Last season, half of the top six tacklers for Arizona came from the linebacker room. Now, only one of those leaders is returning to the field for the Wildcats.
Without Max Harris and Riley Wilson, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales thinks that Taye Brown is ready for a breakout season.
“Taye Brown is one of the best linebackers in the Big 12, if not the best,” he said. “He’ll probably lead our team in tackles, or be in the top three this year. He’ll be in the top five in the Big 12, and if we can
stay healthy, we’ll have all those great things that we had last year.”
Finishing with 93 tackles, one and a half sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble, Brown did just about everything that was asked of him in 2025. He knows with his coaches talking the talk, it’s up to him to walk the walk.
“He talks about it all the time that he’s gonna say stuff like that, but we got to go out there and back him up,’ said Brown. “It definitely lets you go out there and play free.”
Gonzales has said he’s tried everything to “out recruit” Brown but the growth that he continues to make year by year makes it hard for anyone to come in and take his spot.
“He’s always trying to motivate me and push me to be my best and not let me get comfortable,” said Brown. “I feel like it started last year. It’s the guys he brought in, we brought in really good guys like Max Harris. It really just pushed me to be my best every day, and then we invited some new guys this year.”
A couple of those new guys include Memphis transfer Everett Roussaw Jr. and Georgetown transfer Cooper Blomstrom. Linebackers coach Josh Bringuel has seen steady progress with both newcomers.
“They’ve done a fantastic job, I’m really happy with how they’ve attacked the work,” said Bringuel. “Has it been perfect? No, but they’re always eager.”
The work they both put in during the winter and into the spring earned the respect of the rest of the group. Now it’s time to just go out onto the field and go to work.
“Just go play football, go do the things you did at all these different schools across the country, come do it here,” said Bringuel.
Brown and Harris were the guys leading the room last year, and with Harris now gone, who is Brown’s right hand man? That would be redshirt senior Chase Kennedy. Both are leading the room with their voices and through their actions.
“I’ve been really impressed by how much they’ve stepped into that role and taken off, and it’s exciting for them, because they want that,” said Bringuel. “They want that opportunity for them to lead the way, modeling the behavior and then pulling everybody along when it’s not right.”
For both Brown and Kennedy, leading the room has become second nature in a short amount of time.
“I feel like it’s natural for both of us. Just coming out there and bringing the juice every day, that’s just the type of players we are, just have fun with it because at the end, it’s just just the game we love,” said Brown.
It may be outside of his comfort zone, but learning under Harris has pushed Kennedy to push his boundaries to be the leader he needs to be.
“Normally the only time I do my talking is when I’m on the field,” said Kennedy. “So I’ve kind of learned to grow off the field with that as well.”
While the veterans will lead the room through the spring and fall, eventually a new leader will be needed for the Bringuel’s room. An early candidate is freshman Dash Fifita, younger brother of Noah Fifita.
Similar to his brother, his story is not defined by lack of height. Fifita’s determination and knowledge of football is what sets him apart from everyone else.
“When you talk about the tenacity on the field, and shoot he knows he’s undersized, so he better play full speed and that’s what you see out there,” said Bringuel. “So it’s been really fun to see him attack the work and not complain.”
Fifita will have to wait his turn to be the voice of the room, but for now it is in good hands under Brown and Kennedy’s watch.
