When a team finishes a regular season with a 9-3 record propelled by a six-game winning streak, thereβs a plethora of moments to laud.
As the No. 15-ranked Arizona Wildcats await their bowl announcement, the programβs first postseason bid in six years, we tried our best to award the UA players and coaches for their success this season.
Here are the recipients:
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, looks back on his way to the end zone after beating Utah cornerback JaTravis Broughton for a score in the final seconds of the Wildcatsβ blowout win over the Utes in Tucson last November.
Offensive MVP: Tetairoa McMillan, WR
Stats: 80 receptions, 1,242 yards, 10 touchdowns, one touchdown pass
Rundown: The highest-rated signee for Arizona in the modern recruiting era displayed why he was a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, between his high-jumping athleticism, perimeter blocking and ability to maneuver in the secondary. McMillan ended the regular season as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week following an 11-catch, 266-yard performance in the Territorial Cup game, which is the second-most receiving yards in a game by a Wildcat since Jeremy McDaniel, who had 283 yards against Cal in 1996. McMillan has the fourth-most receiving yards in a single season by a Wildcat behind Dennis Northcutt, Bobby Wade and Austin Hill.
Other nominations: Jordan Morgan, Jacob Cowing, Jonah Savaiinaea
Arizonaβs Taylor Upshaw (11) gets a pat on the head from linebacker Jacob Manu (5) after coming up big against NAU in last yearβs season opener.
Defensive MVP: Jacob Manu, LB
Stats: 108 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, one interception
Rundown: Arizona adapted its defensive personnel to the opponent on several occasions, whether it was the βdollarβ package with seven defense backs or the double-eagle flex defense with three linebackers or inserting defensive back Martell Irby at βMikeβ linebacker, the ringleader in the middle was Manu, who is the first Wildcat to have over 100 tackles in a season since Colin Schooler in 2018. Manu could become the first UA player to lead the Pac-12 in tackles since Scooby Wrightβs All-American campaign in 2014.
Other nominations: Dalton Johnson, Tacario Davis, Treydan Stukes
Arizona kicker Tyler Loop (33) connects for the winning field goal as Kyle Ostendorp holds the ball in the second half of the game against Colorado last year.
Special Teams MVP: Tyler Loop, K
Stats: Made 16 of 21 field goals and all 50 of his PAT attempts
Rundown: Prior to this season, Loop hadnβt attempted a field goal longer than 50 yards. He made a 51- and 52-yarder in the second half of the season and lifted the Wildcats to a walk-off win at Colorado. Loop currently ranks 15th all-time in college football in career field-goal percentage (85.2).
Other nominations: Kyle Ostendorp, Anthony Ward, Jacob Cowing
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman rumbles down to the one in the arms of Utah cornerback Tao Johnson late in fourth quarter of the Nov. 18 game, which UA won 42-18.
Most Improved (Offense): Jonah Coleman, RB
Stats: 123 carries for 851 yards and five touchdowns
Rundown: Coleman is averaging 5.2 yards per carry ... after contact, the third-most nationally by a running back or fullback with a minimum of 100 snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus. Colemanβs most notable performance this season was his 11-carry, 179-yard outing in Arizonaβs road win over Colorado. Coleman has long runs of 59, 54 and 42 yards, along with a 69-yard reception at Washington State. Overall heβs averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
Other nominations: Wendell Moe, Josh Baker, Tanner McLachlan
Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado (9) watches for a suspected onside kick following an Arizona State touchdown in the third quarter of their Pac 12 game and the 97th Territorial Cup, Tempe, Ariz., Nov. 25, 2023.
Most Improved (Defense): Gunner Maldonado, FS
Stats: 72 tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception, one fumble recovery
Rundown: Last season, Maldonado had a missed-tackle rate of 24.2% β nearly one-fourth of his tackles, per PFF. At the start of this season, Maldonado had three missed tackles in the first four games. But since Arizonaβs Pac-12 opener at Stanford, Maldonado only has three missed tackles; his missed-tackle rate is 8.1%. Maldonado was in contention for the final Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded a team-high 10 tackles, along with a forced fumble and interception against Arizona State.
Other nominations: Isaiah Ward, Tacario Davis, Dalton Johnson
Arizona offensive linemen Raymond Pulido (79) and Sam Langi (58) chat during a UA fall practice on Aug. 4, 2023. Pulido, a true freshman, already has worked his way into the starting lineup.
Top Newcomer (Offense): Raymond Pulido, RG
Stats: 74.6 pass-blocking grade, according to PFF
Rundown: This was a coin-flip between the former four-star offensive lineman and Colorado transfer wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig, who had 27 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns β couldβve been four scores, but Lemonious-Craig was ruled down at the 1-yard line in the final seconds in Boulder, which set up Loop for the game-winning field goal. Pulido, a 6-6, 335-pound specimen as a true freshman, overcame multiple injuries from an on-campus bicycle accident and an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games. When healthy, heβs one of the Wildcatsβ top offensive linemen in a unit that has two potential first-round draft picks in Jordan Morgan and Jonah Savaiinaea.
Other nominations: Montana Lemonious-Craig
Top Newcomer (Defense): Taylor Upshaw
Stats: 30 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble
Rundown: Upshaw, a former Michigan Wolverine, is tied for fourth in the Pac-12 in sacks and has the most sacks by a Wildcat since Kylan Wilborn in 2017. Upshaw has been a steady edge rusher for a bolstered Wildcats defensive line that started three transfers.
Other nominations: Bill Norton, Martell Irby, Justin Flowe
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (11) threads the seam on a third quarter throw against Arizona State Saturday in Tempe. Fifita, a redshirt freshman, threw for a school-record 527 yards and five touchdowns in the Wildcatsβ 59-23 blowout of the Sun Devils. Arizona improved to 9-3 on the season with the win.
Breakout Player (Offense): Noah Fifita, QB
Stats: 217 of 295 passes (73.6%) for 2,542 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rundown: Fifita took over the reins as Arizonaβs starting quarterback when Jayden de Laura suffered an ankle injury in the Pac-12 opener at Stanford. Since then, Fifita quarterbacked the Wildcats to six straight wins to end the regular season with a 9-3 record. Fifitaβs only two losses as a starter were a one-touchdown setback to College Football Playoff hopeful Washington and a triple-overtime game at USC. Fifita, who was recently named a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist, set a program record with 527 yards in Arizonaβs 36-point win over Arizona State. Fifita has the second-best completion percentage in the Pac-12 behind Oregonβs Bo Nix.
Other nominations: Jonah Coleman, Tetairoa McMillan, Wendell Moe
Arizona safety Dalton Johnson (43) drives Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) into the turf on a second quarter sack at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 18, 2023.
Breakout Player (Defense): Dalton Johnson, SS
Stats: 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles
Rundown: Johnson, one of few players remaining from Arizonaβs 2021 recruiting class, is second on the team in tackles and is third in the Pac-12 in forced fumbles and one of five Wildcats to tally an interception this season. Johnson was effective in shedding blockers and tackling in open space.
Other nominations: Tacario Davis, Ephesians Prysock, Isaiah Ward
Offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll gets into the mood with his unit during a changeover to different drills at an Arizona football spring practice session on March 30.
Assistant Coach of the Year (Offense): Brennan Carroll, OC/OL
Rundown: Despite Jonah Savaiinaea moving from right guard to right tackle and Raymond Pulido missing most of the season with injury, Arizona had collectively one of the best offensive lines in the country, which is an underrated component to Arizonaβs quarterback change, too.
Other nominations: Kevin Cummings (wide receivers), Scottie Graham (running backs), Jordan Paopao (tight ends and special teams)
Arizona safety Dalton Johnson (43) draws a crowd, including defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, left, after he stopped UCLA running back TJ Harden (25) short of the marker on fourth down in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats' win over the Bruins on Nov. 4 at Arizona Stadium.
Assistant Coach of the Year (Defense): Johnny Nansen, DC/LBs
Rundown: In a one-year span, the Wildcats went from the sixth-worst defense in college football, surrendering 467.7 yards per game, to No. 29, allowing 341.3. The Wildcats evolved from coughing up just over 209 rushing yards per game to 111.7. When Arizonaβs offense stalled in games this season, like Mississippi State or Stanford, the Wildcatsβ defense weathered the storm to give them a fighterβs chance.
Other nominations: Duane Akina (defensive backs), Chuck Cecil (safeties), Jason Kaufusi (defensive line)
