Five Arizona Wildcats were selected to the preseason Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, offensive lineman Rhino Tapaβatoutai, center Kaβena Decambra, left guard Chubba Maβae and defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea received the preseason recognition Thursday morning.
Former UA star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year last season.
Fifita was recently named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list, a national award presented by the Maxwell Football Club for the best player in college football.
Following a breakout season in 2023, the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Football Writers Association of America Freshman of the Year passed for 2,958 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Fifitaβs touchdown-to-interception ratio dropped from 23:5 to 18:12 last season.
Fifita is the only Wildcat in school history to have a completion rate (73.6%) higher than 70%, which he set in β23; his completion rate dropped to 60.5% last season. Fifita also had the most throwaways (37) in college football this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and tied for the most interceptions in the Big 12.
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita cranks a throw to the corner, working with the receivers during preseason training camp on Aug. 12, 2025.
Fifita, who changed his jersey number from 11 to 1, enters 2025 eighth in program history with 5,955 yards β seventh with 44 touchdowns. Fifita owns Arizonaβs single-game record for passing yards (527), a record he set against ASU in 2023.
This summer, Fifita attended the Manning Passing Academy, a four-day camp hosted by NFL legends Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Arch Manning at Nicholls State in Louisiana. The Manning Passing Academy features the top quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends in college football.
Fifita was the fourth Arizona quarterback to participate in the Manning Passing Academy, joining Nick Foles, Khalil Tate and Jayden de Laura, whoβs competing for an IFL championship with the Vegas Knight Hawks next Saturday in Tucson. Foles and current Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege were roommates at the Manning Passing Academy, when Doege was the quarterback at Texas Tech.
Arizona offensive lineman Kaβena Decambra speaks to reporters on media day at Davis Sports Center, July 29, 2025.
Decambra, a Honolulu native, will be Arizonaβs starting center this season after transferring from Hawaii. The 6-3, 308-pound Decambra is playing center for the first time in his career after playing tackle and guard.
Tapaβatoutai started at left tackle last season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Colorado. Tapaβatoutai allowed just two sacks in 243 pass-blocking snaps, but surrendered a team-high 16 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Arizona Wildcats offensive lineman Rhino Tapaβatoutai (59) offers up some low fives as the team runs through stretches during preseason training camp on Aug. 12, 2025.
Tapaβatoutaiβs status for the season opener is questionable, but he is expected to be one of Arizonaβs top offensive linemen as a second-year starter. With the additions of transfer tackles Ty Buchanan (Texas Tech) and Tristan Bounds (Michigan), itβs conceivable Tapaβatoutai plays guard this season.
Arizona offensive lineman Chubba Maae participates in hitting drills during spring football practice at Dick Tomey Field, April 8, 2025.
The 6-2, 349-pound Maβae moved from defensive tackle to left guard in the spring and is expected to have a significant role as a starter or reserve guard. The former UC Davis transfer dealt with injuries last season, which sidelined him for eight games, but Maβae redshirted and preserved his final season of eligibility.
Savea is expected to be one of Arizonaβs starting defensive tackles this season, along with UT Martin transfer Deshawn McKnight, after transferring back to the UA following a season at Texas.
Savea played at Arizona for the 2022 and β23 seasons and was a key component to the UA defensive line rotation under former head coach Jedd Fisch and defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who also recruited Savea to Texas.
Arizona defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea cools down with some water in between hitting drills during spring football practice at Tomey Field.
Saveaβs health at Arizona was inconsistent, but when he was available, he impacted the UA interior defensive line. Savea had 36 tackles, 7.5 stops for loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
Arizona kicks off the season against Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m. on TNT and HBO Max.
