free safety Scottie Young Jr. not only made the list, but he is also listed as a first string player!
So we needed to know more and asked Coach Rod about Mr. Young and what stood out to him?
Rodriguez: Scottie Young is a true freshman that’s made an impact from the very first practice, you know he’s a football guy, loves football, learns quickly, very competitive and he and Troy Young were two Safeties that we thought had a chance coming in. But they’ve been even better than we expected coming in this quickly and learning the system.
So, Scottie, he’s going to be playing a big, big, role for us this year.
Nearly a dozen freshmen on Arizona’s first two-deep depth chart of the year pic.twitter.com/yJZMgbAcY1
— Matt Moreno (@MattRMoreno) August 28, 2017
Coming into the season, Young told Zona Zealots that relationships were what was important to him:
Young: I wanted to commit to Arizona due to the relationship I built with the coaches and the players and everything that the University has to offer. Arizona is somewhere I can see myself living for the next 4-5 years and getting my education and Tucson is a beautiful place.
According to his bio on ArizonaWildcats.com, Young comes in quite accomplished:
- Earned four letters in football and one in track and field
- Three-time co-captain
- First-Team All-District three times
- A versatile athlete, who played several positions
- Four-Time All-Academic CIF
- Helped guide his team to a 12-2 record as a senior
It seems those three stars should have been four or more, same as Scooby Wright II as Coach Rod alluded to.
On August 2, Young proclaimed that he is putting everything on the line, well it looks like he is true to his word!
https://twitter.com/_scottieoo/status/899102673034633216
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We cannot wait to see this Wildcat on the field in Tucson, and we congratulate him on making first team as a true freshman! Bear Down Scottieo!