Arizona Wildcats Offensive Stars to Watch in K Road vs. UCF

The Arizona Wildcats may have all the preparation they need for the UCF Knights, but the game will definitely take a new twist when they face each other on Saturday.

Nothing really changes for the Wildcats (3-5, 1-4 in the Big 12), although they could certainly use a break from their four-game losing streak when they tip off at 12:30 p.m. on the Mountain on FS1.

Arizona will fly to Florida and play the Knights for the first time in program history and will do so with a full roster of offensive stars.

Knights cannot say the same. UCF (3-5, 1-4) is in a five-game tailspin, and coach Gus Malzahn has not yet determined who his starting quarterback will be for Saturday’s game.

If that wasn’t enough, Malzahn made a coaching change earlier in the week. He fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and handed offensive duties (his focus since arriving at UCF) to offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr.

So, with both teams having the same record and two games under .500, there’s quite a bit of drama brewing.

Here are three forwards to watch on every team.

WR Tetairoa McMillan

As much as Arizona would love to have multiple passing options, there’s no denying McMillan’s incredible season. He has 57 receptions for 982 yards and five touchdowns. By comparison, he has more than twice the number of receptions and four times the reception distance of any other teammate. It’s a stunning move for a player who would go top 10 in most NFL mock drafts next April, assuming McMillan decides to forgo his remaining eligibility.

QB Noah Fifita

Fun fact: Fifita is the reason McMillan no longer plays quarterback. The pair were teammates in eighth grade, and before that McMillan was a QB. Fifita forced a change of position. It’s been a tough year for the third-year senior, as he only has 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. But the finish line gives him a chance to flip the script and try to coax the Wildcats into bowl eligibility.

RB Quali Conley

Like McMillan, he is faster than everyone else on the team. He has twice as many carries and twice as many yards as teammate Kedrick Riskano, who is a good change-of-pace player. Conley has seven rushing touchdowns. It’s November and the Wildcats want to go bowling. It’s time for them to pay attention to what they do well and who does it well for them.

RB R.J. Harvey

Before we get to the quarterback situation, it must be acknowledged that last year’s All-Big 12 running back is still a huge problem regardless of who is under center. Harvey has the ability to take control of the game on his own and has done so a couple of times this season. He comes into this game with 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s a strong runner and game-breaker, and that can be an overwhelming combination for a defense.

QBs Jacurri Brown and Dylan Rizk

Malzahn will likely choose between Brown and Rizk on Saturday. Brown replaced veteran C.J. Jefferson, who struggled. Brown is a gifted runner, but has struggled with his passing in the last two contests. So against BYU, Malzahn stepped up to Rizk late in the game and led the Knights to two straight touchdowns. That question may not be answered until game time, and it’s entirely possible that given his skill set, Malzahn could use both of them.

WR Kobe Hudson

The Knights have really been looking to make a run the last few weeks, but they want to get Hudson involved because he is a game-breaker. He leads the team with just 27 receptions, but has 509 yards and three touchdowns. He averages nearly 19 yards per catch, which is exactly the kind of ability you want to take advantage of. Being able to use Hudson correctly could help Malzahn make his decision on who to start at quarterback.