Arizona Football: Wide Receivers have perfect blend of size & speed

The 2022 Arizona Football season is almost here, and coming in the Wildcat should have the perfect blend of size and speed at receiver. 

As we are all familiar with by now, it is that the 2021 Arizona Football season did not quite go according to plan. The Wildcats endured several injuries, they overcame a coaching change, and as a result, the team stumbled to a rather uninspiring and uneventful, 1-11 finish.

Highlighted in the Wildcats’ struggles last season was their abysmal and dreadful offensive performance.

Overall, the team ranked 101st in total offense this past season, averaging just 355.9 yards per game, and scoring only 18 total touchdowns.

Luckily, heading into 2022, that should all be in the past as Jedd Fisch and staff added several key pieces to the offense.

And an area that should prove to be a competitive group for Arizona Football in 2022 is the receiving corps.

In 2021, Arizona’s offense certainly had its high and low points of the season. But luckily for us, that will likely all be in the past this season as the Wildcats should be better in 2022.

And should the Wildcats make significant improvements on offense, look for the receiving corps to be a major point of strength.

First off, Arizona introduces several new pieces with the additions of UTEP transfer Jacob Cowing, Tetairoa McMillan, AJ Jones, and Kevin Green, Jr. while returning Jamarye Joiner and Dorian Singer among others. But perhaps more importantly, the Wildcats added Washington State quarterback, Jayden de Laura this off-season.

Fisch and Co. have emphasized improving depth and depth this off-season, and so far, they have done that and then some!

The Good?

As noted before, the Wildcats added quite a few key pieces to the receiving corps, while returning quite a few others as well.

Beyond that, this is a receiving group with improved size, length, athleticism, and talent. And on paper, Arizona should be better. Plus, they have had another year to work with receiving coach Kevin Cummings which typically bodes well for continuity, improved results, and so on.

Arizona has enough talent and skill to make a significant jump offensively, and to me, the receiving corps will be a big part of that.

The Bad? 

While the returning depth and incoming talent are huge for the Wildcats, this is a group that is still largely unproven. And while on paper, they should be better, Arizona still has to rely on giving quarterback Jayden de Laura enough time to throw.

Beyond that, you hope that de Laura has built enough chemistry and camaraderie with the receiving corps in such a short time here to be effective.

The Optimistic?

Overall, I love the personnel that the Wildcats have at receiving. Fisch, Cummings, and Co. should have enough talent to succeed, plus, I am a big believer in players improving from year one to year two.

Beyond that, I love the Wildcats’ perfect blend of size, strength, and athleticism at receiver. Arizona has quite a few talented options in the slot, as well as several bigger pass catchers which should ultimately help alleviate the Cats’ redbone issues from last fall.

Lastly, Tyler Owens’ work in the Strength and Conditioning department has been second-to-none, and his presence should help this group immensely!

Heading into 2022, the Wildcats should be more equipped to succeed, and overall, and with the season just a few weekends away, we will see just what kind of group the Wildcats have this season!

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