Anu goes 1st; Bondurant goes home - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

University of Arizona football head coach Rich Rodriguez and the Wildcats began the 2014 season on Saturday with the first official practice of fall camp in Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats worked out in helmets and shorts on Saturday, practicing in a slight drizzle.

“I thought it was okay,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t expect it to be smooth all the way through and it wasn’t. The effort was good and the intensity was good. We aren’t playing a game for a while so I’m not worried. I would be worried if they weren’t excited to practice but I thought they were really ready and excited to practice so it’s all good.”

The Wildcats had six quarterbacks get reps on Saturday evening, Texas-transfer sophomore Connor Brewer, JUCO-transfer junior Jerrard Randall, senior Jesse Scroggins (USC/El Camino College), redshirt freshman Anu Solomon and freshmen Brandon Dawkins and Zach Werlinger.

“I just want them to execute the offense,” Rodriguez said. “That sounds simplistic and it really is. I want guys that make plays when they are supposed to, execute when they are supposed to and not be stupid. I think the quarterbacks are a little further along this year than we were last year. But I know this, B.J. Denker worked his tail off to get better through August camp and I think these guys will do the same thing. I think the talent is there at quarterback, now it’s just a matter of them being more consistent.”

The bad news on Day 1 was the absence of starting safety Tra'Mayne Bondurant.

Rodriguez told media members after practice that Bondurant left the team Saturday morning due to a disciplinary situation.

The head coach indicated that he had not spoken to the senior since his decision to leave and did not close the door on the possibility the popular player could return. Bondurant is a key piece to Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 defense scheme, playing the Spur position for the last two seasons. He has seven career interceptions.

The Wildcats  return to the practice field on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

Copyright 2014 Arizona Athletics. All rights reserved.

David Kelly contributed to this story.