Arizona's Jayden de Laura reportedly returns to practice after one-day absence
Jayden de Laura is back at practice for Arizona.
As you were.
The Washington State transfer and likely starter at quarterback was absent from Wednesday’s practice, according to multiple reports from observers in attendance. No reasoning was given for the absence, which was de Laura’s first missed day in fall camp. Naturally, the uncertainty led to a little bit of uneasiness — de Laura is a big source of optimism for Arizona in the new year — but just as quickly as that uneasiness was born, it has dissipated.
QB Jayden de Laura is back at practice for Arizona after missing Wednesday.
— Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) August 18, 2022
A second-year freshman for the Cougars last season, de Laura threw for 2,789 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the team to seven wins and a bowl appearance. He earned the Pac-12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year award and an honorable mention to the all-conference team.
The transition from Pullman to Tucson hasn’t been a smooth one, but prior to his absence, de Laura had been rounding into form.
At Washington State, de Laura was organizing a run-and-shoot attack that worked almost exclusively out of the gun. Terminology was different. The tight end position didn’t exist. At Arizona, the style is more pro, the terminology new, and the tight end very present. Getting adjusted has been a process.
“There were some things he just needed to see,” head coach Jedd Fisch said after the team’s first scrimmage. “He just needed a rhythm. He’s got a nice little confidence about himself that when he feels he knows something, he’s going to execute it really well. Sometimes when you have a new play coming in or a couple new things, he was maybe overthinking here or there. Jayden’s getting better every day. I just tell him to trust the process, and if you do that good things will come your way.”