49 Days the Defensive Line
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2022 5:23 am
Arizona's defensive line has 12 returning players and 7 incoming scholarship players. We are looking at the D-line today because in the first 49 days we have already filled in the gaps in the roster with all of the incoming scholarship players. We have 4 more days without a player to talk about before camp starts, so we will talk about projected starters based on Brian J Pedersen's article in the AZDS.
From last year's team we have lost Mo Dialo, Trevon Mason and Regen Terry from the 3 deep. I suspect we will see improvement in the line primarily because they will be in their second year under Coach Hunley.Defensive line
Starters: Kyon Barrs (Jr.), Hunter Echols (RS-Sr.), Jalen Harris (RS-Sr.), Paris Shand (Soph.)
Backups: JB Brown (Sr.), Jason Harris (RS-Fr.), Tiaolli Savea (Soph.)
Will also play: Evan Branch-Haynes (RS-Fr.), x-Russell Davis II (Fr.), Kevon Garcia (RS-Fr.), Nahe Sulunga (RS-Jr.), Dion Wilson Jr. (Soph.)
Barrs missed all of spring after foot surgery, the latest injury this talented interior defender has dealt with. When healthy he’s been stellar, with five sacks and eight tackles for loss in 10 games last season.
Shand has also been prone to needing to sit because of injury, which would open the door for Brown, UCLA transfer Savea, Branch-Haynes or others to get a shot to start.
Echols and Jalen Harris make for a very potent set of edge rushers, while Jason Harris could be primed for a breakout season if he gets in there for the right plays.
Arizona has four scholarship freshmen joining the position room this summer, but it may be hard for any of them to crack the rotation after missing the spring.
Kyle Ostendorp averaged 49.2 yards a punt last year.