10 veterans to watch during Arizona football training camp

One of the most well-documented stories of Arizona’s offseason is the plethora of newcomers the Wildcats added, however, the UA has several returners expected to impact the team this season.

Over half of Arizona’s roster will feature new faces, but there are plenty of multi-year Wildcats expected to have noteworthy roles for the Wildcats.

Here are 10 Wildcats to pay attention to when Arizona begins fall training camp on Wednesday.

Noah Fifita

Position: Quarterback

Year: Redshirt junior

Jersey number: 1

Height, weight:

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Previous school: Servite High School

The rundown: New season, new offense for the Arizona offense and its QB1. The Wildcats married some of the concepts from Jedd Fisch’s offense to former offensive coordinator Dino Babers’ system, which molded into a colossal disaster for the Wildcats. Arizona ended the season with the third-worst offense in the Big 12 — 114th nationally — and Fifita tied for the most interceptions thrown in the conference last year.

Whatever offense Arizona ran last season, it’s a goner. Now, the Wildcats are led by an up-and-coming offensive coordinator in Doege, who hails from an air-raid offense from his days quarterbacking Texas Tech under the late Mike Leach.

After posting the second-worst time-to-throw average (3.14 seconds) in college football last season, according to Pro Football Focus, the up-tempo offense will be tailored around getting the ball out of Fifita’s hands quickly — and distributing to receivers after the loss of Tetairoa McMillan, who had been teammates with Fifita for the last eight years.

“We have guys that can do everything,” Fifita said. “I know the big storyline is T-Mac being gone, but they did a great job bringing in guys that can replace him and pick up the slack.”

Keyan Burnett

Position: Tight end

Year: Senior

Jersey number: 88

Height, weight: 6-6, 248 pounds

Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Previous school: Servite High School

The rundown: Burnett, who caught Arizona’s game-sealing touchdown against No. 10 Utah last season, transferred to Kansas after an up-and-down three-year career with the Wildcats, but returned to Tucson after the spring. Following a breakout spring and training camp last season, Burnett dealt with injuries and ended last season with 18 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown.

Burnett said he feels “like a different player” since returning to Arizona and is now about to play for offensive coordinator Seth Doege, who recruited Burnett to USC. Burnett was committed to the Trojans before flipping to Arizona to follow quarterback Noah Fifita and linebacker Jacob Manu.

Burnett and veterans Tyler Powell and Sam Olson are the headliners of Arizona’s tight ends room, with freshman Kellan Ford, Mercyhurst transfer Cameron Barmore and walk-ons Tyler Mustain and Kayden Luke as other options.

Burnett, who was the highest-rated tight end to sign with Arizona since Rob Gronkowski in 2007, has a year to stamp his rollercoaster Arizona career on a high note.

Chris Hunter

Position: Wide receiver

Year: Redshirt junior

Jersey number: 11

Height, weight: 6-1, 193 pounds

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Previous school: Isidore Newman School

The rundown: Hunter became Arizona’s second-leading receiver last season after replacing Lemonious-Craig in the starting lineup halfway through 2024. Hunter is now in position for a potential breakout season after finishing with 35 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns, including two acrobatic touchdown grabs against TCU in November, with most of his production in the second half of the season.

Arizona receivers coach Bobby Wade said: “I’ve put a lot on him as far as expectations for him and him pushing the room and what to expect from me and my coaching style. I’m very pleased with Chris and I’m excited for what he’s going to be able do in this offense.”

Dalton Johnson

Position: Strong safety

Year: Redshirt senior

Jersey number: 43

Height, weight: 5-11, 198 pounds

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Previous school: Katy High School

The rundown: Johnson started 24 games over the last two seasons and led the Wildcats in tackles (94) in 2024 after evolving into a safety-linebacker role following injuries to defensive captains in safety Gunner Maldonado, linebacker Jacob Manu and defensive back Treydan Stukes.

Since 2023, Johnson has been one of Arizona’s most productive defensive players with 180 tackles, 11 stops for loss and six forced fumbles. His most impactful forced fumble resulted in Maldonado’s 87-yard return for a touchdown, which sparked the Wildcats’ come-from-behind win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

“I definitely have a high standard on the amount of interceptions I want and what I’m looking to achieve” this season, Johnson said. “I went for 100 tackles last year and didn’t get it, I had 94, but now I’m looking to turn it up this year on the coverage aspect.”

Johnson’s skillset could thrive in defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales’ aggressive defense that disguises linebacker and defensive back blitzes.

Chubba Ma’ae

Position: Offensive line

Year: Redshirt senior

Jersey number: 55

Height, weight: 6-2, 352 pounds

Hometown: Long Beach, California

Previous school: UC Davis

The rundown: Ma’ae, who played nose tackle for the Wildcats last season, moved to offensive line in the spring, which is “a natural spot for him,” Brennan said. Ma’ae and Wells were Arizona’s top two left guards at the spring showcase in April.

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Ma’ae has experience at center from playing at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, but he has only played defensive tackle since 2020. Ma’ae’s final landing spot on the offensive line is among the burning questions entering training camp.

Brandon Phelps

Position: Wide receiver

Year: Redshirt freshman

Jersey number: 18

Height, weight: 6-3, 198 pounds

Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona

Previous school: American Leadership Academy Gilbert North

The rundown: Phelps finished his high school career as a state record-holder for career receiving yards (4,475), touchdowns (60) and receptions (271). Phelps’ career receptions record was broken by Marana standout Dezmen Roebuck (352) in 2024.

Phelps was one of the few early enrollees who stayed with Arizona after Fisch left for Washington. Phelps redshirted last season and is now in contention to compete at McMillan’s spot as the “X” receiver, along with Kansas State transfer Tre Spivey III, after ascending in the final weeks of spring practices. Phelps high-pointed several passes over defensive backs in the spring and was one of the Wildcats’ top big-bodied targets.

“B-Phelps was one of the guys that chose to stay and I’m glad he did,” said Brent Brennan. “It’s been awesome to see his progress. If he continues to work hard and continues to develop, he can be a great player. With his size and physicality — he can run and has a good catch radius.”

Genesis Smith

Position: Free safety

Year: Junior

Jersey number: 12

Height, weight: 6-2, 202 pounds

Hometown: Chandler, Arizona

Previous school: Hamilton High School

The rundown: Smith started at three different positions in Arizona’s secondary last season and had the third-most tackles (63) for the Wildcats, along with six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Smith earned Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors following Arizona’s win over Houston.

In the spring, Smith was among the top playmakers on defense for the Wildcats and consistently produced interceptions and tackles near or behind the line of scrimmage. Smith “could be the best defensive football player in the league this year if he does the things he did in spring ball,” Gonzales said.

That 78 player rating in the College Football 26 video game could potentially become a high 80s or low 90s rating by season’s end, when Smith is conceivably Arizona’s leader in takeaways.

Tre Smith

Position: Defensive end

Year: Redshirt senior

Jersey number: 3

Height, weight: 6-5, 259 pounds

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Previous school: San Jose State

The rundown: Smith was arguably Arizona’s top pass-rusher with 28 quarterback hurries; the second-most was former defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei with 18. However, Smith only had 4.5 sacks and converted 16% of his pressures into sacks.

New Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said first-year defensive line coach is “giving him some tools and some counter moves to do those things.”

Other edge rushers for the Wildcats include redshirt sophomore Dominic Lolesio, who played in all 12 games last season and had 26 tackles and 2.5 stops for loss, along with rising redshirt freshman Eduwa Okundaye, Alcorn State transfer Malachi Bailey, Northwestern State transfer Chancellor Owens, freshman Porter Patton and redshirt sophomore Jarra Anderson, who missed last season with a season-ending leg injury.

Treydan Stukes

Position: Defensive back

Year: Redshirt senior

Jersey number: 2

Height, weight: 6-2, 195 pounds

Hometown: Litchfield Park, Arizona

Previous school: Millennium High School

The rundown: Stukes’ would-be final season at Arizona was cut short due to a season-ending knee injury, but the slot cornerback medically redshirted and returned to the Wildcats for his last season after starting as a walk-on in 2020.

Stukes, who is one of the top open-field tacklers in Arizona’s defense, could potentially return to his nickel back role, a position he’s played the last two seasons, or he could revert to a cornerback role, with West Virginia transfer Ayden Garnes or Stanford Jshawn Frausto-Ramos as other options for nickel back.

Rhino Tapa’atoutai

Position: Offensive tackle

Year: Redshirt sophomore

Jersey number: 59

Height, weight: 6-5, 315 pounds

Hometown: West Valley City, Utah

Previous school: Bishop Alemany High School in California

The rundown: The second-year left tackle succeeded multi-year starter and first-round pick Jordan Morgan last season.

Before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Colorado, Tapa’atoutai allowed just two sacks in 243 pass-blocking snaps, albeit surrendering a team-high 16 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Tapa’atoutai “was coming into his own” at the time of the injury, said UA offensive line coach Josh Oglesby.

Tapa’atoutai, Texas Tech transfer Ty Buchanan and Michigan transfer Tristan Bounds are expected to be Arizona’s top three tackles, with redshirt freshman Matthew Lado and redshirt junior Michael Wooten as other likely options.

Tapa’atoutai missed spring practiced due to rehab, but the injured offensive lineman became one of the Wildcats’ top offensive leaders.

“Even though he’s still in the rehab process, he’s in our warmups and is in our huddles,” Fifita said of Tapa’atoutai at Big 12 Media Days. “He’s been a loud voice for us and a great vocal leader. It’s been amazing to see how far he’s come since he’s shown up.”