Colin Baxter

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Colin Baxter has studied two weeks for his first big test of the season.

The Arizona Wildcats' new starting center can identify defensive fronts and call out assignments. He can snap the ball to quarterback Willie Tuitama without any issues. And he can block.

Now, it's just a matter of doing it all in games.

"The main adjustment is going to be doing it on every play," Baxter said. "I've seen all the stuff in practice. Now I just have to go do it."

The sophomore will get his chance Saturday when Washington (0-4) comes to Tucson for a key Pac-10 game.

Baxter's switch came when starter Blake Kerley went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth quarter of Arizona's Week 4 win over UCLA.

Baxter finished the game and has played center with the first-team offense in practices for the past two weeks.

Baxter, 21, will move from left guard to center as part of a newly reconfigured offensive line.

Junior Mike Diaz will take Baxter's old position.

Baxter says he's ready to be tested. Here are three other things you need to know about the Wildcats' starting center:

1. He's a natural. Baxter has played guard since his days at Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, in southern California, but may be best suited to play center.

Arizona's coaches like Baxter's size — at 6 feet 4 inches and 295 pounds, he's taller and heavier than Kerley — and love his leadership skills.

Arizona's offense requires the center to recognize a defensive front and call out blocking assignments to his fellow linemen. Baxter took one-third of all snaps at center in training camp, just in case anything happened to Kerley. Because of it, Baxter said, he's not overwhelmed by the move.

"I think we've been playing him out of necessity at guard, but I think center's probably his best position," offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said. "He plays hard, he's real consistent, and he's a tough guy."

2. He's a hot head. Tuitama calls Baxter "feisty," and that's probably an understatement. The Wildcats' new center has a nasty temper on the field, one that manifests itself in drive-blocking and good-looking finishes.

"He's not the biggest guy, he's not the tallest, but he plays 100 percent on every play," Tuitama said. "And that's good to see, especially from a lineman. Those are big boys. They get tired."

Baxter said the nastiness "kinda comes with the position."

"I don't think I'm that mean off the field, but on the field, I definitely do have a temper to me," he said. "I have to keep that in check."

3. He has Kerley's blessing. The Wildcats' injured starter believes his backup won't miss a beat.

"He was my backup, then he pushed me and pushed me — and then he moved to left guard," Kerley said. "I have full confidence in Colin. We talk all the time in football stuff."

Baxter has proved himself capable in practices, but will he be able to handle the pressure of games?

"I have no doubt in my mind," Kerley said.