(WR Tetairoa McMillan – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Noah Fifita, WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, WR Tetairoa McMillan, OC Josh Baker, OG Leif Magnuson, OG Wendell Moe Jr., OT Jonah Savaiinaea, DT Ta’ita’I Uiagalelei, LB Justin Flowe, LB Jacob Manu, CB Tacario Davis, NB Treydan Stukes, FS Gunner Maldonado, SS Dalton Johnson, and PK Tyler Loop.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jayden DeLaura, RB Jonah Coleman, RB Michael Wiley, RB DJ Williams, WR/PR Jacob Cowing (49ers R4), TE Tanner McLachlan (Bengals R6), OT Jordan Morgan (Packers R1), DE Russell Davis II, DE Taylor Upshaw, DE Isaiah Ward, DT Tiaoalii Savea, NT Bill Norton (Texas transfer), CB Ephesians Prysock, FS Isaiah Taylor, NB Martell Irby, KR Michael Wiley, and PT Kyle Ostendorp.
(QB Demond Williams Jr. – USA Today Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: RB Kedrick Reescano (Ole Miss transfer), RB Jordan Washington (Long Beach, California), and QB Demond Williams Jr. (Chandler, Arizona).
3 Star Recruits: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico transfer), EDGE Tre Smith (San Jose State transfer), CB Jordan Shaw (Indiana transfer), DL Kevon Darton (Syracuse transfer), RB Quali Conley (San Jose State transfer), ATH Stacy Bay (Rancho Cucamonga, California), and LB Jabari Mann (San Mateo, California).
2023 Results:
G01 NORTHERN ARIZONA W 38-3
G02 @ Mississippi State L (OT) 24-31
G03 UTEP W 31-10
G04 @ Stanford W 21-20
G05 #7 WASHINGTON L 24-31
G06 @ #9 USC L (3OT) 41-43
G07 @ #19 Washington State W 44-6
G08 #11 OREGON STATE W 27-24
G09 #19 UCLA W 27-10
G10 @ Colorado W 34-31
G11 #22 UTAH W 42-16
G12 @ Arizona State W 59-23
BOWL vs. #12 Oklahoma W 38-24
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 10-3 (3rd in PAC-12)
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 1-0
P12: 7-2
Non-P12: 3-1
Head Coach: Brent Brennan
Arizona: 0-0
Career: 34-48
Bowls: 0-3
(LB Jacob Manu – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Noah Fifita (241-333, 2869 yards, 72.4%, 8.6 avg., 25 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Rayshon Luke (37 car., 153 yards, 4.1 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Tetairoa McMillan (90 rec., 1402 yards, 15.6 avg., 10 TD)
TD’s Scored: Tetairoa McMillan (10)
Sacks: Jacob Manu (6.5)
Tackles: Jacob Manu (116)
Interceptions: Gunner Maldanado (2)
Pass Deflections: Tecario Davis (15)
Tackles For Loss: Jacob Manu (9.5)
Forced Fumbles: Dalton Johnson (4)
Kick Returns: Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine (3 ret., 56 yards, 18.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tetairoa McMillan (2 ret., 11 yards, 5.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Tyler Loop (18-21 fg/fga., 86%, 38-38xp/xpa., 92 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Noah Fifita (RS SO)
RB: 1 Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RS SR/TR)
WR: 4 Tetairoa McMillan (JR)
WR: 0 Reymello Murphy (JR/TR)
WR: 5 Montana Lemonious-Craig (SR/TR)
TE: 84 Sam Olson (RS JR/TR)
LT: 79 Raymond Puildo (SO)
LG: 72 Wendell Moe Jr. (RS SO)
OC: 75 Josh Baker (SR)
RG: 65 Leif Magnuson (RS JR)
RT: 71 Jonah Savaiinaea (JR)
KR: 24 Jai-Ayviauynn Celstine (RS SO)
PK: 33 Tyler Loop (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 47 Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (RS SR/TR)
NT: 92 Chubba Ma’ae (SR/TR)
DT: 45 Kevon Darton (RS SR/TR)
DE: 3 Tre Smith (RS JR/TR)
LB: 5 Jacob Manu (JR)
LB: 0 Justin Flowe (RS JR/TR)
NB: 2 Treydan Stukes (SR)
CB: 21 Johno Price (SO/TR)
CB: 23 Tacario Davis (JR)
FS: 9 Gunner Maldanado (SR/TR)
SS: 43 Dalton Johnson (RS JR)
PR: 4 Tetairoa McMillan (JR)
PT: 49 Jordan Forbes (RS SO)
(CB Tacario Davis – University of Arizona Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | Arizona leads the series 44-20-3. The Wildcats won (45-37) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/07 NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS | Arizona leads the series 16-2. The Wildcats are 4-1 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (19-21) was in 2021.
09/13 @ Kansas State Wildcats | Arizona leads the series 5-1-1. The Wildcats won (31-0) the last meeting between schools in 1978.
09/28 @ Utah Utes | Arizona trails the series 20-26-2. The Wildcats are 3-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (20-45) was in 2022.
10/05 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS | Arizona trails the series 5-26-2. The Wildcats won (28-14) the last meeting between schools since 2019.
10/12 @ BYU Cougars | The series is tied 12-12-1. The Wildcats lost (16-24) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/19 COLROADO BUFFALOES | Arizona trails the series 10-16. The Wildcats are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (0-34) was in 2021.
10/26 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | First meeting between schools.
11/02 @ UCF Knights | First meeting between schools.
11/15 HOUSTON COUGARS | Arizona trails the series 1-3. The Wildcats lost (18-45) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/23 @ TCU Horned Frogs | The series is tied 1-1. The Wildcats won (10-13) the last meeting between schools in 2003.
11/30 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS | Arizona leads the series 51-45-1. The Wildcats are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (15-38) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 7-0
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 7-2
Non-B12: 2-1
Overall: 9-3 (3rd in Big XII)
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