FORT HUACHUCA - The Arizona Wildcats will hold their first scrimmage of training camp tonight at a field inside an Army installation.
The UA will be looking for a few good men. Four of them, in fact.
First-year coach Rich Rodriguez said this week that he hopes to identify four running backs by the time the Wildcats open their season Sept. 1 against Toledo.
The UA's stable is deep enough, and its players talented enough, to do the "three B's" of playing running back.
"Block, ball-catch and ball-carry," co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee said. As the Wildcats enter the ninth day of camp, here are four backs we think might contribute:
Ka'Deem Carey
Vitals: Sophomore, 5 feet 10 inches, 197 pounds
Scouting report: Coming off an impressive freshman campaign, Carey projects as one of the Pac-12's better runners. The Wildcats' new spread-option offense should lead to more carries and catches for the former Canyon del Oro High School star. He must stay healthy, however, to reach his potential.
2011 stats: Carey finished second among UA backs with 425 rushing yards; his six rushing touchdowns were tops on the team. He ran for two scores against both USC and Colorado and posted a career-high 67 yards in the UA's nationally televised win over UCLA.
Projected role: Carey figures to either start or share time with junior Daniel Jenkins. Both backed up Keola Antolin a year ago.
He said it: "This playbook is a lot different; there are a lot more runs and quick passes, and I like that. We've always had great running backs here. I just didn't feel like we were being used properly." - Carey
Daniel Jenkins
Vitals: Junior, 5-9, 186 pounds
Scouting report: Jenkins has been limited by injuries and stuck behind veterans throughout his career but has shown flashes of greatness in limited action. The time is now for the Moreno Valley, Calif., native to make his mark: Antolin is gone, and a handful of talented recruits - including three-star prospect Pierre Cormier - are scheduled to arrive next fall.
2011 stats: Jenkins rushed 31 times for 176 yards as a redshirt sophomore and scored touchdowns against Utah and Louisiana-Lafayette. He set career highs in carries (10) and yards (43) in the Wildcats' win over UCLA.
Projected role: Jenkins figures to either start or share time with Carey.
He said it: "I'm going to try to do everything that they ask me to do, and I'm going to try to be as versatile as I can. We do a lot with the backs in this offense, whether its catching, running or blocking. Whatever it is, I want to be able to do it all." - Jenkins
Greg Nwoko
Vitals: Senior, 6-2, 245 pounds
Scouting report: Nwoko is the biggest "X" factor - literally - in a running back corps filled with smaller, younger backs. The bruising back tied for the team lead with 4.7 yards per carry in 2010, the last time he suited up.
2011 stats: Nwoko missed the 2011 season as he recovered from knee surgery.
Projected role: Nwoko is expected to play H-back as a fifth-year senior, assuming he stays on offense. Coaches have considered moving Nwoko to linebacker; he was playing the position in Thursday night's practice when he suffered an undisclosed injury. Nwoko's availability will depend on how much pain he can handle, Rodriguez said.
He said it: "Playing H-back, you have to do a little bit of everything - block, catch the ball and run the ball. I'm getting used to it now. I like it a lot." - Nwoko
Taimi Tutogi
Vitals: Senior, 6-1, 260 pounds
Scouting report: The Wildcats' most versatile player, Tutogi is capable of playing tailback, fullback, H-back and tight end. Coaches are also trying him at defensive end in training camp.
2011 stats: Tutogi started six games as a junior, rushing for 73 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. He also caught 11 passes for 97 yards and a score.
Projected role: Tutogi figures to play both running back and H-back in the UA offense. Coaches love his size, speed and versatility.
He said it: "Everybody loves scoring touchdowns, but blocking - nobody wants to sign up for the job. If you're a real team guy, you'll do whatever it takes to win and be successful, which for us is winning the Rose Bowl. If they want me to block, to put some guys on their back, that's what I'm going to do. If Coach Rod sees playing defense, too, putting guys on their back, that's what I'm going to do." - Tutogi
Other options
Juniors Kylan Butler, Elliott Taylor and Terris Jones; redshirt freshman Jared Baker; true freshman J.T. Washington.
Extra points
• Nwoko isn't the only player who's likely to play more linebacker in practices; coaches have moved freshman safety Anthony Lopez down for extra depth. The switch will allow the 5-foot-11-inch, 209-pound Lopez to stay the same size. He would have had to lose weight to play in the secondary.
• Offensive tackle Fabbians Ebbele continues to be limited in practice because of an undisclosed injury.
Training camp: Day 8
At Fort Huachuca's Warrior/Sentinel Fields
• Temperature at start: 82 degrees at 8 a.m.
• Walk-on watch: Long snapper Chase Gorham returned to the team as a walk-on last spring after spending the 2010 season as a scholarship player. Gorham left the team - and school - during last year's training camp, citing personal reasons.
• The big number: 100. Number of plays the UA is expected to run in tonight's scrimmage on the installation. The 90-minute workout will likely identify the first- and second-stringers. "We need a good, long scrimmage," coach Rich Rodriguez said.
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