ARIZONA FOOTBALL

Former ASU QB Jake Plummer: Scooby Wright III reminds me of Pat Tillman

Dec 9, 2014, 10:44 PM | Updated: 10:45 pm

The Arizona Wildcats clearly have something special in Scooby Wright III, the sophomore linebacker who won the 2014 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Monday.

The award is given annually to the top defensive player in the country, and he was certainly deserving after racking up 153 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2014.

Wright was also named the 2014 Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, which was fitting, especially given former ASU quarterback and current football analyst Jake Plummer’s take on the Arizona star.

“You can’t help but love watching Scooby Wright play, whether you’re a Sun Devil or not,” he told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Tuesday. “If you’re a football fan, get over your hatred for the Wildcats and watch this cat play. He’s amazing.

“I find myself watching him during the whole game because the dude’s just reckless and crazy. He reminds me of Pat Tillman, a guy that played recklessly. And Scott Von der Ahe; guys on our team that were just badasses, that played hard.”

That’s indeed high praise for Wright, a former two-star recruit who was the only player in FBS this season to rank in the top five for total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles.

Wright helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-3 record this season, including a Pac-12 South title and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.

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