If you walk into the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility nowadays, it's quieter than usual.
That's the calm after the storm.
A month ago? Chaos. The Wildcats hosted dozens of recruits during the two-week transfer portal period, which has often been compared to "speed dating."
Instead of a year-plus process to build a relationship like traditional recruiting, the transfer portal only allows just a few days for coaches and players to get to know each other.Β
The Wildcats signed 23 players out of the transfer portal, adding to the 19-player 2026 recruiting class. The Wildcats only had 21 players leave the program via the transfer portal this year. Arizona is adding 42 newcomers to the upcoming roster, which is 20 fewer than last season. Arizona has added 30 newcomers for the spring semester and the spring practice schedule, which begins next month.Β
"Going out there to watch them run around, it's been exciting to see," said first-year general manager Aaron Knotts, who was hired in December following a 12-year stint at Washington.Β
Knotts joined "Spears & Ali" in the wake of National Signing Day to talk about the Wildcats' offseason and their recruiting strategy β and the expectations for the upcoming season in head coach Brent Brennan's third season in Tucson, after the UA went 9-4 and played in the Holiday Bowl.Β
Arizona football general manager Aaron Knotts is entering his first season with the Wildcats.Β
How would you describe the state of the program since you were hired nearly two months ago?Β Β
A: "It's been a little bit of a whirlwind, but we're in the February dead period now, so it's starting to slow down. Football coaches and staffs around the country rejoice in February and catch our breath, because when you think about it, the coaches and the staff have been going since July. For Arizona, we played a bowl game in January.
"The second we got back from the bowl trip, our players had a few weeks off, but the staff went straight into portal mode. The next few weeks went into portal visits. Once portal visits ended, we got our coaches out on the road to visit high school kids.
"It's been nonstop. People forget how strenuous it is for the coaches and the staff, even after the playing season being over. It's been crazy, but we made it through and we put a good class together. We're starting to catch our breath."Β
When you're evaluating players, how do you determine who's the right fit for the program's culture and also has enough talent to compete?
A: "I see it two-fold. There's the on-the-field evaluation with traits and characteristics physically β the critical factors that make up each position; athletically, size, everything. The off-the-field evaluation and traits are all about how guys are wired, character, what his academics look like and will he be a team guy? Does he love football, or does he love recruiting? There's a big difference there.
"It's family, relationships and development over dollars and cents. If the kid is chasing a bigger logo and a bigger bag somewhere else, he's probably not the best fit for us. If there's a guy that wants development and be a part of the environment that makes this place special, then he's probably a guy for us. You can feel that when they're on their visit."Β
Why was it important to take recruits to Brennan's house as part of their official visit? Have you tried the famous chocolate chip cookies that Brennan's wife, Courtney, made for every recruit?
Arizona coach Brent Brennan on Day 5 of fall training camp at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on Aug. 4, 2025.
A: "I've had way too many of those chocolate chip cookies. I have a little bit of a sweet tooth, so I've had way too many of those. But being able to go to his house was awesome. Thank you, Courtney Brennan and the Brennan family, for allowing us to do that, because it was special and it made us unique.
"It got repetitive for the staff, but I kept reminding people, 'This is the sixth night in a row we've been here, but it's the first night this recruit has been here. What is stale and repetitive for us, is new and exciting for them.'
"We took a survey of all the kids that came on the trip, and one of the things that kept coming up was how much of a home run being at Coach Brennan's house was. We had a player tell us he spent a total of five minutes with the head coach at his previous institution over the last few years.
"When he talked to Coach Brennan for half an hour at his house, he spent more time with Coach Brennan than the previous institution. It was awesome to go over there. It's something we're going to keep doing and the more chocolate chip cookies, the more recruits we're doing to sign. ... People feel that authenticity.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan exhorts his defense to hold with Oklahoma State trying to convert from inside their own five during the third quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, in Tucson.
"If I'm having to tell you how authentic I am or how authentic Coach Brennan is, there's something wrong with that. You have to feel it, and you can't force it. And just be who you are.
"Don't overpromise playing time, overpromise money, overpromise this, that and the other. A lot of people respect that and it's refreshing, because they come from somewhere else where it's not that way and it's pretty easy to see and feel right away."Β
The Wildcats added seven defensive backs in the transfer portal. What is unique about the group of veteran defensive backs added to the UA's 2026 roster?
A: "That was a huge position of need. ... Even though we like the guys we have coming back in that room, we had to replace production with older guys from the portal. We took a lot of guys that have position versatility. The guys we took played multiple positions in college. Not just both safeties, but guys who played safety and nickel, or corner and nickel, or safety, corner and nickel, so there's a lot of crossover.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan goes down the line of fans for high fives after the Wildcats held on to edge Kansas 24-20, Nov. 8, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
"Coach Gonzales does a good job of getting the best 11 guys and putting them on the field, so that position versatility is going to enable us to move those chess pieces around and determine who's the best five guys (in the defensive secondary) and how do we get them on the field?
"By taking guys who have played a lot of college football, it's going to be a seamless and quicker transition to figure out what that best combination is."
Between the newly added players and the returners, how does the new rendition of Arizona football replicate or improve on the magic it was able to create in 2025?Β
A: "The foundation has been laid. The difference is, coming off a 4-8 season the year before, it was a whole different feeling going into the offseason. The foundation wasn't quite there. ... Now, these guys have seen what a nine-win season looks like and being two close games away from being in the (College Football Playoff) and the Big 12 title game.
"They've seen how close they've come and how attainable that is. The blueprint is there and the foundation is laid. Now we just gotta take the next step. How do we go from nine wins to the Big 12 title game and the CFP. Those are our goals."Β
