Arizona lost firepower in its wide receiver room this offseason.
The Wildcats' top two receivers, Kris Hutson and Javin Whatley, were one-year rentals who combined for 101 receptions for 1,254 yards and 10 total touchdowns.
Arizona's coaching staff is confident in the Wildcats' returners at wide receiver, especially redshirt junior Tre Spivey, to maintain — or improve — a UA passing attack that was fourth in the Big 12 last season.
Spivey returns as Arizona's leading receiver after a 2025 campaign with 23 catches for 381 yards — 198 yards after catch — and seven touchdowns, the most receiving touchdowns by a Wildcat last season. Spivey also had a rushing touchdown last season.
The 521 offensive snaps Spivey played last season are by far the most he's played in his three-year college career. The Phoenix-area native and Hamilton High School (Chandler) product started his college journey at Kansas State in 2023, then transferred to Arizona in 2025.
"It was definitely a new experience," said the 6-4, 213-pound Spivey. "I had the most reps that I had, the most time on the field, so I was getting used to recovering my body better and being comfortable on the field. I think I was ready for the moment when I was out there. It was really good for me. It has allowed me to go into this season really confident in my abilities. I know what I can do on and off the field."
Arizona second-year offensive coordinator Seth Doege said, "Everyone knows how talented Spivey is."
"If he can just be consistent, this guy is probably an NFL Draft pick," Doege added. "He's had a tremendous winter."
In the early stages of Arizona's spring practice schedule, Spivey — who's no stranger to highlight catches, especially in traffic near the sideline — has flashed potential as a WR1 entering his second year in Doege's system. Spivey is "trying to figure out what I can work on for myself that can impact the team the best way possible."
Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) celebrates after ramming home a touchdown and losing his helmet in the process against Oklahoma State during the first quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
Spivey is a part of a UA receiving corps that also returns redshirt senior Chris Hunter and second-year receivers Giovanni Richardson and Isaiah Mizell. Richardson, the former Chandler Basha star, went by "Gio" last season, but now prefers Giovanni.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita said Richardson, who caught the touchdown against Cincinnati to give Fifita the career touchdowns record, "I can go on and on about Gio and the type of person that he is, the type of player that he is. If you were to ask me who I think is going to breakout this season, I'll go Gio Richardson."
Richardson "had a tremendous winter and doesn't look like a freshman anymore" at 5-10, 173 pounds, Doege said.
Mizell "is probably one of the best guys you can be around," Fifita said of the second-year receiver from Orlando.
"He has that contagious personality," added Fifita. "On the field, there's nobody on the field that can run with him, so he brings a threat in that aspect and is special."
Another potential breakout returner is redshirt sophomore Brandon Phelps, who set the Arizona career receptions and receiving yards records when he attended American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North.
Phelps, another big-bodied receiver at 6-3, 201 pounds, "had arguably the best winter out of anybody," Doege said.
"It's hard for me not to bet on him, because of how he progressed in the winter," said Arizona's offensive coordinator.
Phelps was a weight-room warrior in the winter and "he came out of the winter bigger, stronger, faster and came out extremely fast and extremely strong," Spivey said.
"It's just a testament to how hard he works in the weight room," Spivey added. "Last year, that was my weight room buddy, so I got to see it. He doesn't take any days off. His head is always in the game, always focused on football. With time, he's going to be a baller. I'm excited for what he does this season, because he's going to get opportunities and I'm looking forward to that."
Arizona wide receiver Brandon Phelps (18) poses with the Territorial Cup after the Wildcats ground out a 23-7 win over Arizona State, Nov. 28, 2025, in Tempe.
Fifita said Phelps "has speed and strength that you wouldn't think he has."
"He's extremely smart and works extremely hard," Fifita said. "If you ask anybody, he was probably the hardest worker in the winter. His statistics show that as well as everyone's opinion."
The Wildcats brought in reinforcements, including transfer receivers in senior Rodney Gallagher III (West Virginia), junior Jordan Ross (Colorado State) and sophomore DJ Jordan (USC), along with early enrollees RJ Mosley and Caleb Smith.
"You replace some skill with some guys we're excited about," Doege said. "I'm not ready to crown them yet, because we still have some work to do. But for the most part, the guys we've added fit us. I'm excited about those guys, but I'm excited about the returners, because those guys in Year 2 have made major jumps."
In three years at West Virginia, Gallagher had 64 receptions for 605 yards and three touchdowns. The former four-star recruit and Uniontown, Pennsylvania native had the second-most receptions (28) for the Mountaineers this past season — his only season under former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Gallagher and former Arizona wide receiver and punt returner Luke Wysong "are so similar," Doege said. Gallagher is among the several receivers who worked on returning punts on Saturday.
"They're both great, great workers," Doege said of Gallagher and Wysong. "They work their tails and they attack everything they do. There's a little bit of a difference in their game, like Luke is straight-line speed and will run through a wall for you, where Rodney has a little bit more feel for the space; but they're both bulldogs and they'll run through you."
When Gallagher signed with Arizona, former WVU head coach Neal Brown texted Doege: "'Hey, man. That was one of my favorite players that we had.' A head coach in the Big 12 texting you that you got a good one, that makes you feel good, too."
Arizona wide receiver Gio Richardson (5) lets go a yell after his catch-and-run picked up a first down in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, November 8 Tucson, Ariz.
Ross and Jordan — who were also highly touted recruits from Los Angeles — don't have as much experience as Gallagher with 479 combined offensive snaps and "they haven't played a ton of football, but they're extremely talented," Doege said.
"I also felt OK bringing in talented guys that haven't had that much experience, because of what we were bringing back with Spive, Gio, Chris Hunter, Phelps, Mizell," Doege said.
The newcomers are "going to add so much to our receiver in terms of winning one-on-one routes and one-on-one matchups," Spivey said.
"Extremely skilled receiver group that we have coming in, so I'm excited for that," said the Arizona receiver.
Collectively, "a lot of people would say that I say the same thing every year and people probably think I'm delusional, but I will go on and say that this is the best receiver room I've ever had from a depth standpoint," Fifita said.
Key word: depth. Fifita had the same sentiment last season, even though he didn't have longtime teammate and best friend Tetairoa McMillan — who is considered one of the best offensive players in program history — catching his passes. McMillan had the lion's share of Arizona's passing game in 2024. Nine different receivers caught passes from Fifita last season — and five of them are coming back.
"You have speed and you have route-running," Fifita said. "More importantly, the relationship they have with each other, it's rare. There's only one football on the field and there's three receivers. To be able to have the selflessness and the genuine excitement for each other is special."
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan is "expecting them to all make a huge jump." The rotation of receivers for the season, which usually has six or so players, will be decided in the following months.
"We're expecting a big jump from them," Brennan said. "How do the other pieces that we've added to that room contribute and compete for a spot? That's what spring ball is all about. The fun part, spring ball sets the depth chart for the summer, but it doesn't mean anything until you get to fall camp. ... We have a lot to learn."
Extra points
— Spivey, on Mosley and Smith: "(Mosley's) size (at 6-3, 199 pounds), for a freshman, is crazy. He plays big and strong, super athletic. Caleb, he's a savvy route runner for his age."
— Arizona wrapped up its first week of practice on Saturday.
— The UA's first defensive secondary on Saturday featured Wyoming transfer cornerback Tyrese Boss, safeties Gavin Hunter and Quinn Olson, Nebraska transfer slot cornerback Malcolm Hartzog and Charlotte transfer cornerback Dwight Bootle.
— The Wildcats had a punting period on Saturday, with Louisville transfer Carter Schwartz and Australian freshman Chase Ridley exchanging reps. Most of Ridley's kicks had a hang time of 4.1 seconds; Schwartz's kicks had an average of 3.9 seconds. Western Kentucky transfer Drew Nicolson was the long snapper.
— Arizona's starting offensive line on Saturday was Matthew Lado, Rhino Tapa'atoutai, Washington transfer center Zachary Henning, Alexander Doost and redshirt freshman Louis Akpa.
— Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach and former NFL defensive tackle Domata Peko attended practice. Peko's son, Joseph Peko, is a 6-3, 310-pound defensive tackle from Westlake Village, California. The younger Peko is currently committed to Colorado.
