Arizona’s offensive line is in a much different place now than it was a year ago, and that’s a big reason the Wildcats are feeling good as camp reaches its halfway point.
Assistant coach Josh Oglesby spent last season piecing together a line that had three transfers, including a center who was new to the position, plus a former defensive lineman. This camp has been far less chaotic, and Oglesby said Monday the room is showing it.
“I think we are in a much better place depth-wise, and that’s just because last year there was a great crop of young kids that just weren’t really ready,” Oglesby said Monday. “I think the room is in a very healthy place, and I think the best part about it is that there’s competition in the room and you kind of see that out there now with you know different guys getting in, getting snaps, and having a productive camp.”
The biggest piece to settle was center, where Ka’ena Decambra’s eligibility ran out. Washington transfer Zach Henning has stepped into that job and, so far, looks like a solid answer.
Henning’s path to Tucson had a little extra drama. He was on a visit to ASU in January when he texted Oglesby that he was done and ready to come down to Tucson. A flight was the original plan, but Oglesby ended up driving to get him himself.
“He was supposed to get down later that night, and I was texting him, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m kind of done with this,’ and I was like, ‘Shoot, I’ll be there to get you tonight if you need,’” said Oglesby. “So I drove up myself and brought him back down, and we just hung out in the car on the drive back, and I’m super grateful that he chose us, and he’s been awesome for our room and for our team.”
Arizona also got a major break on the right side when Tristan Bounds was granted another year of eligibility. That kept Alexander Doost in place and gave the Wildcats a veteran pairing on the right edge of the line.
Oglesby said that kind of continuity matters.
“I think it would make anybody’s job easier, but I’m excited about Alex and Tristan,” said Oglesby. “They are guys that have got a lot of reps together in game, so they know how each other operates, which is huge for that tackle-guard relationship.”
Henning feels that stability, too. With Doost and Bounds next to him, he knows exactly what he’s getting.
“Playing next to Doost is pretty great,” said Henning. “He’s very strong and helps out with a lot of things.
He’s also very smart as well, which helps out with the schemes with me learning it, and then Tristan’s kind of the same. He’s a very smart football player.
He knows a lot, especially the edge of the defense. So it’s nice to have him out there and help me out.”
The left side still needs answers, though. Arizona has to replace Ty Buchanan and Chubba Maae, and that’s where Matthew Lado has become one of the most important pieces.
Lado stepped in after Bounds went down for the season last year and did enough to keep Noah Fifita protected. Now he has moved over to the left side, where he has settled in and drawn strong praise from Oglesby.
“It’s time for him to take the next step because he has all the ability to be a true lockdown Big 12 tackle, and we’re starting to really focus in on the little nuances of it because the game has slowed down for him,” said Oglesby. “He’s ready to take that next step and truly become the guy that people are going to talk about. He’s becoming much more confident in the fact that he is a large human, and he’s starting to act like a large human out there.”
Lado’s body has changed a lot since he arrived in Tucson. He came in listed at 292 pounds and is now listed at 319 entering his junior season, and that extra size has come with its own learning curve.
“I would say the hardest part has been the balance aspect of being a lighter weight, and then having to increase all the way to 320, and having to control that weight while you’re pass blocking, run blocking,” said Lado.
With four spots mostly sorted, left guard is the last obvious opening. Rhino Tapa’atoutai moved from tackle to guard and has emerged as the top candidate to finish out the starting five.
Even with a first unit taking shape, Oglesby said the depth chart still matters. He wants more than five linemen he can count on, and the competition for the next three spots is real.
“God, that sounds awesome, that’d be dope,” said Oglesby. “I don’t think that’s completely flushed out yet, but I think that’s a good thing because we have guys that are pushing for those spots, and there’s great competition there.”