Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was raised on three values: faith, family and football.
It’s the foundation of Fifita’s life and now his first-ever youth football camp, “First Down Faith Football Camp,” a two-hour camp for underprivileged youth in partnership with the UA’s “Beyond Football” program.
The camp, which took place at Arizona Stadium Friday afternoon, prioritized football and Christian values.
Several of Fifita’s UA teammates helped out with the camp, including wide receivers Chris Hunter III and Tre Spivey III, safety Genesis Smith, left tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai, offensive linemen Chubba Ma’ae and Ise Matautia, defensive linemen Isaiah Johnson, Dominic Lolesio, Julian Savaiinaea and Leroy Palu, among others.
Roughly two dozen campers took a tour of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility and were split into groups to perform offensive and defensive drills with the UA players. Richard Lopez, a director at Fellowship of Christian Athletes, bookended the camp with a prayer. Fifita, who donned a black shirt with “Jesus Won” emblazoned across his chest, threw passes during drills and each camper received a take-home bag, which came with a mini UA football helmet. Fifita and other Arizona football players signed helmets, among other items, after the camp.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) looks to pass the ball during spring football practice at Dick Tomey Field on April 8, 2025.
Fittingly, campers were fed Chick-Fil-A, a fast-food chain that prides itself on Christian values.
The inspiration behind Fifita’s camp is the quarterback’s grandfather, who “was the one who introduced me to God at an early age.”
“So I was inspired to be who my grandfather was to me and help inspire the youth to help know who God is and have a better relationship with him early,” Fifita said in a video interview with Beyond Football. “I have a platform to use football to do that, so it’s an incredible blessing.”
Fifita’s “faith grew when I got into high school” at Servite in Anaheim, California. Fifita’s grandfather “used to drag me and my brother out of bed and take us to Sunday school,” but the Arizona quarterback learned to love it as he got older.
“To be honest with you, it was kind of a chore that we had to do,” Fifita said. “Once I got into high school, it went from being a chore to a great opportunity and a blessing to pick my grandfather up and take him to church every Sunday, knowing I was going to college in a few years. That was the time we got to spend with each other and better our relationship with God.”
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita throws the ball during spring football practice at Dick Tomey Field on March 25.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan called the camp “really special” and said Fifita “is an incredible young man of real faith and real character.”
“For him to put on a camp and combine his faith and the game of football, I think that’s really special,” Brennan said. “You guys all know Noah and what kind of special young man he is. The way he continues to try and give and uplift and engage this community and give back to this community, I think that’s one of the reasons everyone loves and embraces him.”
Last season, Fifita and “Next Level Sports,” which has a youth flag football league in Tucson, donated 40 tickets to HS Lopez Family Foundation for Tucson youth and guardians to attend an Arizona home football game.
For the First Down Faith Football Camp, Fifita’s “biggest hope is for the youth of Tucson to get to know Christ at a young age.”
“My grandfather, my father and my whole family were really big role models for me,” Fifita said. “They introduced me to Christ at an early age. I realized, as I grew up, that wasn’t ordinary for every family. I just hope to be the person that spreads the gospel. That’s my purpose on this Earth. My purpose is not to play football, my purpose isn’t to make money, it’s to inspire kids and bring them closer to God.”
Kennedy ‘adding tools to the toolbox’ at LB
Arizona defensive lineman Chase Kennedy (11) gets stiff armed trying to stop Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) running up the middle in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game in Tucson on Oct. 5, 2024.
New number, new position for redshirt junior Chase Kennedy.
After transferring from Utah last year and becoming a mainstay and appearing in 10 games as a defensive end, the 6-3, 228-pound Kennedy shifted from his defensive end and standup edge-rushing role to more of a traditional linebacker — and changed his jersey number from No. 11 to No. 7.
Kennedy’s “strength, speed, quickness fits well at linebacker or off the edge,” he said.
“I feel like I could do either or,” Kennedy added.
However, there is a learning curve for Kennedy.
“When I was coming off the edge, it was a lot of third-down stuff,” he said. “So I have to work on pass-rush and dropping back in coverage, reading runs, things of that nature. I’m evolving and just adding tools to the toolbox.”
Last month, Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales noted Kennedy’s ability to excel “on the line of scrimmage and off because of his athletic ability,” along with Montana transfer Riley Wilson. Kennedy and Wilson are expected to have a role in Arizona’s three-linebacker lineup with junior Taye Brown. Texas State transfer Max Harris is also among the short list of players who could potentially start at linebacker or have a role in Arizona’s defense in the fall.
“I feel like that entire group has worked together great and has shown great leadership from the top down,” Kennedy said.
Under Gonzales, Arizona’s defense has a “stop-the-run mindset” after posting the third-worst rushing defense in the Big 12 last season.
“We still get after the pass,” Kennedy said, “but our main goal is to stop the run every time, so we can get to those third-and-longs and pass-rush.”
Whether Kennedy starts or not, “it’s been good” playing linebacker.
“Just gotta continue to get in the playbook, continue to watch film, continue to get comfortable with the position,” Kennedy said.
T-Mac to attend NFL Draft in Green Bay
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan poses for a portrait at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Tetairoa McMillan is attending the NFL Draft next week in Green Bay, the NFL announced on Monday.
The former Arizona receiver and sure-fire first-round pick will be one of 17 attendees at the draft.
McMillan will join Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, potential top pick and quarterback Cameron Ward, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, Texas receiver Matthew Golden, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Alabama linebacker Will Campbell, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Simmons, Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks, Texas A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart, Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, who was teammates with McMillan at Servite High School (California).
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will not be in attendance at the NFL Draft.
McMillan has met with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks, according to Fox NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
If McMillan is selected higher than seventh overall, he will be the highest-selected Wildcat in NFL Draft history. Former UA linebacker Ricky Hunley was drafted seventh by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984.
Several mock drafts, including the recent one by Mike Band on NFL.com, have the Cowboys taking McMillan at No. 12 overall. ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has McMillan landing at No. 20 overall to the Denver Broncos.
The NFL Draft from Lambeau Field in Green Bay begins on Thursday, April 24, at 5 p.m. on ESPN.
