JOSHUA SILLS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Cornerback Jason Martin and strong safety Lamon Means attempt to strip the ball away from a ball carrier during training camp last week.

CB Martin switches to receiver; starting QB not yet determined

Two years ago, members of the Wildcat coaching staff had a pretty deep receiving corps on their hands. This led them to move then wide receiver Gary Love to cornerback, and in this, his senior season, he is listed as one of the team's two starters at the position.

With the success of Love's transition, head coach John Mackovic has decided to try sophomore cornerback Jason Martin at receiver. The Wildcats lost receiver Andrae Thurman for the year for academic reasons, leaving a big hole at the spot. The team has also had an influx in cornerbacks with the strong play of senior cornerback Luis Nunez and the emergence of freshman Wilrey Fontenot.

The move just seemed logical.

"If he is needed he can go back to defense, but we are really a little shy on numbers and we needed someone with terrific quickness and he can get down the field," Mackovic said.

Martin played receiver in high school at Muir High School in Pasadena, California and caught passes from current starting quarterback candidate, freshman Ryan O'Hara.

"I liked him a lot as a potential receiver when we recruited him out of high school," said Mackovic. "He made a lot of big plays."

Quarterbacks still playing waiting game

Mackovic did not name a starting quarterback and will probably not until the first snap of Saturday's season opener against UTEP.

"Whoever starts is not the most important thing to me or the team," he said. "Players want to know, ÎWho is going to lead us down the field?' It's not where you start, it's where you finish."

"We have a lot of confidence in both Nic and Ryan," said sophomore cornerback Darrel Brooks. We know that who ever steps up there, we know that they will get out there and do the job."

O-line looks to pick up last year's slack

Of all of the offensive lineman, Mackovic said he has been most impressed with the play of senior Reggie Sampay. Sampay plays both guard and center, but Mackovic said he would probably play left guard.

"He's a warrior type player," he said. "He played last year with more bumps, bruises, aches and pains than anybody on the team."

Sampay came into fall camp battling for a starting spot on the offensive line, but with his production over the last couple weeks, Mackovic said he has earned a significant amount of playing time this season.

Parada out for year with injured clavicle

Although the Wildcats came out of fall practice with minimal injuries, they do not come into the 2003 season unscathed. Freshman John Parada was lost for the entire season when he injured the clavicle in his knee. Parada suffered a similar injury last year and missed most of the season. He is scheduled to have surgery on it this Thursday and will begin rehab soon after.

Both sophomore offensive tackle Tanner Bell and junior linebacker Kirk Johnson will miss the Wildcat's season opening game against UTEP, but both are only expected to miss a few weeks with knee injuries.

Sophomore runningback Gainus Scott will also be sidelined for the home opener with a non-football related illness.