Spring practice shows UA has work to do this summer

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior quarterback Ortege Jenkins runs upfield during a play in Saturday's scrimmage. Jenkins was 3 of 12 for 45 yards and had one interception on the night, as well as running for 13 yards and a touchdown.

"We're a long way off from being a good team," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "We need to maximize every day from here on out."

The Wildcats now move into a month-long period where they will focus on conditioning, followed by individual workouts this summer.

UA junior quarterback Ortege Jenkins said he is completely focused on this summer now.

"We're trying to encourage all the guys to stay in Tucson," he said. "We need to all work together to come together as a team."

Tomey said he will continue to press home a dual-focus on both Penn State and Texas Christian, UA's second opponent in 1999, up until "eight to nine days before Penn State."

Because the Horned Frogs, who throttled Southern Cal 28-19 in the Sun Bowl, play an option offense like UA's Holiday Bowl opponent, Nebraska, Tomey said Arizona has to be prepared for both them and the Nittany Lions.

Tomey also said no one is letting last year's 12-1 record and No. 4 national ranking go to their heads.

"They know that the team that finished fourth in the country the year before us was North Carolina, and the year before that it was ASU," he said. "That's a good example for us after what happened to them."

The Tar Heels followed up their stellar year with a 7-5 finish and a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl, while Arizona State wound up losing to UA at the end of the 1997 season, stuck in the Sun Bowl.

Tomey said the Wildcats aren't going to completely ignore last season's accomplishments.

"We need to take what's useful for us," he said. "Getting turnovers, good net punting, having a good short yardage offense, a good goal-line offense.

"We improved every week last year, that's what I liked. These guys really want to be a good team and I think they can do it."

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Tomey named a number of offensive players who had reserve or limited roles in 1998 who could step up in 1999 based on their performances over the last month.

Redshirt sophomore Eli Wnek, a defensive end last year, has switched to H-back, and has "showed he can really play offense," Tomey said.

Redshirt freshman Toge Hugo has emerged as a backup at tight end behind junior Brandon Manumaleuna, while others to show their skills on the offensive line included senior right tackle Ega Usu and three redshirt freshmen, right guard Aaron Higginbotham, left tackle Darren Safranek and left guard Otis Redding.

Redshirt sophomore Malosi Leonard was "really a bright spot," Tomey said. "He really did some terrific things for us this year."

Tomey said Leonard is, for now, the number three receiver behind seniors Dennis Northcutt and Brad Brennan.

Leonard downplayed the inexperience of the receiving corps after Saturday night's intrasquad scrimmage at Arizona Stadium.

"We're very underrated," he said. "We're going to surprise some people."

As for the running game, Tomey said senior Trung Canidate, the Pacific 10 Conference's leading rusher last year with 1,220 net yards, "had a real productive spring."

Canidate only had to face contact one day out of the spring to avoid any injuries.

With junior Leon Callen and junior walk-on Robert Bonds also having good springs, plus the fall arrivals of redshirt freshman Leo Mills and recruits Bobby Wade and Leon Croom, UA's depth looks solid.

"You have to be fixed there," Tomey said of the running game. "Injuries can happen in bunches there."