The Arizona Wildcats' freshman class just might be the best in Mike Stoops' tenure as coach.
One player is almost certain to play in every game over the next four years.
Never heard of Chase Gorham? Snap to it.
The new long snapper is already a fixture on special teams. Should Gorham play in every game over the next four years, he could finish his UA career with - depending on how many bowl games Arizona makes - between 48 and 52 games, a UA record.
The son of former UA place-kicker Charlie Gorham said he doesn't think about playing time, but has already impressed coaches and teammates. The Scottsdale Chaparral High School product was perfect in Saturday's scrimmage.
Here's everything you need to know about the 18-year-old Gorham, in his own words:
It's a snap: "In seventh grade, I got to go to a Nebraska game. Nathan McBride - he transferred here later - was snapping for them. It was something I wanted to do."
Getting started: "At the end of my freshman year (at Chaparral), I was playing guard and d-tackle. I wasn't even thinking about snapping. I just picked it up and started doing it. It took about a year. Every year, I've gotten better and better."
On choosing Arizona: "I was the first guy to commit (to the 2010 class), yeah. That was in spring of my junior year. I wanted to stay close to home, my girlfriend and family. It made sense. Plus, my dad went here and my family's been here. I like that I'm staying close to home and be with them."
On the other schools that recruited him: "I really didn't think about it much. I just committed right away."
The key to a good snap: "Snap first, then block. You have to think about the snap first, then worry about the block. It's about the hips, and following through every time."
Practice makes perfect: "You just have to do it over and over and over again. There's drills and stuff, but I usually just snap with a ball every time. Back when I used to practice (by myself), I'd probably snap close to 800 a week, maybe … 700? Now, I do probably 700 a week. It's about doing it over and over and over again."
Stoops will pare down depth chart this week
Mike Stoops will try to solve the Arizona Wildcats' defensive problems by cutting down on the number of players he uses.
The UA coach will begin paring down the depth chart during this morning's practice at Rincon Vista. Once he gets a solid "two-deep," Stoops said he will address the unit's issues.
Arizona's offense thumped the defense in Saturday's scrimmage at Sierra Vista Buena High School, racking up 455 yards and scoring four touchdowns during the 71-play exhibition. The defense failed to force a single turnover.
"We have too many players playing too many positions right now," Stoops said. "That creates confusion."
Stoops said he will not consider switching safeties Adam Hall and Marquis Flowers to linebacker, even though the unit has struggled in camp. Flowers is expected to be at full strength sometime this week; he missed all of Camp Huachuca with a concussion.
TODAY
• What: Practice, open to the public
• Where: Rincon Vista practice facility
• When: 8-10 a.m. and 5:45-7:45 p.m.
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