The Arizona Wildcats put a bow on their spring practice schedule in festival-esque fashion with the Red-Blue Spring Showcase Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.
The north side of the field at Arizona Stadium was a designated area for the roughly 1,500 fans in attendance for the showcase. In coordination with "Dusk Music Festival," Sophia Rankin & The Sound, an alternative folk rock band from Tucson, performed during the two-hour practice on a stage adjacent to the beer garden in the northwest corner of Arizona Stadium.
Members of the Arizona volleyball, swim and dive and gymnastics teams assisted in games and activities for kids, and several fans participated in skills challenges.
Under the lights of Arizona Stadium in 61-degree weather, capped by a showing of the movie "Cars" on the video board, Saturday was a celebratory day to punctuate the five-week spring schedule for Arizona football.
Here are notes and observations from the Red-Blue Spring Showcase:
* Arizona's starting offense was quarterback Noah Fifita, running back Kedrick Reescano, wide receivers Tre Spivey III, Javin "Nunu" Whatley and Kris Hutson, tight end Tyler Powell, Texas Tech transfer left tackle Ty Buchanan, left guard Chubba Ma'ae, Hawaii transfer center Ka'ena Decambra, right guard Alexander Doost and right tackle Michael Wooten.
* Fifita threw an interception to safety Genesis Smith on a deep pass down the sideline in the first team period.
* Arizona's second unit on offensive line had left tackle Matthew Lado, left guard Zarius Wells, center Ise Matautia, Portland State transfer right guard Isaac Perez and Michigan transfer right tackle Tristan Bounds.
* UT Martin transfer defensive tackle Deshawn McKnight, who was one of Arizona's biggest surprises in the spring, didn't participate and stood on the sidelines. Tiaoalii Savea and junior college transfer Leroy Palu were Arizona's starting defensive tackles, with Dominic Lolesio and Tre Smith as edge rushers.
* Cornerback Jay'Vion Cole recorded an interception in a one-on-one drill.
* Fifita threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Hutson during a 7-on-7 period.
* Portland State transfer Quincy Craig had multiple runs of 10-plus yards. With Utah transfer Mike Mitchell out for the season with a leg injury, Craig is expected to have a significant and complementary role at running back for the Wildcats.
* Spivey high-pointed a catch in acrobatic fashion over San Jose State transfer cornerback Michael Dansby. The pass was thrown by Wisconsin transfer quarterback and backup Braedyn Locke.
* Freshman running back and early enrollee Cornelius Warren III broke out for a 43-yard touchdown.
* Junior college transfer cornerback Elijah Brown sacked freshman quarterback Sawyer Anderson, forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Brown and other UA players celebrated with the fans on the field and were flagged for excessive celebration.
* NFL-bound wide receiver and projected first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, in a chocolate-colored tracksuit, and kicker Tyler Loop attended the showcase on Saturday.
* Arizona men's basketball signee and highly-touted recruit Koa Peat attended the showcase. Peat's brother, offensive lineman Keona Peat, recently entered the transfer portal after two seasons at Arizona State.
Recruits in the house
Arizona had around 75 recruits on campus for the Red-Blue Spring Showcase, including several signees for the 2025 recruiting class: Los Angeles-area offensive lineman Sione Tohi, Phoenix-area offensive tackle Jaxon Griffin and junior college defensive tackle Ezra Funa.
Damien High School (La Verne, California) linebacker Iona Uiagalelei, son of former Arizona defensive line coach Iona Uiagalelei, attended the Red-Blue Spring Showcase. The older Uiagalelei was Arizona's defensive line coach under former head coach Kevin Sumlin. The younger Uiagalelei has offers from the UA, Arizona State and Michigan State, among others.
Arizona 2026 commits in linebacker Dash Fifita and in-state safety Hamisi Juma were in attendance. Fifita, a Trinity League MVP and standout at Santa Margarita in Southern California, is the younger brother of UA quarterback Noah Fifita.
Three-star 2026 cornerback Josh Holland, a standout at St. John Bosco (California), and Mater Dei defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui also attended; both are USC commits.
Three-star TE Gabalis commits to Arizona
In the hours leading up to Arizona's Red-Blue Spring Showcase on Saturday, the Wildcats landed a commitment from three-star 2026 tight end Henry Gabalis.
Gabalis, a 6-4, 215-pound tight end from Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington, pledged to the Wildcats over Oregon State, Washington State, Sacramento State, Idaho, Montana and Montana State, among others.
Gabalis is the first tight end commit for first-year tight ends coach Josh Miller.
Gabalis is the fifth commit of Arizona's 26 class.
Photos: Arizona wraps their spring season with a showcase at Arizona Stadium
Walker Holden pushes a pie pan of shaving cream into the face of Beck Parnham as the Arizona swim team takes one, or more, for the team during football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025. The swimmers were joined by the gymnastics team in the fan zone, along with bounce houses, balloon animals, concert stage and an Easter egg hunt, keeping several hundred fans happy before and during the team’s final spring session.
Linebacker Jabari Mann leads the team through a gauntlet of fans to the field and the Wildcats’ final practice session at Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on April 19, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
Defensive back Marquis Groves-Killebrew tries to snare a pass while leaping over a wall of pads as the team runs some skill drills at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on April 19, 2025.
Head coach Brent Brennan dishes out some high-fives as he makes his way past the fans and onto the field at Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
Line backer Stacy Bey goes horizontal over an obstacle of pads in an attempt to catch a ball at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Santiago Berez is captivated by the rubber duck tank while the festivities unfold unnoticed around him at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Defensive back Dalton Johnson (43) hops through a shaft of sunset light as the team limbers up for the final practice at UA football’s Spring Showcase on April 19, 2025.
Defensive lineman Tre Smith can’t quite handle the diving catch as the d-unit runs a skill drill at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on April 19, 2025.
Linebacker Brandon Craddock, left, and linebacker Max Harris tangle during a blocking drill at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on April 19, 2025.
Defensive back Genesis Smith eyes the ball while running footwork drills at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase in Tucson on April 19, 2025.
Quarterback Noah Fifita, left, gets fellow QB Luke Hugo positioned while working with some of the receiving corps on routes at Arizona football’s Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 19 at Arizona Stadium.
Wide receiver Chris Hunter III (11) make a catch despite the hand of defensive back Jay’Vion Cole (9) while running 1-v-1 routes at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Rex Haynes (14) manages the one-handed grab despite the tight coverage from defensive back Ayden Garnes (11) on a route drill at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Wysong (15) takes advantage of his half-step on defensive back Jack Luttrell (13) to reel in the ball at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Receiver Jeremiah Patterson (2) prepares to cradle a throw after getting open on his route at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Receiver Trey Spivey III (12) gets enough space from defensive back Elijah Brown (23) to make a catch at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Fans line up at the mini-baskets to take some shots in the Fan Zone prior to the start of the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
Hundreds of kids charge the field at Arizona Stadium to get their hands on the Easter eggs scattered about the turf at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
A hunter dives on the turf to scrape up an armful of Easter eggs ahead of the crowd rushing in behind him at the University of Arizona football’s Spring Showcase, Tucson, Ariz., April 19, 2025.
