Arizona will begin its second preseason training camp under coach Brent Brennan on July 30, a month of workouts and practices to get the Wildcats prepared for the 2025 season that opens Aug. 30 against Hawaii
To get you primed for camp, we’re breaking down each position group on the roster. Today we focus on the linebackers.
Players on roster: 12
Projected starters: Taye Brown (Jr.), Chase Kennedy (R-Jr.)
Brown started all but one game last season and has appeared in all 25 contests the past two years. His 69 tackles in 2024 were second-most on the team, and that came with two for
loss along with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, his 78.1 tackling grade was third on the team and tops among returners.
Kennedy, who last season played mostly on the edge, will line up a little further back this fall but still be a big part of the pass rush. He had 20 QB pressures and 14 hurries last season, getting five tackles for loss and two sacks while starting eight games.
Top backups: Blake Gotcher (R-Sr.), Max Harris (Sr.), Riley Wilson (R-Sr.)
Arizona went heavy on linebackers in the transfer portal, picking up this trio that each put up big numbers at their previous school. Gotcher led FCS with 162 tackles while at Northwestern State, Harris was among Texas State’s top tacklers and Wilson’s 86.7 overall PFF grade last year at Montana is second-best among returning linebackers in the Big 12.
Newcomer most likely to make instant impact: Wilson
If Arizona at any point goes to a three-linebacker alignment Wilson will be the first man up for that extra spot and has the skill set to surpass both Brown and Kennedy as the top man in the middle of the defense. He could be the Wildcats’ most impactful defensive transfer of the portal era.
Coaching outlook
Josh Bringuel takes over the linebackers role previously held by Danny Gonzales, who was elevated to defensive coordinator. Bringuel has coached in the ACC, Big Ten and Mountain West with his most recent gig at Nebraska, and he was prepared to join longtime colleague Tony White at Florida State before Arizona swooped in and added him.
Next up: Secondary
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