Every potential NFL Draft pick who isn't competing in the College Football Playoff, but their respective school is competing in a bowl game, is faced with the same decision: to play or not to play?
Is playing in a bowl game worth the risk of potentially impacting draft stock due to an injury that could prevent a player from participating in pre-draft activities, such as Pro Day, the NFL Scouting Combine or private workouts?
As the 17th-ranked Arizona Wildcats prepare to take on the SMU Mustangs at the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl, UA head coach Brent Brennan said "there could be" potential opt-outs.
"We'll know more after Christmas," Brennan said. "Those are family decisions. I understand that and I respect it. That's the world we live in."
When Arizona won the Alamo Bowl two years ago, first-round offensive tackle Jordan Morgan opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Even though he likely won't be a first-round pick, Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes has positioned himself as a sure-fire draft pick following a productive senior season.
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes (2) against BYU in the first half, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson.
Stukes was recently named a third-team Associated Press All-American, becoming the second Wildcat in three seasons to earn AP All-American honors. Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was an AP All-American in 2023. Stukes is the first UA defensive player to earn AP All-American honors since linebacker Scooby Wright III in 2014 — first defensive back since Antoine Cason in 2007.
Stukes was also named an All-Big 12 first-team selection, an AP All-Big 12 second-team choice and a Sporting News All-American.
The sixth-year Stukes, who has been a part of three coaching staffs at Arizona and suffered a knee injury last season, has 52 tackles and four interceptions this season. His four interceptions are tied for the second-most in the Big 12 this season.
Stukes could conceivably opt out of the Holiday Bowl, especially considering he just accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl, a pre-draft showcase in Mobile, Alabama, that hosts NFL coaches and scouts. More notably, Stukes is roughly 15 months removed from a season-ending knee injury.
"Every player has to decide what best fits their situation," said Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales.
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes on Sept. 27, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
"If something like that happens, someone has to step up and relish their opportunity," Gonzales added. "I sell this in recruiting all the time, when you lay out all the information and you make a choice, and it's a passionate decision, that is the right choice — it's not wrong. You can't look back six months from now and say, 'I wish I did something different,' because during that six-month period, you got complacent and you made that the wrong choice.
"If you choose not to play today, that's the right choice and you freaking double down on whatever reason that was for, go do it. I'm good with whatever those guys decide, because that is what has happened in this era of college football."
In the 35 days between Arizona's regular-season finale against Arizona State and the Holiday Bowl, bowl practices have been "super critical" for players who could have elevated roles in the contest against SMU — and the building blocks for next season.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Gavin Hunter, who started in place of Stukes against Hawaii and Weber State, "has already proven that he can play at an elite level in the Big 12," Gonzales said. Hunter started over the rehabbing Stukes, who returned to his starting role in the final nonconference game against Kansas State. The 6-2, 204-pound Hunter has 11 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups this season.
Arizona defensive back Gavin Hunter gets a congratulatory hug and yell from coach James Perez after his heavy hit dislodged the ball and kept Hawaii from a first down catch during the second quarter, Aug. 30, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
"I'm super-excited because I know I have a starter that I don't have to find and replace," Gonzales said of Hunter.
Arizona freshman safety Coleman Patmon, who ascended into a backup role in fall training camp, "has done a fantastic job as a true freshman," Gonzales said. Chandler Hamilton product and freshman Dajon Hinton is "freaky athletic, coming off an injury and is as physical as they come."
"We're really excited about those three and what they can do," Gonzales said of Hunter, Hinton and Patmon.
Added Gonzales: "This bowl prep for the safeties is huge."
Another rising freshman defensive back is Austin, Texas, native Swayde Griffin, "because he's super fast, super twitchy and can play multiple roles back there," added Gonzales.
Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege highlighted multiple offensive underclassmen who are standing out in bowl practices, including right tackle Matthew Lado, wide receivers Gio Richardson and Isaiah Mizell, third-string quarterback Sawyer Anderson and running backs Wesley Yarbrough and Cornelius Warren III.
Arizona wide receiver Gio Richardson celebrates stealing the ball from Oklahoma State cornerback Kenneth Harris for a first down catch during the fourth quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, in Tucson.
Richardson has 19 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns and is the most productive true freshman receiver since Tetairoa McMillan in 2022. Richardson caught a critical touchdown in the fourth quarter against No. 25 Cincinnati, which gave quarterback Noah Fifita the career passing touchdowns record.
"He might be playing just as good as anybody on our roster late in the season from a skill level position, just because he's smart, he's tough," Doege said.
Richardson became a mainstay in Arizona's offense early in the season, but "kind of hit that freshman wall," Doege said.
"Next thing you know, he's in critical situations for us, making big-time plays," Doege said of Richardson. "He's been a guy that I've been pleased with. I'm excited about his future. I think he's going to be a big-time player for us."
Mizell, an Orlando product who is widely considered Arizona's fastest player on its roster, "is progressing is well."
"As a highly recruited receiver, you come in here thinking your skillset is definitely good enough to play and you expect to play, but when you don't play, you can get easily frustrated," Doege said. "There's this thing called the (transfer) portal that you can easily jump into. Mizell is not running from it. He knows the process and the development and he knows he's getting better. He knows his time is coming. Those two young receivers are awesome. I'm excited about those guys."
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell (17) takes off on his route during fall training camp at Dick Tomey practice field, Aug. 20, 2025.
Anderson, a Dallas-area native in his first season with the program, has understudied Fifita and backup Braedyn Locke, who is entering the transfer portal in January. Fifita and Locke are "elite processors and they can take a lot of information, so we've done more checks than I've ever done in my entire career with those guys," Doege said.
The dialogue between Doege and Arizona's top two quarterbacks has sped up Anderson's maturity process and ability to absorb offensive information and schemes.
Yarbrough and Warren "always do a great job" as scout-team running backs against Arizona's starting defense, Doege said.
"I think we have some good, young (skill players) and I'm excited about the class that we put together," Doege said. "I think we're going to have a lot of talented, young kids and some are going to have to step up sooner than they expect, which I think they want. I don't know if they know what it takes yet for that, but they're going to get a taste pretty soon. I'm pretty excited about where we're at."
Arizona wide receiver Gio Richardson yells into the stands after covering a Baylor kickoff return during the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Nov. 22, 2025, in Tucson.
Arizona's momentum after finishing the regular season with a five-game winning streak and a 9-3 record, coupled with the returning talent for 2026, is why Gonzales is eager to return for his second season as the UA's defensive coordinator. The 2025 rendition of Arizona football is labeled "Team 122" by Gonzales, because it's the 122nd team in program history.
The bowl practices are just extended spring practices for Team 123 — and a celebration for Team 122.
"I'm not going anywhere," Gonzales said. "I've had plenty of opportunities, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Arizona next year to try and win the sixth conference championship for the school and have a chance to make a CFP run — and I'm excited to do it with Team 123, I can tell you that. I'm excited as hell."
Extra points
– The Wildcats are three-point favorites to beat SMU in the Holiday Bowl, according to Action Network. The over/under is currently 51.5 points.
– Gonzales said senior defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea is expected to play in the Holiday Bowl. Savea suffered a leg injury against Kansas and missed the final three games of the regular season.
– McMillan needs 76 yards to become the first NFL rookie this season to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. McMillan has 924 yards in his first season with the Carolina Panthers and is among the favorites to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Panthers host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at 11 a.m.
