Arizona Wildcats

Projected Depth Chart

Head Coach: Brent Brennan
Offensive Coordinator: Seth Doege
Defensive Coordinator: Danny Gonzales
2025 Record: 9-4
2025 Big 12 Finish: 6-3 (T-4)
2026 Record Projection
 Ceiling: 10 Wins
 Floor: 5 Wins
Top NFL Prospects: Noah Fifita, Taye Brown
Biggest Impact Transfers: Tyrese Boss, Cam Chapa
Most Likely Impact Freshmen: Prince Williams, Malachi Joyner
Biggest Strength: Linebacker experience and Running Back room
Biggest Concern: Secondary chemistry and offensive line consistency
Most Important Game: Arizona State
Trap Game: TCU

QB: Arizona still goes as Noah Fifita goes. He played almost every meaningful snap last season and remains one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the Big 12. He threw for over 3,000 yards last season and 29 TD’s last season. When he gets comfortable early the offense can move fast and put pressure on defenses. The biggest question is whether the protection around him improves enough to let him play freely more often. Mason Bray looks like the clear backup but don’t be surprised if freshman Oscar Rios finds his way onto the field at some point because the talent is obvious.

RB: The running back room might be the deepest offensive unit on the roster. Kedrick Reescano brings the most explosiveness after scoring 9 rushing touchdowns last season and still looks like the back with the highest ceiling in the group. Antwan Roberts adds another proven option after averaging 5.7 yards per carry on over 90 attempts at Marshall. Quincy Craig gives Arizona a reliable rotational piece and quietly averaged 5.6 yards per carry himself while also helping in the passing game. Wesley Yarbrough is still developing but the Wildcats have enough bodies here to survive injuries and keep fresh legs on the field. This looks like a true committee and one of the better running back rooms in the Big 12.

NAME — CLASS — HT/WT — LAST YEAR
QB
1. Noah Fifita — SR — 5-10/190 — Arizona
 2. Mason Bray — SO — 6-1/185 — Arizona
RB
1. Antwan Roberts — SR — 6-0/200 — Tulane
 2. Kedrick Reescano — SR — 6-0/215 — Ariz
WR
1. Tre Spivey — JR — 6-4/210 — Arizona
1. Rodney Gallagher — SR — 5-10/175 — WVU
1. Chris Hunter — SR — 6-1/195 — Arizona
 2. Jordan Ross — JR — 5-10/170 — CSU 
 2. Gio Richardson — SO — 5-10/170 — Ariz
 2. Isaiah Mizell — SO — 6-1/165 — Arizona
TE
1. Cole Rusk — SR — 6-5/250 — Illinois
 2. Shane King — FR — 6-3/235 — So Miss
T
1. Tristan Bounds — GR — 6-8/305 — Arizona
1. Matthew Lado — SO — 6-6/315 — Arizona
 2. Jake Griffin — JR — 6-5/305 — BYU
 2. Nate Hale — JR — 6-5/295 — San Jose 
G
1. Alexander Doost — JR — 6-7/340 — Arizona
1. Rhino Tapa'atoutai — JR — 6-5/315 — Ariz
 2. Isaac Perez — SR — 6-3/335 — Arizona
 2. Malachi Joyner — FR — 6-4/275 — HS
C
1. Zachary Henning — JR — 6-5/310 — Wash
 2. Grayson Stovall — SR — 6-3/320 — Ariz

WR/TE: There may not be a true star in this receiver room yet but there is a lot of consistency and potential production across the group. Tre Spivey brings size and big-play ability after averaging over 16 yards per catch last season while Chris Hunter and Rodney Gallagher III both played major snap counts and should continue to have important roles in the offense. Jordan Ross gives Arizona another experienced option from the portal and Gio Richardson is a player who could take a noticeable step forward this season. Arizona is also excited about the addition of tight end Cole Rusk from Illinois after he caught 19 passes last year at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. Overall this group has enough depth and versatility to give Noah Fifita plenty of options even if there is not yet an obvious go-to target.

OL: The offensive line still has some questions entering the season because the overall depth is thin and Arizona will need several players to develop quickly. Tristan Bounds and Alexander Doost give the Wildcats some experienced pieces to build around while transfer center Zachary Henning is a player the staff is very excited about after arriving from Washington. The younger talent may end up deciding how good this unit becomes by November. Malachi Joyner has a chance to earn an important role early and Justin Morales is another young lineman Arizona believes has real upside. If this group holds together the offense has enough skill talent to be dangerous but there is not much margin for error up front.

DL: The defensive line is built very differently inside versus outside. Arizona does not return a lot of proven production from the edge spots so players like Dominic Lolesio and transfer Victory Johnson will need to take important steps forward quickly. The middle of the line looks much more stable. Leroy Palu played a major role last season and Julian Savaiinaea gives the Wildcats another experienced interior body in the rotation. Arizona also has massive depth pieces like Zac Siulepa and Mays Pese who should help the run defense hold up in Big 12 play. The biggest question is whether the Wildcats can generate enough consistent pressure off the edge without having to blitz constantly.

LB: Linebacker looks like one of the strengths of the defense. Taye Brown returns after another productive season in the middle of the unit and Arizona added more experience through the portal with Everett Roussaw Jr. and Cooper Blomstrom. Because the Wildcats will spend so much time in a 4-2-5 defense there will usually only be two linebackers on the field at once which should help keep the group fresh throughout the season. Overall this unit has experience physicality and enough depth to hold up well against the run in Big 12 play.

DB: The secondary has talent but there are still a lot of questions entering the season. Arizona added several new pieces through the portal including Tyrese Boss, Cam Chapa, and Daylen Austin so chemistry will be important early in the year. Jay’Vion Cole brings real playmaking production after recording 4 interceptions last season and Gavin Hunter should have an important role at nickel in the 4-2-5 defense. There are enough athletes here for the unit to improve as the season goes along but this still looks like a group that could have some rough stretches early while everyone settles into new roles.

ST: Special teams still has some uncertainty entering the season. Arizona brought in Ryan Harris from Washington State to push Salgado-Medina at kicker and the competition could continue well into camp. Punter is unsettled too. Gallagher and Quincy Craig should handle most of the return duties which gives the Wildcats some reliable athleticism in the return game.

DE
1. Dominic Lolesio — JR — 6-4/250 — Arizona
1. Victory Johnson — JR — 6-3/245 — Cal Pol
 2. Tre Smith — GR — 6-5/260 — Arizona
 2. Prince Williams — FR — 6-3/260 — HS
DT
1. Leroy Palu — SR — 6-3/290 — Arizona
1. Julian Savaiinaea — JR — 6-3/280 —Ariz
 2. Mays Pease — SO — 6-3/280 — Arizona
 2. Zac Siulepa — JR — 6-6/380 — Arizona
LB
1. Chase Kennedy — SR — 6-3/230 — Arizona
1. Taye Brown — SR — 6-2/225 — Arizona
 2. Everett Roussaw —SR —6-2/235 — Mem
 2. Cooper Blomstrom — SR —6-2/245— Gtown
CB
1. Tyrese Boss — SO — 5-11/180 — Wyoming
1. Jay'Vion Cole — SR — 5-10/180 — Ariz
 2. Zuri Watson — SO — 5-10/185 — Howard
 2. Dwight Bootle II —JR —5-9/170 — Char
NB
1. Gavin Hunter — JR — 6-2/205 — Arizona
 2. Daylen Austin — JR — 6-0/190 — Oregon

S
1. Cam Chapa — JR — 5-11/190 — N Col
1. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. — SR —5-8/180— Neb
 2. Lee Molette III — SR — 6-1/190 — Conn
 2. Dajon Hinton — FR — 5-10/170 — Ariz
K
1. M. Salgado-Medina — JR —6-3/210 — Ariz
P
1. Carter Schwartz — JR — 6-3/230 — Louis

Coach: Brent Brennan enters another important season as Arizona continues trying to establish a clear identity in the Big 12. The Wildcats showed flashes offensively last year but consistency was still a problem especially against the more physical teams on the schedule. Seth Doege has enough skill talent to keep the offense dangerous if the offensive line improves and Noah Fifita stays healthy. Defensively Danny Gonzales appears to be leaning into a faster more aggressive 4-2-5 approach which fits the personnel better than trying to play heavier up front every week. Overall the coaching staff has upgraded the roster with portal additions but now the challenge becomes turning that talent into a more complete football team week after week.

Outlook: Arizona has enough talent to be a dangerous team in the Big 12 this season. Fifita gives the Wildcats an experienced quarterback and the skill talent around him should allow the offense to put pressure on most defenses in the conference. The linebacker unit looks strong and Arizona added several portal pieces that should help raise the overall athleticism of the roster. The biggest question is whether the Wildcats can become more consistent week to week especially along the offensive line and in the secondary where several new players will need to settle into major roles quickly. This does not look like a bottom-tier Big 12 roster at all. Arizona has enough talent to compete for a bowl game and potentially more if the defense improves faster than expected.