Brent Venables shares what stands out about Arizona's defense

Arizona impressed many this season on both sides of the ball en route to a 9-3 record. However, it’s aspects of their defense that has gotten the attention of Oklahoma’s Brent Venables.

Venables noted some characteristics of the Wildcat defense during a press conference ahead of the Sooners’ matchup with them in the Alamo Bowl this week. If nothing else, they’re a unit that has a ton of fire and spirit yet is also solid when it comes to their foundation.

“They play with incredible passion and energy,” said Venables.

“(The Wildcats) play with great confidence. They know what they’re doing,” said Venables. “They’re very well-coached, fundamentally sound.”

Venables also singled out the play of sophomore LB Jacob Manu. In his second season in Tucson, Manu finished with 97 tackles, 24 more than second-best on the team, as well as 6.5 sacks, an interception, and a pass deflection. That put him second in the Pac-12 in tackles and in Top-10 in the conference in sacks.

That kind of play was more than enough to catch the eyes of Venables in their prep for the Wildcats.

“I think No. 5 leads the Pac-12 in tackles,” said Venables. “He’s just disruptive, always around the football.”

Arizona finished with a Top-30 defense this season under DC Johnny Nansen in his second year leading the group. They allowed only 20.8 points and under 350 yards per game in their 12 appearances. That featured six games where they held opponents to 20 or less as well as them forcing a dozen turnovers.

The Wildcats have snuck up on several teams this year and have since announced themselves as one of the better teams in the country. Now, ahead of their matchup in the Alamodome, Venables is making it clear to his offense of how hard they’re going to have to work in order to effective against them.

“You’re going to have to earn everything that you get,” said Venables.

Assessing the excitement level for Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold vs. Arizona

While Dillon Gabriel is unsure about playing in Oklahoma‘s bowl game against Arizona, the folks in Norman are ready to see the future.

Jackson Arnold is likely the guy against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl, providing a glimpse at what 2024 could look like for the Sooners.

“People are very excited,” George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop said during Andy Staples On3 on Tuesday. “Let me put it this way — last year, all offseason, all we heard was ‘When is Jackson Arnold going to start? He’s definitely going to beat out Dillon Gabriel halfway through the season’. Now that it is finally his time to take over, I think people are super pumped.”

Arnold played high school football at Denton (TX) Guyer, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 8 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

There was excitement surrounding Arnold from the get-go. Him playing may may now rejuvenate interest in Oklahoma’s bowl appearance after missing out on the New Year’s Six.