By Anthony Gimino
FOXSportsArizona.com
TUCSON -- Junior cornerback Trevin Wade began the season as one of Arizona's most heralded players, a preseason second-team All-American in some circles.
Now, he might be a second-string player.
Wade, after struggling early against Stanford last week -- including giving up a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Owusu -- was pulled in favor of true freshman Shaquille Richardson.
Arizona secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Greg Brown said after Tuesday's practice that Richardson has been getting the "bulk of the reps in practice."
"But, hey," Brown added, "it's not bad to have Trevin Wade standing there, either."
Wade entered the season with nine career interceptions, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors last season. He got his 10th career interception against Iowa, returning it 85 yards for a touchdown.
But the Hawkeyes never shied away from targeting Wade, who later gave up big plays in the game. He suffered a thigh injury early in the fifth game of the season, against Oregon State, yielding a 33-yard touchdown pass to James Rodgers on the first drive.
He has only that one interception for the season.
"Just hasn't been a typical year for him," coach Mike Stoops said. "I don't know. Just hasn't played like he's capable of. He just has to keep working at it. Sometimes you get in a slump and it's hard to get out of. You have to work your way out of it and practice your way out of it."
Wade said his struggles might be leading to thinking too much and trying too hard on the field.
"I just need to play football and let it come to me, instead of me trying to grab it," he said.
Arizona could use Wade to be on top of his game this week against visiting USC, which has a pair of dangerous wideouts in senior Ronald Johnson and true freshman Robert Woods.
Stoops made it clear, though, to not blame Wade for the defense's struggles last week in a 42-17 loss.
"In no way, shape or form is this on Trevin," Stoops said. "We just expect more of him. It just hasn't been that kind of year for him."
GRIGSBY A GO?
Running back Nic Grigsby, who managed only one carry last week before deciding that his sprained ankle wasn't healthy enough, said after Tuesday's practice that his status this week will be a "game-time decision."
Grigsby had five carries against UCLA on Oct. 30 before suffering the ankle sprain.
"Very frustrating," said Grigsby, who missed most of last year's Pac-10 schedule because of a shoulder injury.
The senior is sixth in school history in rushing with 2,847 yards, but he has been sharing time with junior Keola Antolin this season. In fact, Antolin has emerged as something of a lead back in recent weeks, rushing for 473 yards on 82 carries in the past five games.
While Grigsby is a shifty runner, Antolin has a stocky, full-steam-ahead kind of style.
"He brings a lot of energy to a lot of people on our team because he's a hard-nosed player," Grigsby said. "A little dude like him, you don't see him popping out from behind the line of scrimmage, but then he's coming hard and fast at you."
