TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona junior safety Adam Hall walked off Arizona's practice field on Monday, helmet in hand, looking as if there was nothing wrong with him after having participating in Saturday's spring game.
But there is something wrong: Hall suffered his second ACL injury in as many spring games and will be out indefinitely.
Hall tweeted about the injury over the weekend, and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez confirmed it on Monday. Rodriguez said he’s not sure when Hall will have surgery on the knee or whether he would be able to return in the fall.
Hall, a standout from Tucson’s Palo Verde High, missed all but one game last season after rehabbing his knee for more than six months. This year, he was working on the second unit when his feet slipped from under him on Saturday. Local television stations caught the injury, which occurred without contact.
When asked what it meant to the team, Rodriguez was unclear, perhaps unsure of what to say.
"Oh, I don't know," he said. "Any time you lose a player, any time you lose a good player, it's a blow to your football team. I don't know who is going to be starting anyway. Adam had worked really hard in the offseason. He had a good spring, and it's unfortunate that that happens in football."
LEADERSHIP NEEDS
Arizona quarterback Matt Scott said Monday that he hasn’t gone back and reviewed Saturday’s scrimmage, but will later this week.
But one thing Scott, a redshirt senior, will definitely work on is his leadership. He said Rodriguez has stressed leadership, and because he is a senior and the starting quarterback, some of that naturally will fall on him.
"We’re going to need leadership over these next couple of months," he said.
SPUR OF THE MOMENT
Sophomore Tra’Mayne Bondurant arrived on the scene last year seemingly out of nowhere and had a superb second half of the season. It’s likely that he’ll be asked to do a lot this fall, particularly in his new role as the spur in new coordinator Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 defense.
Bondurant is excited about it, adding that he had a good spring, concluding with a team-high-tying six tackles in Saturday's scrimmage.
"I just learned how to do this defense every day, and things just got better," he said. "The spur position is good for me because it’s a playmaking position, so that’s better for me. I want to be in a situation where the team depends on me making plays."
Teammate Jake Fischer called Bondurant a "ball hawk" because he makes plays.
"He has a very good understanding of the game," Fischer said. "He’s not afraid to step up and hit somebody. I wish we had a few more Tra’Maynes. The kid flies around and makes plays."
NICE SPRING
He wasn’t showcased in the spring game, but sophomore running back Ka’Deem Carey had a strong, productive spring. Saturday's performance, with just four carries for 22 yards, wasn't indicative of his spring, his first with the Wildcats after being the centerpiece of the Wildcats’ 2011 recruiting class.
"The game went well because everyone executed," he said. "I felt pretty comfortable, got the signals and everything. It was a success for me. And we all bonded."
AND SOME BASKETBALL
Sean Miller continues to add to Arizona's roster. Over the weekend, UA got a commitment from shooting guard Jacob Hazzard, the grandson of the late Walt Hazzard, who was a standout at UCLA and later became the Bruins coach.
Hazzard, a 5-foot-11, 155-pounder, played at Los Angeles Loyola High and is considered a "preferred walk-on," or a player who was actively recruited but won’t start out with a scholarship. Arizona still has one scholarship available for next season.
