It seems to be pretty dead right now in our athletic dept.
FB is coming soon!
I think it is time to take a look at our position groups coming into Fall Camp. I know the team could still add another player if the right guy comes along, but for the most part the roster looks to be set.
QB:
RS Jr Noah Fifita Had a down year last year by his standards for sure. Noah never blamed anyone other than himself for the disappointing performance, which shows so much about his character and leadership. This year Noah looks to be more of a vocal leader for the offense and the team. I believe that Noah is the reason we have so many guys that have stuck around through the coaching whirlwind. I want to make it clear that we had nothing working as a system last year and really no game plan at all on the offensive side of the ball. To make matters worse, the system was another handicap for Noah. When Scumlin came in as HC he took away Tate's legs and destroyed everything that was good about Tate as our QB. We all remember that disaster where our hopes were dashed so badly. Last year was a real close second as far as that goes. We took a confident and talented 5'8" QB and tried to make him a pocket passer. He could not see over the line very well at all. The blocking scheme wasn't any better than the system itself, and consider that the OL had 7 different starting units during the 12 game season. Injuries really hurt the protection up front. The OL opened few holes for the running game and could not protect Noah at all. Defenses could pin their ears back and go after Noah on a regular basis. What has changed? First and foremost the system has changed to one that will use Noah's talent and abilities to bring our offense back to life. The receiver room is likely more balanced with the loss of McMillan to the NFL draft. We will have more balanced speed as well and likely a more balanced game plan. Noah will be able to use those tools around him in a system that will highlight his abilities and strengths.
RS Jr Braedyn Locke transferred in from Wisconsin where had quite a bit of game time experience. He is more than capable as the primary back up to Noah. We hope to see him in mop up play only this year. I think he will likely transfer after this year for more PT.
Fr Sawyer Anderson has the tools and abilities to be a real leader for our Wildcats in the future. Guy does nothing but win! Four time State Champions in Texas behind Sawyer's arm and leadership.
Fr Luke Haugo is from Arizona and has some talents, but I would expect that he will be a likely transfer out in the future for better playing options.
RS Fr Mason Bray is a walk-on and will likely continue to be as long as he is at Arizona.
Things can always change in an instant with injuries and such, so some of this could change quickly during the season, but if all goes well I would expect this to be pretty close.
Arizona football: A look at Wildcats' quarterbacks entering 2025 preseason training camp - Arizona Desert Swarm https://share.google/rnXhQ4ueZp1uyMrsm
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/20/24468527/arizona-wildcats-football-training-camp-preview-position-quarterbacks-noah-fifita-anderson-locke
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/21/24469607/arizona-wildcats-football-training-camp-preview-position-running-backs-ismail-mahdi-reescano-craig
RB:
I see a step forward at the RB position this year with the subtractions and additions of the players in this room. I really like Reescano to start with and I also really like the addition of Mahdi. They both have different talent sets, but can both be on the field without giving away our play set. You can also add Craig into that description. The offense can not run a hurry-up series or system changing players out for every situation and telegraphing everyone what we are doing!
I will list this as co-starters with Kedrick Reescano and Ismail Mahdi splitting tie almost equally in the backfield. I think we see Quincy Craig on the field a little less, but still a factor. I do not see that we need to change a player to change a play set. Remember that while Craig comes from Portland State, he was a major player at Mater Dei in HS. Injuries have set him back, but he has the ability to carry the load when healthy.
The other backs:
Anthony Wilhite is a walk-on player that works hard with the practice team. That effort should not go unnoticed.
Cornelious Warren is a speed guy that really needs to add some size before being a major factor in the backfield, but could see some time keeping his RS alive for the season.
Wesley Yarbrough is going to be a solid back for us in the future. Is he good enough to break onto the field at some point this season? I hope things do not turn that direction where we would need to play him, but I do believe he has a very good talent set.
You'd think that Locke would stay for one more season because Rios will be a true freshman, and likely needs one season to learn the system.
If Reescano can stay healthy, he'll be a badass (assuming we have an O-Line that can provide running lanes).
Quote from: KansasCityCats on July 21, 2025, 09:19:12 AMYou'd think that Locke would stay for one more season because Rios will be a true freshman, and likely needs one season to learn the system.
If Reescano can stay healthy, he'll be a badass (assuming we have an O-Line that can provide running lanes).
The issue is that Noah will likely be here two more years. That is the two years that Locke has to play. By then Anderson will be a RS Soph and Rios will be a RS Fr. Both of which will be better.
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/22/24470227/arizona-wildcats-football-training-camp-preview-position-receivers-hunter-hutson-spivey-whatley-2025
WR
The biggest loss was obvious, and the the biggest pick up does not equate to TMac but Kris Hutson is not short on talent. Kris will likely be out top target without the despair we had last year where TMac was the main guy. Look for Kris to lead the receiver corps in a positive way.
Tre Spivey is set to make his mark as a Wildcat as well. He should be a solid target for Noah.
Chris Hunter came on big late last season. Look for him to continue to progress. He and Noah have formed a nice connection. He has big play ability.
Luke Wysong did not come here to ride the pine. He is sneaky good and will see the field often.
Devin Hyatt is finally fully healthy and could be one of the best receivers on the roster. Will he take over the field this year, or will he wait until the field clears next season? I think sooner rather than later for making the impact.
Brandon Phillips is another big time talent that follows the same thought process as Devin Hyatt. This is a deep receiving corops.
Javin Whatley has speed! We should see it on ST play for sure, but can he break the rotation enough in the receiving game to highlight his abilities?
Jeremiah Patterson should improve with the system change. He looked the part in Fall Camp last year, but it never translated to the game play. Can he break through this year? He has talent that needs to translate.
Isaiah Mizell is lightning and will be hard to keep off the field. However he still needs to add a little size/strength to avoid injury and be a solid contributed to the offensive production.
The rest of the corps are young and will likely need a little time before they can impact the game play. Most will be practice squad players.
Geo Richardson is likely the best of this group, but Rex Haynes also has some ability. Jordon McCord, Scottie Brennas, and Landon Kelsey round out the WR room.
The one obvious difference is the depth of this room.
This may turn out to be a position of real strength for us that has not been highly talked about by many.
TE:
Let me say his name for you, Keyan Burnett. Yep, he is back and he really began to look the part at times last year and I expect him to really bloom this year. His all around game has improved so much since he arrived here and I believe he will be a major force and maybe even compete for a spot on the All B12 Team.
Back ups?
Tyler Powell has been looking much improved from the practice side, but still will have to show it on the field in game time situations. He has the size and tools to be a big contributor offensively.
Sam Olson is a solid blocker and has decent hands, but may be limited on the other things that matter so much for the position. I see some PT, especially in situations where we will need more blocking and or protection.
Cameron Barmore is an interesting pickup, but is totally unproven at anything near the D1 level.
John Hart is still here and I imagine he is doing well on the practice squad.
Kayden Luke and Chase Randall are currently listed as TEs, but I am not sure where that is going.
Future or something more now? Kellan Ford looks to be one of the better incoming players and I have been impressed by what I have seen from him. Now, like any incoming player, does it translate to this level of play? He could be a nice surprise for us!
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/24/24472615/arizona-wildcats-football-offensive-line-position-preview-josh-oglesby-tapatoutai-doost-maae-2025
The OL is critical to any and all offensive production. We know we have a rebuilt OL coming into Fall Camp. What we don't know is how good that line will be. Last year our OL was hampered with injuries all year long. So coming this year we will look at the depth and health of the OL.
I believe De Cambra will hold down the C spot.
Doost is a lock at one G spot. The other G spot is open for now. I think Ma'ae is leading for it.
Buchanan will start at OT, but which is dependent upon Ta'apatoutai. If Rhino is all good to start the opener then Buchanan will be the RT. If not, look for him to cover the LT position and protect Noah's blind side.
Bounds will likely start opposite of Buchanan if Rhino is out the to start the season. Overall the OL looks ok, but the game time delivery is what matters.
Over it looks like good depth , Brown could be a big plus when he gets healthy. There is depth as well.
www.azdesertswarm.com/2025/7/25/24473319/arizona-wildcats-football-preseason-training-camp-defensive-line-savea-tre-lolesio-mcknight-salavea
Let's talk DL
Savea is a solid piece in the middle. Everyone is really impressed with McKnight.
Anderson was impressive early on until the injury ended his season. Paul looks like a decent fit as well. Savaiinaea was strong as an ox when he came in. He has added some to that. Not huge front for sure, but keeping these guys fresh and avoiding injury, will likely get us a little better front than we had last year.
Two more in the mix are Bailey and Owens. We won't know until the games start how well these two will make.
Notice I left off the two starters on the outside.
Lolesip and Smith make a pretty good pair on the outside. Factor in a couple of the LBs that will drop down and become rush ends on the outside at times and it is not all gloom and doom. Kennedy comes to mind.
This appears to be the weak spot on D.
LBs
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/26/24474559/arizona-wildcats-football-linebackers-position-preview-preseason-camp-brown-kennedy-wilson-harris
zonazealots.com/riley-wilson-pff-2nd-highest-graded-big-xii-returning-linebacker
To me this could be a position of real strength. Our system was so that the DL would eat blocks and the LBs would make plays. Manu really thrived and the D improved drastically two years ago. Last year there was a critical change when the DL began to play independently rather than collectively as a unit. They no longer ate the blocks allowing the clean blocks on our LBs. Add that Manu had added a little weight and lost a step in quickness, and the D looked weak overall.
Manu is gone and hopefully the scheme is as well. Either way, we have a better group collectively of LBs this year much like our WR room.
Kennedy will be on the outside, often down as a rush end. He has improved a lot since arriving here.
Brown looks every bit the part of a P4 starting LB. He is hungry and finds a way to make plays.
Harris and Wilson both bring something new to the D.
We have some young talent sitting the wings as well. Mann, Bey, and Robinson come to mind immediately. Carter Jones wasn't rated very high, but had a solid list of offers. We will have to see how that plays out.
Su'a has been as much of a let down as Justin Flowe as far as seeing the field and being an impact player. Goes to show the ratings are not always what they are made out to be.
Gotcher hasn't done much and you have your walk-in guys like Hanger and Craddock.
Look for a solid rotation at LB to keep the players fresh on the field.
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/27/24475039/arizona-wildcats-football-training-camp-preview-defensive-backs-stukes-genesis-dalton-2025-big12
DBs are certainly the strength of the D!
Without question we have some really solid DBs returning. Genesis Smith will play the hybrid position and he is best suited of the DBs to handle the run support.
Treydan Stukes returns from injury and brings great experience and talent back to our backfield. His leadership will be very valuable.
Dalton Johnson is another very experienced and talented DB that will shine for us again this season.
Those three alone are likely the most experienced of the Safety group in the B12.
Marquis Groves-Killebrew saw his game improve a lot as the season wore on last year. He lost a lot through several years of medical issues stemming from an injury his senor year of HS. The medical staff found and corrected an issue that had lingered that prior medical staffs had missed. He looks to return at full speed and should shine this year.
Cole, Dansby, and Garnes are all pretty good CBs and should all see PT this year giving us good depth at the Corner position. It appears that Cole may be the starter, but I do not think that will keep the others off the field.
Jack Luttrell is starter material at S and should rotate in a lot to keep our DBs fresh. I love the addition of this young man from Tennessee.
Jshawn Frausto-Ramos is another experienced S that transferred in that should bolster our S position group and depth as he had PT at Stanford.
Gavin Hunter is another that provides depth that just hasn't seen the field at Arizona enough yet.
Johno Price is still with the team as well, but I have no real updates on his game readiness.
Then there are the freshmen DBs coming in: Hinton, Patton, Edwards, Griffin, and Brown will most likely find a way to RS this year and be ready to compete next year. Some of them look to be really solid recruits and should find a way into the rotation next year.
There are also some walk-on guys that are used in our practice team situations. Dunn, Taliauli, and Olson.
Overall we have a talented group of starters that work very well together and a good amount of depth behind them especially if we can avoid the injuries this year.
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2025/7/28/24475541/arizona-wildcats-football-training-camp-preview-special-teams-craig-naivar-michael-salgado-medina
Special Teams:
Looks good initially, time will tell on how good we actually are. Potential is there with LS, K, P, and multiple return guys. Having a real solid ST coach should play dividends as well.
Still five commits that are not on campus or the roster. Some we really need for depth in critical positions.
Two OL guys: Peter Langi and Losipini Tupou
Three DL guys: Kaleb Jones, Zac Siulepa, and Ezra Funa.
That is a lot of beef missing and the depth is small if we do not get these guys on board.
247sports.com/college/arizona/article/injury-treydan-stukes-perspective-upcoming-season-252434891/
https://247sports.com/college/arizona/article/riley-wilson-confident-transition-fbs-football-252435287/
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/67216/arizona-wildcats-football-preseason-training-camp-offensive-line-oglesby-tapatoutai-doost-decambra-bounds-buchanan-wooten