By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Brennan, Wade will start as receivers
A recurring theme this season with both the secondary and the wide receivers could be summed up in three words - lack of experience.
Many critics blamed the defensive secondary for Arizona's 6-6 season in 1999, but this year's squad is seeking a fresh start.
After last season's woes, the best news for the Wildcats could be that they are only returning one starter from last season, sophomore free safety Jarvie Worcester.
According to UA head coach Dick Tomey, the team's young players are encouraging, though not without fault.
"They are an intelligent group of guys who grow everyday," he said. " Since they are young, they are going to make some mistakes."
The biggest surprise as the season nears has been the hard-nosed play of strong safety Brandon Nash.
Nash, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior from Los Angeles, lettered as a true freshman wide receiver in 1998 but redshirted last season while concentrating on his switch to the secondary.
His conversion to a defensive back should bring an added toughness to a secondary which lacked physical play last season.
"We are a whole new bunch of guys with a new attitude," Nash said. "I am looking to bring a physical aspect back to Arizona."
Nash has no regrets for taking the 1999 season off.
"I am going to get a chance to start for two years now," Nash said. "I played defensive back in high school, and I am ready to get out under the lights on the road this weekend."
With both safety positions set, Tomey is still uncertain who will get a chance to start at cornerback.
"Right now, we have too much competition, and we still don't know who is going to start," Tomey said.
During practice yesterday, freshman Michael Jolivette and sophomore David Hinton seemed to have the edge. Both played with the first team defense.
The Wildcats also face a void at receiver as the team tries to compensate for the loss of All-American receiver Dennis Northcutt - who was drafted No. 32 overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Sophmore wide receiver Bobby Wade feels that the wide receivers are ready for the challenge.
"It is going to take all of us (wide receivers) as a group to fill those big shoes," he said. "When we face adversity this year, we are going to have to stay together. We are going to (be) positive this year and try to play to our ability."
Wade will be the primary receiver this season, following a 1999 campaign in which he set a UA freshman record with 30 receptions for 454 yards and four touchdowns.
In spring practice, Wade saw some time on defense as a cornerback in addition to his wide receiver work. He intercepted a pass and returned a fumbled pitch 83 yards for a touchdown in a spring scrimmage.
However, wide receivers coach Rob Ianello said that Wade will concentrate on being a wide receiver and not see time as a cornerback.
"There have been no plans recently for Bobby to see playing time on the defensive side of the ball," Ianello said. "This is a good sign for both the receivers and defensive backs."
Lining up with Wade is fifth-year senior Brad Brennan.
Brennan is expected back in top form after a hamstring injury shortened his 1999 season.
According to Ianello, junior wide receiver Malosi Leonard will have to step up this year and be more of a leader among the receivers.
"He doesn't have as many catches as some of the other receivers, but he has had on-the-field experience, Ianello said. "We are all hopeful he will be a guy we can look to."
The elder statesman of the receiving core, Brennan seeks to step up into a leadership role.
"You can't always be the nice guy," Brennan said. "Sometimes with these young guys, you can't always be nice to them."
Senior Marvin Brown and redshirt freshmen Brandon Marshall, Andrae Thurman and Gary Love should all compete for the backup roles this year and see playing time.
"They are young guys who lack experience, but the good thing is they want to be good," Ianello said. "The one thing we are missing this year which we had last season is a player who caught 88 passes in Northcutt."
If the Wildcats are able to overcome youth and inexperience at the defensive back and wide receiver positions, UA might not miss Northcutt as much as they think.
