Bear Down Wildcats

de Laura is a 6-0, 205, Junior quarterback from Honolulu, HI. He started every game last year and threw for 3,685 yards with 25 TDs (+ 4 rushing) and 13 interceptions completing 63% of his passes. Both de Laura and Coach Fisch think being together for a second year is going to lead to a big jump in our QB play. An improved O-line and improved QB play should lead to more consistency, fewer errors, and a drop in wild, anything can happen QB scrambles.



My jaw dropped when I listened to "The Season" podcast interview with Coach Fisch when he calmly states that he expects that de Laura can be the best QB in the country this year. That is about the only Arizona news in the podcast, but it is a good listen on Coach Fisch's road to becoming Arizona's coach.

You want to get excited about the season? Watch de Laura's highlights from last year.


de Laura at the start of camp:

WTF??? (Saw this on Facebook!!)

Has to be a joke. She is dating the KC chief guy

It's a joke

etc., etc, etc................

LOL

Yeah, it's all crap. Everybody knows Taylor's got a thing for me.

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:15 pm https://tucson.com/sports/college/footb ... 99e54.html

Paywall blocked for me, but found it elsewhere.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/07/1 ... tars-hold/



It was revealed in court that de Laura makes approximately $8,000 a month and got a free car through the Name, Image, Likeness program and Latu made $17,500 last month alone.

18 grand for a safety?

84Cat wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:19 am Funny story. On RJ and Channing's podcast, RJ told a story of his agent bitching because Arizona called him up to get him to pay $20,000 for JDL to go to a qb camp. The agent was pissed because JDL was already benched and implied that he may be done at Arizona. So he paid $20,000 with zero roi.

Great anecdote, although his agent is still getting paid for JDL sitting on the bench.

JDL has a NIL value of $226K according to ON3, and court documents shows he makes $8K a month.

One of the worst choices that Khalil Tate made was going to the Manning brothers camp. He thought he was Tom Brady coming out of camp instead of Cam Newton.

Just more pressure on coaches from agents and boosters to make sure their clients play.

Merkin wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:51 am

84Cat wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:19 am Funny story. On RJ and Channing's podcast, RJ told a story of his agent bitching because Arizona called him up to get him to pay $20,000 for JDL to go to a qb camp. The agent was pissed because JDL was already benched and implied that he may be done at Arizona. So he paid $20,000 with zero roi.

Great anecdote, although his agent is still getting paid for JDL sitting on the bench.

JDL has a NIL value of $226K according to ON3, and court documents shows he makes $8K a month.

One of the worst choices that Khalil Tate made was going to the Manning brothers camp. He thought he was Tom Brady coming out of camp instead of Cam Newton.

Just more pressure on coaches from agents and boosters to make sure their clients play.

This is RJ's agent(he's a UA grad). Not sure who JDL's agent is

JDL = Wally Pip?

gronk4heisman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:51 am JDL = Wally Pip?

I said Drew Bledsoe but Wally also works.

Could also say Matt Scott.

To no one's surprise.

AZCatGirl wrote: ↑Sat Nov 18, 2023 4:34 pm To no one's surprise.

I mean, it makes sense. Otherwise he’s just sticking around hoping his friend Noah gets hurt.

I'm sure he'll transfer and he'll have a great season next year. Dude is a great athlete.

Chicat wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:36 am Could also say Matt Scott.

Exactly, Matt Scott is a 1 to 1 comparison. It's like Foles all over again!

JDL holding the ball and taking a sack but next drive throwing a TD is a classic way for JDL to end his time at arizona.

Is he graduating? He already had his one free transfer from WSU to UA and can't sit out a year since this is his 4th year. The only options now are to go grad transfer or go FCS which is extremely unlikely.

He has been loyal to us from the beginning when he came here when we couldn't win a game. He has been loyal to Noah and has been a real help to him according to Noah's mom. If he leaves I wish him nothing but the best and I hope he remembers his time here fondly.

Going back to the Palouse?

Apparently Cam Ward is in the portal. I think Scheer is just being snarky.

Surprised that he hasn't entered the portal yet.

Robert A Booey wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:05 am Surprised that he hasn't entered the portal yet.

Maybe he wants to play out the season like a player that actually cares about his team instead of himself? Pretty novel concept that has gone by the wayside in recent years. He can still transfer in Jan.

CopaCat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:19 am

Robert A Booey wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:05 am Surprised that he hasn't entered the portal yet.

Maybe he wants to play out the season like a player that actually cares about his team instead of himself? Pretty novel concept that has gone by the wayside in recent years. He can still transfer in Jan.

It’s a lot harder to transfer in January because of semester schedules and slots that have already been filled. Kids should be looking out for themselves.

He does have to finish his degree if he intends to transfer, since he already transferred once and the NCAA tightened up transfer waivers. Don't know if the UA publishes commencement lists or not.

Finals ended the 14th.

SPRING 2024
Classes begin January 10, 2024

Just wondering if his continuing court case has some bearing on it. The judge threw out the original settlement since JDL submitted that he made $8K a month in NIL money which was much more than it was when they originally settled.

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... off%20game.

Maybe he is still going through NIL negotiations with other schools with that in mind, where he would have to resubmit again.

Or maybe schools may not think a turnover machine is worth $8K+ a month. His QBR was 53.5 this past season. Compare that to Penix at 83.4, Caleb Williams at 82.3, and Bo Nix at 91.0. Fifita is at 85.6. The ntOSU transfer Chiles is at 85.6.

Don't have any insider information, just speculating.

Note when I mean schools, I mean the associated body that controls NIL money. Schools and coaches themselves cannot offer money directly.

Chicat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:39 am

CopaCat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:19 am

Robert A Booey wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:05 am Surprised that he hasn't entered the portal yet.

Maybe he wants to play out the season like a player that actually cares about his team instead of himself? Pretty novel concept that has gone by the wayside in recent years. He can still transfer in Jan.

It’s a lot harder to transfer in January because of semester schedules and slots that have already been filled. Kids should be looking out for themselves.

He's a Mountain West type of QB with an eventual NFL late round flyer or undrafted tryout spot. The teams he would start for would still allow him to enroll, compete, and start no matter when he transfers. JDL would never be in jeopardy of losing a slot nor would many of these kids who are mass transferring right now. If you have talent there will be a spot.

CopaCat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:55 pm

Chicat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:39 am

CopaCat wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:19 am

Robert A Booey wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:05 am Surprised that he hasn't entered the portal yet.

Maybe he wants to play out the season like a player that actually cares about his team instead of himself? Pretty novel concept that has gone by the wayside in recent years. He can still transfer in Jan.

It’s a lot harder to transfer in January because of semester schedules and slots that have already been filled. Kids should be looking out for themselves.

He's a Mountain West type of QB with an eventual NFL late round flyer or undrafted tryout spot. The teams he would start for would still allow him to enroll, compete, and start no matter when he transfers. JDL would never be in jeopardy of losing a slot nor would many of these kids who are mass transferring right now. If you have talent there will be a spot.

This is a nice thought, but there are zero guarantees.

I think first he has to graduate which hopefully he just finished his course work to accomplish that. Then he would have to hope he could get in a grad program at the melee school.

I heard Fisch say he told JDL he would be in an NFL camp as a guy trying to win the backup role. Maybe JDL is embracing that role and might stay and take whatever NIL he can get here?

Do backup QBs get $8K a month in NIL?

Since NIL contracts are private, we don't a lot about them. But with the transfer portal, I imagine contracts are year to year but really don't know.

As freshman at WSU with limited appearances, he had 4 picks in 129 attempts. Next season 9 picks in 359 attempts. Last season 13 in 435 attempts. Like I mentioned above this season, 5 in 128.

Kid is a gunslinger. Maybe he would be better off in an Air Raid offense instead of a pro-style set like the UA is using since he tends to improvise more than Fifita does.

So a decision has been made.

Just like Fisch saying a starter has not been decided yet.

I really doubt JDL wants to end his career on the bench after being a starter at 2 different programs.

84Cat wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:31 am

This illustrates what Fisch has been saying. These kids like each other and we have a tight bunch of guys. I suspect what he isn't saying is that they know that we could have a very special season next year if we keep em together and get a few new contributors.

Good decision for him and the team.

All I can say is while he has been with us JDL has shown nothing but class.

Do we get Ari back in the football forums now?

He's one of the main reasons we were able to return to respectability

Thanks Jayden.

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:23 pm Do we get Ari back in the football forums now?

Go Cats!

I wish him well, wherever he lands -- unless it is ASsU

Liberty wouldn't be a bad spot tbh.

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:23 pm Do we get Ari back in the football forums now?

According to what he said, yes.

Will Fisch finally say a decision has been made? He knew it when he put JDL in for the senior game v. Utah.

Fisch is great, but his constant lying about such matters and stating he didn't know who is starting bugs me.

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:14 pm All I can say is while he has been with us JDL has shown nothing but class.

Agreed. He took benching extremely well and supported Fifita and the team whole time.

Unlike Anu Solomon who wouldn't even sit with the team, and sat by himself against a wall.