Football season full of surprises

The first season consisted of the first eight games, where they compilied a 3-5 record.

The last three games and the Insight.com Bowl made up the second season, a 4-0 one. Despite the distinctions, it was the total season's surprises that made the year unique.

The team got a shock early when Oregon's Saladin McCullough returned the season's opening kick 93 yards for a touchdown. Arizona went on to lose the opener 16-9 and struggled with its special teams all year.

A pleasant surprise was the emergence of redshirt freshman quarterback Ortege Jenkins.

Jenkins started the season as a third-string quarterback and reserve wide receiver. With injuries to sophomore Keith Smith and senior Brady Batten, Jenkins got a chance to start five games into the season. Jenkins would go on to break the Pacific 10 Conference record for touchdown passes by a freshman with 19.

Still, with his throwing and scrambling abilities, Smith, along with Jenkins, proved throughout the season that the quarterback position will be of little concern for a while.

"It's the strongest position we have," UA head coach Dick Tomey said.

The "other" quarterback, Batten, was given the opportunity to start the bowl game, a sign of appreciation by Tomey for his hard work and leadership over the past four years. Batten led the Wildcats to a 20-14 win over New Mexico.

The offense got a jump start from sophomore tailback Trung Canidate. A former special teams player Canidate averaged 100.5 yards a game despite being sidelined for various injuries.

"Trung demonstrated all his abilities last year," Tomey said.

Of little surprise, the secondary was again anchored by junior cornerback Chris McAlister, who earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors for the second consecutive year. McAlister had a team-high four interceptions.

The defense once again depended on speed, not size.

"(Defensive coordinator Rich) Ellerson does not care about our size," sophomore defensive tackle Idris Haroon said. "He is all about speed."

"If you are quick enough, that is good enough," Tomey said.

The front line enjoyed the return of senior Joe Salave'a, who led the team with 11 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss. Senior linebacker Chester Burnett led all Wildcats in tackles again this season, recording 93 total. Senior Jimmy Sprotte, also a linebacker, was responsible for 40 tackles, 12 of which were for a loss. All three were drafted into the NFL.