ESPN gives WIldcats’ defensive line a good review

ESPN Pac-12 reporter Chantel Jennings has been breaking down every position for each team in the PAC-12 South as the days inch closer to college football.

Arizona football received a report on their defensive line, and it came back in the “good shape” category.

With a veteran such as Reggie Gilbert — 34 starts in 44 appearances — leading this line, we expect him to pull some of the younger, less-experienced players up to speed. Jeff Worthy should see some competition for the vacated defensive tackle spot from junior college transfer Anthony Fotu. Parker Zellers had his best game of the season last year against Oregon (round one), so if he can duplicate that kind of performance consistently through the season, he’ll be a player the Wildcats lean on more and more. But if defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel wants more size at Zellers’ spot on the line, he can also turn to Sharif Williams (6-foot-2, 313 pounds) and Marcus Griffin (6-foot, 302 pounds), who have more size but less experience.

The Wildcats ranked fifth in the conference last season with 38 sacks and tied for 3rd with 13 recovered footballs thanks to a strong front seven.