Former Louisville punter Carter Schwartz committed to the Wildcats on Friday and will join the UA's roster with two years of eligibility remaining.Β
Schwartz replaces former Washington State punter and kicker Ryan Harris, who was unable to get a waiver to play for the Wildcats in 2026, a source told the Star.Β Β
The 6-4, 225-pound Schwartz is a Louisville, Kentucky, native and signed with the hometown Cardinals out of Trinity High School in 2024. Schwartz averaged 41.1 yards per punt in his two-year career at Louisville. His career-long punt is 61 yards, and he landed 11 punts inside the 20-yard line.Β
Schwartz is the fourth special teams newcomer for the Wildcats this offseason, along with long snapper Drew Nicolson, West Virginia punter signee Chase Ridley and freshman kicker Ian French.Β
Junior kicker Michael Salgado-Medina returns after an up-and-down sophomore season in 2025.Β
Salgado-Medina was 19 for 31 on field goals in 2025, the most misses in a season at the UA since 1999.Β Salgado-Medina was 5 for 12 at field goals between 40-49 yards, but displayed leg strength with a 57-yarder against Oklahoma State and a crucial 51-yarder against Cincinnati.
Salgado-Medina and French are expected to handle kicking duties, with Schwartz and Ridley at punter and Nicolson and Broden Molen at long snapper.Β
Arizona has 22 players in its 2026 transfer portal class, which ranks 11th in the Big 12, according to 247Sports.com. The Wildcats' overall recruiting haul (transfer portal and recruiting class) ranks sixth in the Big 12.
