In an effort to improve the defensive backfield, the Arizona football team is trying out a couple of speedy running backs at cornerback.
Sophomore running back Gainus Scott and redshirt freshman running back Brent Bolden were moved to cornerback yesterday.
"We like those guys and wanted to give those guys an opportunity to help us in the secondary," said UA head coach Mike Stoops.
Bolden was a sprinter in high school, while the fleet-footed Scott is apparently from a part of the family gene pool different from his brother Yusuf, an All-American offensive lineman at the UA in 1998 and current NFL lineman.
Stoops said he moved the pair to see if they have the natural talent to play there.
Stoops said he has also been impressed with mid-year junior college transfer Kiel McDonald, another corner. Stoops said McDonald, who is out of Sac Community College in Colorado Springs, Colo., has "good foot speed" and is a "good cover guy."
"Kiel's doing really well. I like what he is doing. I like his attitude, I like the way he works," Stoops said. "I like how competitive he is ÷ he's just got to keep getting better fundamentally. And he's just going to be a real good player."
Padron to transfer
Stoops said UA reserve tight end Matt Padron will likely transfer.
"I'm not exactly sure where, but we'll release him if he wants to go somewhere else and play," he said.
Padron, who had four catches for 34 yards in nine games last year, has also been working out at tackle.
Kovalcheck check
Freshman quarterback Richard Kovalcheck, who is in the mix now at signal caller, said he is happy with his spring so far.
Kovalcheck, a top-rated high school quarterback and All-American, redshirted this year but is battling for the starter's role.
"It's been going good. I've been having a good time," Kovalcheck said.
Like the other three QBs, Kovalcheck said he has been impressed with offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Mike Canales.
"He's a real good coach, knows a lot about the game, has a lot of fun out there. He's real intense," Kovalcheck said.
Stoops family auction
Stoops' old high school, Cardinal Mooney in Youngstown, Ohio, is conducting an online auction with a decidedly Arizona taste on its Web site, cardinalmooney.com.
Among the items up for auction: a round of golf with Stoops at Tucson's La Paloma Country Club ÷ a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course ÷ in May or June, a round of golf with UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops and a phone message from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
The OU coach will record a personal phone message for the winner, instructing callers to leave a message.
As of last night, the leading bid for each was $500 with 20 days remaining.
Olson visits practice
Yesterday's year-ending press conference did not take too much of UA men's basketball head coach Lute Olson's time.
The Hall of Famer stopped by to watch the end of practice.