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Arizona safety Jared Tevis has quietly had one of the stronger seasons for a defensive player in the Pac-12. Quietly, mostly, because linebacker Scooby Wright III has garnered the bulk of the attention for Arizona’s defense. But the senior took a few minutes to chat with the Pac-12 blog about up the upcoming VIZIO Fiesta Bowl, his thoughts on Boise State and how he’s managed to be a three-time All-Academic performer. (He also thought -- playfully -- that Wright had put on a couple extra pounds from all the chicken dinners.) What’s the pulse of the team coming off the loss in the Pac-12 championship game? Jared Tevis: We’re refocusing and just trying to take advantage of this big opportunity we have and to show what we’re capable of on Dec. 31. We’ve switched gears. But at the same time, we know we have a lot of work to put in so we’re just focused on getting ready. First thoughts on Boise State?  JT: They are a great team. I think they’ve gotten better throughout the season and we have to shut down their run game. They have a great back (Jay Ajayi, who declared Sunday for the NFL draft). It’s going to be a tough battle.
They say bowl games are all about motivation. What’s Arizona’s motivation? JT: I think just to show how far we’ve come as a program, especially for these seniors. We want to go out on the right note and show that a legacy is beginning here at Arizona. If you were to grade the defense this year, what grade would you give? JT: I’d give us a B-plus. I think we’ve kept us in a lot of games and we’ve shown what we’re capable of. But at the same time, we’ve given up some big plays when we should have been more sound, assignment-wise. But we’re trying to show we’re one of the best defenses in the Pac-12 on Dec. 31. You’ve played in a lot of close games this year. What’s worked for you guys when things get really tight? JT: It’s really just about focusing on the next play and not thinking about too long term and not thinking about the score. It’s really just focusing on what you need to do the next play and believing things will work out in the end. You had 119 tackles this year. That would have led the Pac-12 last year but it’s third this year. You happened to have a great year the same year Scooby Wright and Eric Kendricks. Frustrating at all that despite the numbers, you sometimes get overlooked? JT: No, not at all. I’m excited for the success Scoob (sic) and I had this year and the big-time awards he’s gotten. I don’t think that kind of stuff takes away from what I’m doing. You always want to see other people succeed as well, as long as they aren’t on offense playing against us. It’s not about individual awards. It’s about us as a defense coming together and having one last great game. How much ribbing did you guys give Scooby after the awards circuit? JT: We gave him a little bit of a hard time. We started calling him Hollywood. But it was cool to see him get all the awards he deserved. You’re a three-time All-Academic. How have you been able to balance all of that along with football? JT: You said it right there. It’s all about balance. As a student-athlete, it’s tough. Especially at this level. But you have to make everything important to you. Every assignment, every test. You can’t slip up on anything. Just keep grinding away.
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