Phoenix natives Alexander Doost, Matthew Lado fortify right side of Arizona's O-Line

Sometimes living in Arizona means divided houses when the Territorial Cup rolls around. 

Arizona right guard and Phoenix-area native Alexander Doost has two older brothers who graduated from Arizona State.

Friday will be Doost's second game in the rivalry.   

"It's been something, especially having two brothers that went to ASU," Doost said. "They always get on me about it. When this time comes around, it means a lot more." 

Doost is one of 29 Arizona natives currently on the UA roster. The Sun Devils have 19 in-state products. 

"It means something different for me," said Arizona junior safety Genesis Smith, who was a standout at Hamilton High School in Chandler. "Just knowing the history behind it, it's very important."

The 6-7, 330-pound Doost is a part of the all-Arizona right side of Arizona's offensive line after the season-ending leg injury to right tackle Tristan Bounds, who was replaced by redshirt freshman Matthew Lado. 

Bounds, who transferred from Michigan, started eight games at right tackle this season and has allowed three sacks in 372 pass-blocking snaps.

"Playing next to Tristan is awesome because I feel like we're in the same mindset where we just want to go out, hit somebody every play and I feel like we meshed really well together," Doost said of Bounds. "But I've known Lado since I came in. When Lado came in, there wasn't really a problem with the transition. As a whole room, we're very tight-knit. If anyone would've came in to play next to me, I would've had a good time with them."

Doost and Lado were in a similar situation less than two years ago, when former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch and his staff splintered to Washington. Lado was a part of the Glendale Apollo High School trio, along with offensive lineman Michael Watkins and running back Adam Mohammed, who signed with the Wildcats' 2024 recruiting class and were early enrollees. Mohammed and Watkins transferred to UW. 

Doost, a former Mountain Ridge High School standout, signed with the Wildcats during the first transfer portal window following his freshman season at Northwestern. 

Less than two weeks after enrolling at the UA, Fisch and offensive line coach Brennan Carroll, who's now with the Las Vegas Raiders, were at Washington.

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"It was definitely a lot to think about at first," Doost said

When Arizona hired head coach Brent Brennan in January 2024, "I just tried to be honest with those guys because it was tricky and complicated," Brennan said.

"They were recruited by a different staff and had a relationship with the previous staff," said the Arizona coach. "This new group that came in, they didn't know us at all.

That time when Brennan took over bonded Doost and Lado. 

"I think that's what got me and Lado super close," Doost said. "When he decided to stick it out, too, I was super happy to hear that because I really wanted to play with Lado." 

For Doost, "after spending time around Coach (Brennan), (offensive line coach Josh Oglesby) and these guys, there was no doubt that I wanted to be with these guys." 

Doost has been a two-year starter at right guard for the Wildcats and has 1,330 offensive snaps between last season and this season. Doost briefly exited Arizona's win over Baylor last week for an undisclosed injury, but is active this week. The Wildcats were down three starters on the offensive line against Baylor between Doost, Bounds and left guard Chubba Maae. 

With Lado at right tackle, the other replacements were Michael Wooten at right guard and a combination of redshirt senior Ise Matautia and Portland State transfer Isaac Perez at left guard. 

"I thought they went in there and did a good job," Brennan said. "That's one of those things when you're putting a team together, especially on the offensive and defensive front, you're always trying to build depth at that spot because those guys take such a pounding. I thought those guys did a good job when they were in there." 

The 6-6, 308-pound Lado has yet to give up a sack in six appearances this season and could position himself as a starter in 2026 with Bounds graduating. However, he'll face potentially his biggest challenge yet against an ASU defense that is second in the Big 12 in sacks (31). 

Brennan is confident in his second-year right tackle, who's "making great progress as a player." 

"I'm excited about his process," Brennan said. "With this program, we want to do a great job of recruiting Arizona kids to the University of Arizona. When they're here, we want them to have a great experience and also develop. That's part of being here and being a part of the team. Matt is on a good trajectory that way. ... I'm glad he stayed, I know that."