Editor's note: This story ran in the Star's college football special section.
There are 15 Southern Arizonans playing on scholarship at major college football programs — and 2022 could be the most memorable season yet.
Two offensive linemen from Tucson are expected to start in the Pac-12 this year, while a local running back could become the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner from the Old Pueblo.
From the Bourguet brothers and Bijan to a rehabbing Ransom, here's a look at the "T-Locs" who will be playing on Saturdays:
Trenton Bourguet
Trenton Bourguet, Arizona State
From: Marana High School
Position: Quarterback
Year: Redshirt junior
Rundown: Bourguet took most of the first team reps during spring ball, but lost the starting quarterback battle at ASU to Florida transfer Emory Jones. Bourguet will now compete for the backup quarterback spot with Alabama transfer Paul Tyson. In 2021, Bourguet, a former walk-on, appeared in four games and threw his first-ever collegiate touchdown against Washington State.
Coben Bourguet
Coben Bourguet, Arizona State
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt freshman
Rundown: The 6-foot, 200-pound younger brother of Trenton Bourguet is entering his second season as a walk-on wide receiver for the Sun Devils. Last season was the first year Coben Bourguet and Trenton Bourguet were teammates since Trenton’s final season at Marana. Coben transferred to Salpointe Catholic for his final season.
Treyson Bourguet
Treyson Bourguet, Western Michigan
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Quarterback
Year: Freshman
Rundown: The youngest Bourguet now calls Kalamazoo, Michigan, home. Bourguet, a former Arizona Wildcats commit, is expected to have a backup quarterback role at WMU behind redshirt freshman Jack Salopek.
Jovoni Borbon
Jovoni Borbon, SMU
From: Sierra Vista Buena High School
Position: Long snapper
Year: Sophomore
Rundown: Sierra Vista Buena’s all-time passing yards leader (5,666) became a long snapper at Maricopa Community College, then transferred to SMU.
Bruno Fina
Bruno Fina, UCLA
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Offensive line
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Rundown: Since joining the Bruins in 2020, Fina has added 30 pounds to his 6-4 frame, and went from 260 pounds to 290. The son of ex-Wildcat and former Buffalo Bill John Fina appeared in two games last season.
Josh Hart
Josh Hart, Arizona State
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Rundown: Hart is entering his fourth season at ASU as a walk-on receiver. Hart is 3-0 against his hometown Wildcats.
Jamarye Joiner
Jamarye Joiner, Arizona
From: Cienega High School
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt junior
Rundown: A series of foot surgeries that has sidelined Joiner three times in the last two years hindered the former quarterback’s progress in Arizona’s wide receiver group, but he emerged as one of the Wildcats’ top reserve receivers during training camp. Joiner has 711 receiving yards and six touchdowns in four seasons at the UA.
Matteo Mele
Matteo Mele, Washington
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Offensive tackle
Year: Junior
Rundown: Mele is on his third head coach (Chris Petersen, Jimmy Lake and Kalen DeBoer) since he signed to UW in 2018. Mele, who made his college debut against Arizona in Tucson in 2019, is expected to start at right tackle for the Huskies.
Jordan Morgan
Jordan Morgan, Arizona
From: Marana High School
Position: Offensive tackle
Year: Senior
Rundown: Morgan will man Arizona’s starting left tackle spot for the second straight season. Morgan suffered a left ankle injury last season, but has been healthy in the days leading up to the Wildcats’ season opener at San Diego State. Morgan has added roughly 50 pounds to his 6-5 frame since becoming a Wildcat in 2019.
Lathan Ransom
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Safety
Year: Junior
Rundown: Ransom suffered a gruesome leg injury in the Rose Bowl, spent his offseason recovering and returned to practice earlier this month. Ransom and the second-ranked Buckeyes open the season against No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday.
Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson, Texas
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Running back
Year: Junior
Rundown: When he’s not selling “Bijan Mustardson,” his newly released dijon mustard brand, or driving around in a Lamborghini truck, which is part of his NIL perks, Robinson is preparing for a critical season at Texas. Robinson was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch lists, and was also named a First-team Associated Press All-American and the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Robinson enters his third — and likely last — college season as a Heisman Trophy hopeful.
Stevie Rocker Jr.
Stevie Rocker Jr., Arizona
From: Canyon del Oro High School
Position: Running back
Year: Sophomore
Rundown: Rocker is the first standout CDO running back to play for the Wildcats since Ka’Deem Carey set a Pac-12 single-game rushing record in his second season. That’s a tall task for Rocker, especially given his competition on the depth chart. Arizona's running back corps consists of returning starter Michael Wiley, Florida State transfer D.J. Williams and standout freshmen Jonah Coleman and Rayshon "Speedy" Luke.
Cruz Rushing, Florida
Cruz Rushing, Florida
From: Salpointe Catholic
Position: Safety
Year: Freshman
Rundown: The former Lancer is entering his first season as a walk-on for the Gators.
Trent Strong
Trent Strong, SMU
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore
Rundown: The 6-1, 220-pound linebacker is entering his third season at SMU. Strong was named to the AAC's All-Academic Team in both 2020 and ’21.
Kingsley Ugwu
Kingsley Ugwu, Kansas State
From: Sahuaro High School
Position: Offensive tackle
Year: Redshirt junior
Rundown: The 6-4, 295-pound JuCo product — and son of former UA defensive tackle Chima Ugwu — will play for the Wildcats after redshirting last year. Ugwu previously played at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, one of the most renowned JuCo football programs in the country. He was named an NJCAA First Team All-American at Hutchinson.
Connor Witthoft
Connor Witthoft, New Mexico
From: Salpointe Catholic High School
Position: Tight end
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Rundown: The 6-4, 230-pound Witthoft started one game for the Lobos last season. His first collegiate catch was a 15-yard touchdown against rival New Mexico State.
