'Gadget guy' Chris Hunter settling in as WR2 in Arizona's offense

As the season continues to progress, Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter appears to be a mainstay for the Wildcats beyond this season.

The redshirt sophomore from New Orleans started the last three games after scoring his first-career touchdown in the Wildcats’ blowout loss to Colorado.

Since taking over the starting role from veteran and second-year starter Montana Lemonious-Craig, Hunter has 16 catches for 193 yards, including a 102-yard performance at UCF; he’s the only UA pass-catcher besides Tetairoa McMillan to have over 100 receiving yards in a game.

After losing superstar slot receiver Jacob Cowing and tight end Tanner McLachlan to the NFL, the Wildcats struggled to establish complementary pass-catching options to relieve McMillan from double-teams. There have been moments of brilliance, like tight end Keyan Burnett’s game-winning touchdown catch against Utah or the preceding highlight grab by Devin Hyatt.

Lemonious-Craig, slot receiver Jeremiah Patterson and San Jose State transfer tight end Sam Olson have all scored touchdowns this season, but the production has been inconsistent. Last season, Arizona had 36 passing touchdowns; this year, it has 15. But the Wildcats have unearthed a second option in the passing game in Hunter, who’s been on the rise since the spring.

“We knew once he got his opportunity, he was going to make the most of it. ... He still has a lot more in the tank, but you can see his confidence starting to grow,” Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita said of Hunter. “His ability to win one-on-ones in terms of route-running or when the ball is in the air, is special.”

Since becoming an integral part of the Arizona offense, Hunter hasn’t noticed a difference in coverage from opposing defenses.

“We’ve got a guy on the other side of the field so at the end of the day, they’ll be focused on him,” Hunter said of McMillan. “I just focus on what I have to do, what my role is, what the play design is for a specific play. I just trust my technique and trust my skills.”

McMillan, who was recently named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, has 69 receptions for 1,136 yards, which ranks third in college football and leads the Big 12, along with seven touchdowns this season.

McMillan is 112 yards away from becoming Arizona’s all-time receiving yards leader, passing his wide receivers coach Bobby Wade. McMillan’s 25 career receiving touchdowns rank third in UA history.

“That’s the best receiver in the nation,” Hunter said. “Being around him, he brings everybody up, he lifts everybody up, he has great energy. I try to learn as much as I can from him. I’m asking him things all the time, trying to steal some techniques from his book and learn the small details he has that gets him separation when he runs his routes. He’s a special talent. Y’all know that and have seen that. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can.”

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Added Hunter: “A guy like that on other side of the field, he holds so much gravity, it’ll naturally make things a lot easier for someone like me and the other receivers.”

Hunter said McMillan “might be the hardest-working practice player I’ve seen.”

“I try to replicate that myself,” Hunter said. “He’s constantly working all the time, trying to learn new techniques, learn new things.”

Hunter also credited his ascension to starter status to Lemonious-Craig, who Hunter called “the big bro of the group.” Lemonious-Craig “taught me so many small details and stuff, too,” Hunter said.

The Wildcats “have so many unique route-runners in our receiver room, so I steal something from everybody,” said Hunter. He admires Patterson for “how he opens up,” McMillan for how he “attacks the ball” and Lemonious-Craig for “using his hands on releases.”

“I just try to steal things from everybody, because there are some special people in the room,” he said.

Arizona will likely need McMillan, Hunter and company to collaborate on a masterclass if the Wildcats have any desire to upset TCU in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs passing defense ranks third in the Big 12. Hunter said TCU’s defensive backs play in press coverage and are more aggressive than recent defenses Arizona has faced.

As Hunter wraps up his third season with the program, the “gadget guy” is striving to become “a playmaker with the ball in my hands after the catch,” he said.

“Still working on my route technique,” Hunter said. “I don’t think I’ve made it yet. I still have a lot more to prove. My next step is continuing to perfect my game and work on some things. I have some weaknesses to work on.”

Extra points

• Arizona running backs coach
  • Alonzo Carter said junior running back
    • Rayshon Luke redshirting this season after playing in four games “was a mutual decision, because there’s an injury involved in there.” Added Carter: “He’s recovering, he’ll be fine (and) we’re happy with what he was doing prior to that. We’re very satisfied with what he brings to the table. I love the young man. I love what the young man represents. He brings an element to our backfield that we miss because he can do so much. He brings a lot to our offense. ... We’re excited about him coming back.”
    • Arizona is a finalist to land three-star 2025 offensive tackle Peter Langi, who is set to announce his college decision on Sunday. The 6-5, 330-pound Langi is a senior at Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco. His other finalists are Penn State, Washington, Texas, Texas A&M and Auburn. Langi’s younger brother, Michael, is committed to Arizona’s 2026 recruiting class.
    • Former Arizona defensive coordinator Don Brown was fired as UMass’ head coach earlier this week. After a 6-28 start in two-plus seasons, UMass fired Brown, who was the UA’s defensive coordinator under former head coach
      • Jedd Fisch in 2021. Brown was dismissed after his second stint. Brown, who grew up in Massachusetts, previously led the Minutemen from 2006-08 and posted a 43-19 record. Offensive coordinator
        • Shane Montgomery will serve as the interim head coach.