Arizona Wildcats 'trade punches' in spring; T-Mac 'still in great spirits'

A glass-half-full perspective for the several injuries Arizona piled up this spring is the opportunity it gives other players in practice.

For instance, left tackle Raymond Pulido, linebacker Jacob Manu and guard Wendell Moe missed multiple practices this spring due to injuries, and it allowed Arizona’s new coaching staff to see budding talent or if there are gaps on the roster that need to be filled in the transfer portal, which closed for new entries on Tuesday.

Injuries to some of your top returning players aren’t ideal, but “it gives guys an opportunity to play and practice and get meaningful reps,” said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan.

“That’s when you see some guys do some really good stuff,” Brennan said. “The spring game is always such an interesting thing, because you just want to come out of it healthy and safe ... but you also want to play a little bit and put on a show for the fans. I thought the guys settled in and it was fun. Towards the end there, we started to trade punches, but the spring game is always a complicated thing for coaches.”

Through five weeks of practices and constant evaluation, “I’ve been really impressed with where our defense is at,” said Brennan.

Including cornerback Tacario Davis, who has practiced with the Wildcats all spring despite being in the transfer portal, the Wildcats return four members of their secondary from 2023 and all-conference linebacker Manu. Although the Wildcats will have an entirely new defensive front, they’ve had moments of triumph against an Arizona offense that returns most of its starters.

“I think there’s been real continuity there over spring with (defensive coordinator Duane Akina) being here and some of the other coaches on that side of the ball,” Brennan said. “It’s important in spring practice that you essentially trade punches, offense versus defense, because if it’s lopsided, you’re going to have a problem in the fall.

“So I thought that was really good, and I’m so impressed with a lot of players on our defense, and I think the staff is doing a great job coaching them. ... I really believe in the men that are coaching these players and their ability to develop them into great players. I’m excited for that process to continue. ... I’m bummed that spring practice over, because we don’t really get to go on the field with them for three months.”

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita said the practices this spring were “big-time, because this is the first time and only time that we get to be on the field with the coaches, so getting their coaching, points of view and what they’re looking for on each play, it’s big,” he said.

Fifita noted the players will take the next month off, then return to Tucson for player-led workouts and practices in June.

“Good little break to get re-acclimated, then it’s go-time when we get back in June,” said Fifita.

How many of Fifita’s current Arizona teammates will be there? How many will be new? Since the spring game on Saturday, Arizona added three players in the transfer portal: wide receiver Reymello Murphy (Old Dominion), defensive end Chase Kennedy (Utah) and offensive lineman Michael Wooten (Oregon).

It’s inevitable Arizona will add more players to the transfer portal, but how many more?

“That’s an awesome question, and if you know the answer, go ahead and tell me,” Brennan said. “That’s just the world we’re living in now, and everyone is trying to find the best way to navigate it. It’s definitely complicated. ... Everyone is trying to find the best calendar and how it can serve the players and serve the game of football, and I don’t think we’ve figured that out yet.”

Over the last few days, since the spring game ended, Arizona’s assistant coaches have met with players individually in the final hours of the transfer portal being open — and the summer approaching.

“This is a tricky one, because this is such a small window. I don’t know if it’s fair for me to do the kind of evaluation I do with players. Normally it’s an annual thing, so it takes into consideration the season, spring practice, their academics, their process, how they handle their business, so it’ll be a little bit different,” Brennan said.

“We went back and forth on it as a staff, but the coaches will make sure all the players know where they stand and what they need to do to improve — and the things they’ve done well also.”

T-Mac ‘still in great spirits’ after leg procedure

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For the first time during his Arizona career, star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is sidelined with an injury. Following a tie-up with Davis in a one-on-one drill to end the fourth week of spring practices, McMillan limped off the field and “had a little procedure” on his left foot. McMillan spent the last week of practices and the spring game in a walking boot and used a knee scooter to move around.

Brennan said McMillan “is in good spirits, he’s a total warrior, and we expect him back for the season.”

For Fifita, it’s the first time he’s been QB1 without McMillan as one of his receivers.

“It’s difficult from a friend’s perspective, because this is the first time I’ve been on the field without him. Obviously he played his freshman year without me, so this is the first time where the tables are turned,” said Arizona’s quarterback. “As a player, it hasn’t been too different, because the team and coaches have my back and have been stepping up in a lot of ways.”

Fifita threw touchdown passes to second-year wide receiver Malachi Riley and walk-on Rex Haynes during the spring game Saturday.

“Everything is going well with him,” Fifita said of McMillan. “Still in great spirits. ... You can go down the list of our skills who stepped up, from receivers to tight ends. Like I’ve said before, not having T-Mac gives room for a lot of people to step up into that role and they’ve done a great job.”

Fina enters transfer portal

Tucson native and UCLA left tackle Bruno Fina entered the transfer portal Tuesday.

Fina, the son of former Wildcat and NFL offensive lineman John Fina, signed with the Bruins in 2020 after a standout career at Salpointe Catholic High School, where he was teammates with Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom.

The 6-5, 300-pound Fina, who played guard at Salpointe, moved to left tackle at UCLA and started 13 games for the Bruins last season. Fina gave up five sacks and 22 hurries in 400 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fina entered the transfer portal the day after his younger brother Roman Fina, a 6-5, 250-pound offensive lineman and soon-to-be senior at Salpointe, landed an offer from the Wildcats.

Extra points

Brennan, on Arizona producing three NFL Draft picks this year: “I think it’s huge, and it’s critical because every player you recruit has dreams to play in the NFL. You want to be able to demonstrate and you can come to the U of A and get to the next level, so I think it’s critical. I’ve had a chance to meet all those guys. ... So it looks like a lot of Wildcats are getting a chance to chase that NFL dream, and it’s going to be fun to watch.”

“The CATSYS” award show for UA student-athletes was on Monday and multiple football players won awards: Fifita (Co-Freshmen Male Athlete of the Year), McMillan (Male Sophomore Athlete of the Year) and left tackle and NFL Draft pick Jordan Morgan (Sapphire Award).