"Tell them … tell the team to bear down"

What players to watch in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium

The talent rundown for the game according to NFLDraftScout.com. NOTE: Players are ranked by their position in each class. For example, Devin Ross is the 11th-rated cornerback among seniors. The *-asterisk denotes player projected to be drafted in first three rounds:

ARIZONA SENIORS			NEBRASKA SENIORS
No. 11 Devin Ross*, CB, 5-10, 176			No. 1 Ndamukong Suh*, DT, 6-4, 302
No. 13 Chris Gronkowski, FB, 6-2, 235			No. 8 Larry Asante, SS, 6-0, 215
No. 15 Earl Mitchell, DT, 6-2, 295			No. 10 Jacob Hickman, C, 6-4, 292
No. 28 Cam Nelson, SS, 6-1, 202			No. 25 Phillip Dillard, ILB, 6-1, 240
No. 48 Adam Grant, OT, 6-6, 325			No. 31 Barry Turner, DE, 6-3, 265
ARIZONA JUNIORS			NEBRASKA JUNIORS
No. 4 Keenyn Crier, P, 6-1, 200			No. 3 Alex Henery, K, 6-2, 175
No. 4 Colin Baxter, C, 6-4, 295			No. 4 Prince Amukamara, CB, 6-1, 200
No. 15 Ricky Elmore, DE, 6-5, 250			No. 5 Mike McNeill, TE, 6-4, 240
No. 27 A.J. Simmons, TE, 6-3, 255			No. 13 Eric Hagg, SS, 6-2, 205
No. 31 Nic Grigsby, RB, 5-10, 190			No. 21 Niles Paul, WR, 6-1, 215
ARIZONA SOPHOMORES			NEBRASKA SOPHOMORES
No. 4 Nick Foles, QB, 6-5, 235			No. 2 Jared Crick, DT, 6-6, 285
No. 9 Robert Golden, FS, 5-11, 195			No. 26 Alfonzo Dennard, CB, 5-10, 190
No. 13 Alex Zendejas, PK, 5-11, 190			No. 56 Marcel Jones, OT, 6-7, 310
No. 14 Trevin Wade, CB, 5-11, 182			No. 59 Terrence Moore, DT, 6-3, 285
No. 14 Matt Scott, QB, 6-3, 190			No. 110 Curenski Gilleylen, WR, 6-0, 215
ARIZONA FRESHMEN			NEBRASKA FRESHMEN
No. 5 Greg Nwoko, FB, 6-2, 220			No. 6 Sean Fisher, OLB, 6-5, 230
No. 11 Adam Hall, FS, 6-1, 230			No. 8 Baker Steinkuhler, DT, 6-6, 295
No. 16 Solomon Koehler, OG, 6-3, 335			No. 9 Will Compton, ILB, 6-2, 225
No. 18 Trevor Erno, ILB, 6-1, 230			No. 12 Cody Green, QB, 6-4, 220
No. 28 Chris Merrill, DT, 6-2, 285			No. 16 Dijon Washington, CB, 6-0, 176

INITIAL OBSERVATIONS

Ndamukong Suh

My colleague Anthony Gimino posed this question in a recent blog at TucsonCitizen: When is the last time the Cats have played a defensive talent like Suh? Washington’s Steve Emtman? Penn State’s Lavar Arrington? Arizona’s players suggest they are not in awe of Suh — UA center Colin Baxter told The Arizona Daily Star this week that “He’s not some kind of Superman.” — but Suh will be a focal point of the offensive line and quarterback Nick Foles. As great as Suh is — he could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft — he indicated this week that he has yet to play his best game. “I haven’t played a perfect game yet so let’s try and see if I can do that against Arizona,” Suh told the Associated Press. On Dec. 5, Suh played close to perfect in Nebraska’s 13-12 loss to No. 2 Texas in the Big 12 title game. Among his 12 tackles were 4 1/2 sacks, increasing his season total to 12. UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, a first-team All-American selection by th American Football Coaches Association and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, had a relatively quiet game against the Cats this season with two tackles, one for lost yardage, and no sacks.

ARIZONAN TOP NEBRASKA DEFENDER

Prince Amukamara

Nebraska junior cornerback Prince Amukamara hails from Glendale but he never visited Arizona during the recruiting process. Amukamara, an All-Big 12 selection, is tied for the team lead with five interceptions. He also leads the Huskers with 11 pass breakups. He also has two sacks. Amukamara consider ASU but not seriously. He also considered UTEP, Colorado, UNLV and Oregon State. Nebraska sophomore offensive tackle Marcel Jones (6-foot-7, 310 pounds) of Phoenix Trevor Browne was orginally interested in playing for Lute Olson but as he started to excel more in football he never considered the Cats. Junior safety Eric Hagg, of Peoria Ironwood, took only one trip to Arizona — for a basketball camp, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Hagg and UA sophomore place-kicker Alex Zendejas were teammates at Ironwood.

CRICK OR TREAT

Jared Crick

Nebraska sophomore defensive tackle Jared Crick, after producing only two tackles in nine games as a freshman in 2008, won the starting job next to Suh in fall camp. Crick responded by setting the school record with five sacks and seven tackles for losses against Baylor en route to a season with 9.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 70 tackles. “(Suh) is a good player, but I tell you what: The guy next to him isn’t far off,” said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini. “He’s a hell of a player too.”

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