KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman quarterback Nic Costa is expected to see more playing time in the Wildcats' final three games of the season to give him some experience for next year.

The Wildcats had hoped for the return of junior cornerback Michael Jolivette for this weekend's game against UCLA but, according to head coach John Mackovic, his return against the Bruins is unlikely.

"I was kind of hopeful that he would (return), but I just don't think he will make it," Mackovic said.

Jolivette hurt his knee three days before the Sept. 21 Wisconsin game and has not seen the field since.

However, one player the Wildcats might get back this week is senior safety Jarvie Worcester.

Worcester broke his arm late in the Wildcats' 32-28 loss on Oct. 12 to Washington. He has only missed three games and is listed as questionable.

Sophomore defensive end Vince Feula and freshman fullback Sean Jones both missed the trip to Oregon State, with injuries, but have a chance of playing against the Bruins.

Arizona might have escaped a game without any injuries for the first time all year. There were no major injuries for the Wildcats in Corvallis, Ore., but that doesn't mean that no one was hurt.

The turf at Reser Stadium is a little harder than that of most places, and the Wildcats felt that.

Arizona has played eight weeks in a row and has been practicing for 10 straight weeks, so Mackovic decided to give the players yesterday off and only hold a short meeting.

"We need a little freshness," Mackovic said. "(Oregon State) was a hard-hitting game and it took its toll."

This is the first day off for the Wildcats all season.

With a majority of the fourth quarter left, freshman quarterback Nic Costa replaced senior Jason Johnson.

Mackovic said Costa will see even more action as the season winds down.

Costa will be put in the game in a variety of situations to see how he handles the game in an effort to prepare him for next season.

"We need to stick him in there and let him play a series here and a series there," Mackovic said.

Costa has seen limited action throughout the season. He has played in three games and is 5-for-15 for 46 yards and has thrown one interception.

Even though Mackovic said he wants to give Costa an opportunity to see some game action, he still won't totally go away from Johnson.

"I feel for Jason," said Mackovic. "He has to understand that there's a bigger picture. We will give (Johnson) every chance to win the game."

With the chance to play in a bowl game now out of the question, recruiting has come up a little bit earlier than usual.

The Wildcats are planning to go after experienced junior college players.

A big factor in recruiting players out of the junior college is whether or not they can come for the spring semester.

Players who come in the spring have many advantages. They can participate in spring practices and learn the system over several months, as opposed to the players who can only come in the fall semester and are forced to learn the month before the season begins.

"It's so tough for somebody to come in during the summer and expect to start," Mackovic said. "We're looking for several positions at the junior colleges."

Mackovic said the UA is looking to recruit six to seven offensive lineman and tight ends and he hasn't ruled out the possibility of going after a junior college quarterback.

"I still hold out a great deal of optimism for (the guys we have now)," Mackovic said. "There is the framework here."