UA FOOTBALL: QB position still up for grabs

During the 2008 spring football session, senior quarterback Willie Tuitama took 70 percent of the snaps and provided a stabilizing influence on last year’s offense.

This spring, the Arizona Wildcats have a good ol’ fashioned quarterback battle on their hands.

Sophomore Matt Scott finds himself neck-and-neck with Michigan State transfer Nick Foles, with neither signal-caller emerging from the spring session as the No. 1 quarterback.

In fact, Arizona head coach Mike Stoops said a decision might not be made until the week before the Wildcats’ season-opening game on Sept. 5 against Central Michigan.

“We firmly believe we can win with both guys,” Stoops said during yesterday’s news conference. “Both guys have shown us a lot of good things this spring, but they still lack consistency. We’re in no hurry to dictate who starts.”

Both Scott and Foles have taken about 45 percent of the snaps this spring, with third-stringer Bryson Beirne taking the remaining 10 percent. Scott has the advantage of having spent all of last season absorbing the offense under Sonny Dykes and watching Tuitama, while Foles possesses the cannon arm that could propel the spread offense.

Scott’s x-factor, however, is his speed. He is among the fastest players on the team and he can make plays with his feet that few quarterbacks can match.

Stoops didn’t rule out the possibility of both quarterbacks seeing significant time in the same games.

“If one quarterback gets hot, we’re obviously not going to pull him,” Stoops said. “To their credit, neither guy has been politicking for the job. They’re both very competitive guys, but they’re also helping push each other. The team has reacted positively to both guys.”

Of course, that quarterback battle won’t matter much if the Wildcats can’t protect whichever player is under center. Mike Diaz will attempt to fill Eben Britton’s sizable shoes at left tackle. Britton is expected to be a high pick in next Saturday’s NFL draft.

“There’s nothing athletically or mentally that our offensive lineman can’t do,” Stoops said. “We just need to get them in the weight room and get stronger.”

The Wildcats will miss Mike Thomas’ production at wide receiver, but Stoops expects Delashaun Dean and Terrell Turner to have breakout seasons, with Buck Wright, David Douglas and Juron Criner providing excellent depth.

Then, of course, there is the All-America candidate at tight end — junior Rob Gronkowski.

On defense, Stoops feels this is his best and most complete unit since taking over as head coach. The squad will feature almost a brand-new linebacking corps, where speed will be the driving force.

Xavier Kelly, Vuna Tuihalamaka and Sterling Lewis will look to replace the production lost from veterans Ronnie Palmer and Adrian McCovy. None of those three players is a stranger to making big plays. Kelly, in particular, came on strong toward the end of last season and enjoyed a breakout game during Arizona’s Las Vegas Bowl victory over BYU.

“Our three linebackers are as explosive as anyone, and our defensive line can now be considered a strength, which hasn’t always been the case in the past,” Stoops said.

Stoops ultimately characterized the spring session as “very good, if not great, from start to finish.” Given the high expectations after last year’s successful campaign, Stoops knows that another winning season is all that will satisfy Southern Arizona football fans.

“My heart must be good and strong if it survived the last five years,” Stoops said.

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