TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jordan Allen looks around and knows he's not in Louisiana anymore.
"Normally, I'm looking at an alligator crawling across the field," he said.
But from Baton Rouge to Tucson, from the SEC to the Pac-12, Allen has ended up being in the right place at the right time.
The graduate transfer announced his transfer to the Arizona Wildcats after spring ball, bolstering a defensive line that has thinned considerably since then. Allen started at defensive end in last week's season-opening victory against UNLV, taking the place of Reggie Gilbert, who was out with a foot injury.
Allen made one tackle as part of a solid defensive effort that held the Rebels to 371 yards and 13 points.
"I'd say I did what I had to do on a lot of things," said Allen, who had three starts among his 17 appearances for LSU.
"But I'm getting better and progressing with our scheme and understanding it more. You can understand your left step or your right step, but if you don't understand who's coming opposite of you, or if you don't understand why you're making that step, then it really doesn't matter. You're going to find yourself in worse situations than better.
"But I'm really gaining comprehension over this defense and really starting to get it."
Gilbert is listed as probable for Thursday's game at UTSA (5 p.m., FOX Sports 1). Either way, Allen will remain a valuable part of the rotation in Arizona's three-man front.
Since Allen announced his transfer, the Wildcats have lost two players to career-ending concussions (senior Kirifi Taula, junior college transfer Jerod Cody), another to a pre-camp foot injury (Sani Fuimaono), and sophomore Dwight Melvin is reportedly entangled with academic issues.
That's affected coach Rich Rodriguez's ability to mix and match players on the defensive line, and it makes an experienced senior such as Allen all the more valuable.
"Jordan played pretty well," Rodriguez said. "I'm glad he's here."
Allen, who is from West Monroe, La., and whose drawl gives away his Southern roots, has been trying to bring some Cajun culture to Tucson, going to his shrimp or chicken alfredo -- "it's just the different seasonings I throw in there," he said -- when he cooks for teammates.
"It's been a great change," he said of being at Arizona. "People have welcomed me and it's been great being here."
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jarvis McCall started the season-opener, playing against UNLV wideout Devante Davis, whom Rodriguez calls a future pro. Davis caught seven passes for 74 yards in the first half, but had only one reception after the break.
McCall is trying to shore up the cornerback spot opposite senior Jonathan McKnight.
"After the first quarter, I just really calmed down," McCall said.
Coach Lock (cornerbacks coach David Lockwood) and McKnight were telling me to just play, calm down, it's just a game," McCall said. "I just felt more relaxed."
Rodriguez said sophomore Devin Holliday is getting healthier after battling various injuries during camp. Arizona needs Holliday and true freshman Cam Denson to provide depth at cornerback.
Arizona has only two players from Texas on its roster -- sophomore receiver Cayleb Jones from Austin, and redshirt sophomore tight end Josh Kern, who is back playing in his hometown of San Antonio.
Kern was a quarterback out of high school, but was converted to tight end in spring 2013. He is one of three tight ends who played in the opener.
"His development was coming on fine, but he has had a few nagging injuries -- a hamstring and some other things that really have set him back a little bit -- but now he's healthy again and getting back in the groove," Rodriguez said.
"He's a good football player, a tough guy, he's been great for our program. If we can keep him healthy, his role will continue to increase."
There are 10 former Arizona Wildcats on NFL rosters, including Eagles starting quarterback Nick Foles, seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears, healthy-again Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and rookie running back Ka'Deem Carey of the Bears.
The others are: Panthers cornerback Antoine Cason, Bengals rookie linebacker Marquis Flowers, Jets kicker Nick Folk, Steelers safety and co-special teams captain Robert Golden, Dolphins defensive lineman Earl Mitchell and Texans linebacker Brooks Reed.
Cornerback Trevin Wade (Saints), cornerback Shaquille Richardson (Steelers), safety Nate Ness (Lions) and defensive lineman D'Aundre Reed (Dolphins) were signed to practice squads.
Among those cut and not signed are offensive lineman Eben Britton (Bears), and receivers Dan Buckner (Cardinals) and Mike Thomas (Texans).
Kendall Williams, a two-star running back recruit from Butte College in Oroville, Calif., tweeted Wednesday night that he is out for the season because of a hip injury. He ran for 1,156 yards and nine scores last season for a 12-0 team.
The Wildcats also have a commit from another junior college running back, Dami Ayoola from Arizona Western.
