Arizona Football: 5 Breakout players in win over UTEP include 4 true freshmen

After a close call last week against Houston, Arizona had a much easier task this week against UTEP. Quite a few players finally had the breakout game we have been waiting for, let’s look at them.

After last weeks devastating loss to Houston, a win that could have potentially had the team 3-0 heading into the heart of their Pac-12 schedule, Arizona Football slaughtered UTEP. Despite the heartbreak, the Wildcats were determined to prove that the loss to the Cougars was a fluke. This game was never going to be close, as UTEP is currently in the midst of one of the biggest rebuilds in program history, as they only have nine wins in the past three seasons combined.

Arizona was always going to win this game, and it was just a matter of who, how, and when. The answer to every single one of those questions is all different. Multiple players had a hand in this slaughtering of the Miners. It seems as if the Miners need to go mine for some victories. I know, awful pun. With that being said, let’s take a look at five players who finally had the game we have all been waiting for.

This was more than a redemption game for Dawkins. This was the game he needed more than anything. After last week’s loss to Houston, where he didn’t exactly play awful, he just did not play up the demands of fans. It’s a good thing that the fans have no say over who starts, as there is no doubt that Khalil Tate would be out there every game. For now, even if for just a few more weeks, Dawkins deserves the chance to prove that he will be ending the year as the quarterback for the Arizona Wildcats.

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Just think of that, out of all the college Quarterbacks being talked about. Including PAC-12 Rivals Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold, Brandon Dawkins of all players are the first to have that stat this season. Will the Pac-12 coaches acknowledge this when picking the players of the week?

The odds of Dawkins playing at this level in games on the horizon is low at this point, as the Miners are an awful team who just fired their offensive coordinator, and the Pac-12 is full of ranked teams. But, if Dawkins plays at even half this level for Arizona during Pac-12 play and the team gets better and better, we could win a division this season. It’s a possibility at this point.

After the game, Arizona Daily Star reporter Michael Lev asked Brandon if he had felt a sense of redemption during the game. Dawkins responded with “None. I’ve never been one to hang my head, feel bad, feel sorry for myself. I just pick myself right back up and get back to work. Football’s not a one-week game. We’ve got multiple weeks to get better. I’m far from my peak, so I’m just trying to get there.”

Coming into the season, true freshman Colin Schooler was just one of many of the incoming freshman on defense who were expected to make a difference. Well, he certainly made a difference in the win against UTEP.

Schooler finished the game with three tackles, and an interception. His interception was a game changer, as UTEP was driving down the field, the QB carelessly floated the ball up in the air where Colin was able to get it. Sure, a touchdown would have been icing on the cake for the freshman’s first career interception, but 53 yards will do.

If he has more plays like this, Schooler could become a force to be reckoned with down the line for the Arizona Wildcats. For now, this highlight will have to do. Hopefully, Colin can add plenty more, and against better competition as the season gets into Pac-12 play.

Finally, the golden child of the 2017 recruiting class got his first legit game action against UTEP. He would finish the game with 37 yards, including two touchdowns, the first 2 of a promising young career. For now, Tilford is stuck behind Nick Wilson and Zach Green at the running back position, but as the season proceeds, Nate very well could see more game action.

Despite Tony Fields not having many tackles, he had one major play. The Play was a sack on a long third and down. That play would go a long way in deciding the game, as Arizona would score on the next play. All summer long, coaches were raving about the freshman from Las Vegas, NV, so it is a good thing that Fields is proving all the assistants right.

Being a true freshman, Fields is behind others physically and mentally, but the way he flies out the round the field one would think that he is a fifth-year senior. If everything turns out the way it should, we will be hearing Tony Fields name during the NFL Draft in either three or four years.

Before the season started, this season dubbed “Year of the Tight End” by our own Site Expert, Shereen Rayan. So far through three games, that dubbing has turned out to be right. With Trevor Wood, Bryce Wolma, Bryce Gilbert, and Jamie Nunley as an excellent quartet of Tight Ends they are set up for now and the future.

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Last week against Houston, with Wood out with an ankle injury, Wolma stepped up to the plate, hitting a grand slam. He finished that game with five receptions, the most by Arizona tight end since the great Rob Gronkowski was lining up on the end of the line.

Against UTEP, Wolma would even one-up himself. He finished the game with six catches, and his first career TD. Bryce is clearly becoming one of the favorite targets for QB Brandon Dawkins.

As you can see, with three of the five breakthrough players being on offense, this was an offensive onslaught from the opening kickoff. Shun Brown hit the B button on a punt return, and a former MLB player completed his first pass.

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Even Jack Banda, a Defensive End, played tight end for a snap, catching his lone target. This was a fun game, with Arizona starting Pac-12 play next week against Utah, it was nice to get an easy win to build the players confidence heading into the heart of the schedule. Get ready to Bear Down folks. The time is now for the Wildcats to tear apart Pac-12 play.