GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. has been the star of the Buffaloes this season. It is no big shock that his absence from the field because of an injured toe coincides with the team’s recent slide and three-game losing streak. The Texas native left the game against USC three weeks ago and missed the team’s last two games; however, the Colorado coaching staff is hopeful he will be able to return to action against the Wildcats this Friday night.
Should he make his return to the field, Shenault will present Arizona’s secondary with its biggest individual challenge of the year. He has 60 catches and averages 130 yards per game this season.
Arizona’s secondary is coming off its strongest effort of the season. The Wildcats have had a bit of a revolving door on the back end of the defense, but the staff has settled on a group that features a couple newcomers at cornerback, including freshman Christian Young, who started the year at safety.
Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin is well aware of what Shenault’s return could mean to Colorado. “He’s an exceptional player,” Sumlin said.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Shawn Poindexter could very well be playing himself into a professional career in his final college season. The redshirt senior, who was set to play college volleyball at one point earlier in his career, has made a jump in production this year. He leads the team with six touchdown catches and 582 yards on 32 receptions with two touchdowns in each of the last two games for the Wildcats. He has also been a big part of Arizona’s turnaround in the running game as of late with his blocking outside. “Shawn is about as unselfish a guy as we have on this team,” coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We all know he can make plays down the field, but he also gets involved in the blocking schemes and he takes pride in it.”
ROSTER REPORT
–RB Gary Brightwell went down with an ankle injury in the Wildcats’ win over Oregon. The status of UA’s second-string running back was unknown as of Monday.
–OL Bryson Cain left last week’s game with ice on a knee. His status for this week was unknown as of Monday.
