We’re another day closer to the start of the Arizona Football season, and as we bring you new content, here are our ten bold predictions for 2018!
Early on, there is plenty of hype surrounding the Wildcats. As junior quarterback Khalil Tate and a number of key players return, perhaps this could be a great year of Arizona Football.
However, as always, there are still many questions heading into this season. The football action has been limited so far, so like you, we don’t know how good this team is. Luckily, the wait will soon be over for us football-starving fans, as the season is nearly underway!
Finally, all the questions we had before the season will unfold before our very eyes, and hopefully, our expectations can be met! With that said, here are our Ten Bold predictions for 2018!
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10. Arizona will have three players rush for over 500 yards this season!
Perhaps not too much of a stretch here, but I feel pretty comfortable in predicting this. Arizona has a very loaded backfield, and between the likes of J.J. Taylor, Khalil Tate, Gary Brightwell and Nathan Tilford, that’s just way too much talent not to produce!
I will say that I do see the Wildcats becoming a bit more balanced in their offensive attack this year. With the addition of Noel Mazzone as their offensive coordinator, I expect Arizona to have more focus in the passing game.
There’s just no way Mazzone will limit the weapons he has in running the football!
That’s why I’m saying Arizona will have three players rush for over 500 yards, and look for that combination of players to get plenty of opportunities this season and capitalize on them greatly.
9. Shawn Poindexter and Bryce Wolma will be legit end zone Threats
The Wildcats over the past few years haven’t been an extremely proficient passing team, especially in the red zone. Blame it on not having enough, “big” talent at receiver, or never really utilizing the tight end position.
Regardless, it hasn’t quite been the Wildcats’ focus, and here is how they have fared the past few years…
In 2017, seven of their 37 red zone touchdowns came via passing
2016– Arizona had just five passing touchdowns out of the 23 total scored in the red zone
2015– 20 passing to 21 rushing
2014– 13 passing to 20 rushing
2013– 10 passing to 27 rushing
We still see the Wildcats using its strengths, and to put it lightly, the receiver position isn’t a huge strength for Arizona in 2018. However, size matters when you get to the red zone, and Shawn Poindexter and Bryce Wolma have it.
Standing six-feet-5-inches and 6-feet-3-inches respectively, the two combined for 47 receptions for 539 yards and three touchdowns last season.
My bold prediction is that these two become Arizona’s end zone threat for 2018!
8. PJ Johnson will be Arizona’s most impactful defensive player
We’re all too familiar with the star-studded sophomore trio of Tony Fields II, Colin Schooler, and Kylan Wilborn, and rightfully so. As freshmen, these three were dominant for the Wildcats and showed tons of promise for the future.
As they return and look to lead a hopefully improved Wildcat defense, I’m predicting it will be junior college transfer PJ Johnson who will have the biggest impact.
A standout at City College of San Francisco, he transitions to division one football, where he looks to have a significant impact with Arizona.
Already turning heads in fall camp, Johnson provides something the Wildcats have not had on their defensive line… SIZE!
The guy has it, along with proper, fundamental techniques. His addition will be more than welcome, and my bold prediction is he will be Arizona’s most impactful defensive player.
7. Arizona will start the year 5-0!
Say what?!?!? Yea, you read that right! I’m predicting the Wildcats will start 5-0!
I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but I think it’s doable. First off is BYU at home. The Cougars come off a 3-9 season, and with Arizona Stadium rocking, I see them winning game one.
The following week, the Wildcats travel to Houston for an early game. Now, Ed Oliver is a fantastic player, and he will undoubtedly make things difficult, but Arizona nearly won with Brandon Dawkins getting a majority of the snaps. Give Tate a chance, and I can see Arizona sneaking out with a win.
Carry that momentum into two, likely blowouts against Southern Utah and Oregon State in consecutive weeks to then take on USC at home.
The Trojans lose Sam Darnold and Ronald Jones III from last year but insert any other four-star/five-star guy waiting in the queue.
I see the Trojans still be talented, but taking a slight step back, and when that happens, it’s good for Arizona.
The Wildcats generally play USC tough at home (2016 excluded), and with Tate and Co. being another year experienced, I think the Wildcats pull the upset at home to start 5-0!
6. Khalil Tate will have over 3,500 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns!
3,500 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns? Okay, maybe not too extreme. I mean, after all, last season through just seven games he started, Tate had just over 3,000 yards in total (1,591 passing – 1,411 rushing) and 25 total touchdowns.
Imagine what the talented junior can do in an entire season from start to finish!
I feel like his production will be a bit balanced in 2018, with a bit more emphasis on the passing game. Heck, Tate was so close to producing that last season, I think he can continue to elevate his game here, and really separate himself!
Five through one
5. The Wildcats’ defense will rank in the Top 70s for 2018
Finally a formidable defense? I think so!
Arizona has talent, they have depth, and they have increased in size! The elusive combination for any Wildcat defense in about six of the last seven seasons.
Since 2011, here is how the Wildcats have fared on defense!
2011 – 110th Overall
2012 – 118th Overall
2013 – 62nd Overall
2014 – 103rd Overall
2015 – 114th Overall
2016 – 115th Overall
2017 – 118th Overall
This year I think that changes and drastically! As stated previously, the Wildcats return a substantial amount of talent from last year, and I feel that group makes a huge jump in 2018! Look for Arizona to finally have a defense no longer ranked in the triple digits!
4. The Wildcats will beat ASU in their annual rivalry game
Duh! Okay, maybe not so bold. Regardless, this shouldn’t be all that explanatory. Arizona lost in Tempe last season, with Tate not playing in the second half.
It’s in Tucson this year, the crowd will be crazy, and the Wildcats will win in convincing fashion!
3. Khalil Tate will be invited to New York for the Heisman Ceremony
A dark horse pick to win the Heisman for 2018, the junior Tate has taken all the off-season attention in stride.
Tate had a huge campaign in 2017, where he took college football by storm. Totaling over 3,000 yards of offense, while throwing and rushing for a combined 25 touchdowns.
He’s poised to have a big year in 2018, and with him under center, and Mazzone calling the offense, big things could happen in Tucson once again!
Tate is an electric college football player. After a monstrous junior season with the Wildcats, look for Tate to get the invitation to New York, where he will attend the Heisman Trophy Award Ceremony!
2. Kevin Sumlin will win Pac-12 Coach of the Year
You betcha! C’mon, a first-year coach, leading his team through a remarkable season, all the while helping to guide Tate to a terrific junior season that ends up in New York!?!?
Absolutely!
Look what Sumlin did in his first season in College Station with Johnny Manziel as his quarterback. Even better, he has Tate as his quarterback in Tucson!
Come to the end of 2018, Sumlin will be crowned the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in his first season with the Wildcats!
1. The Wildcats will win the Pac-12 South and make the Rose Bowl!
Okay, perhaps the loftiest prediction by far, but nonetheless, this is always the gold standard for us Wildcat fans. It’s long been on our minds as fans, every year pining for the seemingly elusive.
To this day, we are still the only original Pac-10 member school to not make the Rose Bowl. No more! This will finally be the year!
Face it! We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the coaching, our schedule lines up nicely, and we have arguably one of the best players in college football! Those are recipes you need to have to have a special season!
When Arizona starts out 5-0, and cruises to a very respectable 10-3 record, winning the Pac-12 South, we will get the Rose Bowl bid, and finally cross that off our list!
At Zona Zealots, we are excited about the upcoming season, and hope all of these predictions come true! Bear Down, Arizona!