Over the last month, players for Arizona football were able to take steps forward in their development with spring ball. While some players sat out for recovery and health purposes, the mix of newcomers and young players got a chance to showcase their skills and football I.Q.
The team gets a month off in May before returning for summer workouts, but the spring has given the coaching staff an idea of some of the talent it could put out onto the field in the fall.
Here are four players that shined in spring
practices:
OL Louis Akpa
There were two names that the coaching staff kept bringing up as the spring moved along. One of those was redshirt freshman offensive lineman Louis Akpa.
While he did not see action in 2025, Akpa has been able to learn from Tristan Bounds, who is coming back from surgery and did not fully participate in spring Ball. Now he is putting what he’s learning onto the field.
“He’s really surpassed what I thought he was going to do this spring, and he’s made some really good calls in the run game, as well as the pass game,” said offensive coordinator Seth Doege. “He’s really throwing people across his face and doing it at a violent rate, and really looks like he belongs out there.”
With Akpa taking major strides in his development, it has given the offensive line room more depth than expected. Also adding in the fact that Bounds is coming off a major injury, Akpa gives the staff less to worry about in an emergency situation.
“I do think we’re at a healthy, healthy spot at O-line that we haven’t had these last couple years,” said Doege.
“It’s one of the deepest tackle situations I’ve been a part of in a long time,” said offensive lineman coach Josh Oglesby. “We are very deep at tackle. It’s one of those things where you look up and are like, how did that happen?”
DL Dominic Lolesio
The other name that stood out to the coaching staff, outside of Akpa, was redshirt junior defensive lineman Dominic Lolesio. In seasons past, it seemed like he was not necessarily fully developed to play on the line, but this offseason has shown that he is now ready.
“He’s doing the extra, the in between, and the unrequired,” said defensive lineman coach Joe Salave’a. “He is constantly in a building. He looks at film. For Dom, to his credit, he’s investing a lot in his craft, and then with time, we got to continue to push that and demand that.”
Investing into his craft has also meant investing into this team, and there will be a different version of Lolesio this season. One he thinks is ready for any situation thrown his way.
“I’m able to play faster, more physical,” said Lolesio. “I know the scheme inside out for the most part. We had little tweaks here and there, but just being able to play faster.”
All of his growth stems from what he’s learned from senior Tre Smith about consistency and routine.
“I’ve been in the same room for about two years now, been around it for so long, so seeing him do everything right, I kind of fell behind that over the years and fell in love with that too,” said Lolesio on Smith.
WR Rodney Gallagher III
Out of pure will and desire, Rodney Gallagher III will more than likely see the field this season. Now when the West Virginia transfer takes the field will be something to watch.
Of course, the main way he hopes to find the field is by becoming a top target for Noah Fifita. His experience and eagerness to understand the scheme makes him a candidate to be that option for Fifita.
“He’s savvy, he’s played a lot of football,” said wide receivers coach Bobby Wade. “He’s good at punt returns, he has great technique back there. I think there’s a subtleness to him that allows him to be a leader right away that the boys gravitate to.”
The other way he could see the field, like Wade said, is in the punt returner position. Similar to how Luke Wysong saw the field last season, Gallagher III hopes to provide steadiness when called into action.
“He’s tough, he’ll stick his face in the fan, he will give tremendous effort, and he wants to,” said special teams coordinator Craig Naivar. “He understands he’s an older player, so he understands, if I want to do this for a living, this is something I have to excel at.”
S Matai Tagoa’i
There’s a good chance that newcomer USC transfer Matai Tagoa’i sees the field in the fall. With the safeties room trying to replace the 3-headed monster from last season by committee, he could be part of that rotation of players.
The only things that might hold him back are his lack of experience and the fact that he is transitioning fro linebacker. However, the spring showed that the transition has been pretty smooth up to this point.
“He’s been doing a great job in that role,” said safeties coach Brett Arce. “He’s had some great moments. He’s really made that transition from in there to back smoothly. I haven’t had a guy do that, to be honest. It’s more so just building his skill set now.”
Coming from the linebacker spot gives Tagoa’i the toughness needed to deliver when tackling downhill. Now it’s just finding the finesse when out in the open field.
“He’s really aggressive in the run game, the linebacker skills are there, and he has a good feel on when gaps are going to open and where he needs to hit. So that’s good from his linebacker stuff, and now just continuing to grow.”
More than likely the inexperience will keep him off the field, at least to start the season. However, if given the opportunity and if he is able to come in and make plays, Tagoa’i may just find himself in the strong side of the safeties rotation.
