In order to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season, the first under Brent Brennan, Arizona had to overhaul its roster with transfers. As a result, 15 players who were new to the program were listed as starters or co-starters on the initial depth chart and 10 ended up starting that first game.
How much things can change in a year.
The UA released its season-opening depth chart on Monday, and of the 23 offensive and defensive players listed as starters or co-starters only five are newcomers. As
many as 18 returners from the 2025 team that went 9-4, including 12 who started at least four games a year ago, are expected to start in Saturday’s opener against NAU.
“The I think the fact that our kids are having a good experience playing at the UofA or being a part of this program speaks to the retention,” Brennan said Monday. “I think that’s why you see the you know a lot of carryover from last year’s roster to this in terms of what that opening day depth chart looks like.”
Topping the list of returners is quarterback Noah Fifita, who is set to make his 35th consecutive start. Alexander Doost is on tap to make his 23rd consecutive start, while linebacker Taye Brown is set to start for the 19th game in a row.
Others back with at least 10 career starts at the UA are receiver Chris Hunter III, defensive end Tre Smith and linebacker Chase Kennedy.
The projected newcomer starters are center Zach Henning (Washington), tight end Cole Rusk (Illinois), linebacker Cooper Blomstrom (Georgetown) and cornerbacks Dwight Bootle II (Charlotte) and Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (Nebraska).
In line to make their first career starts are sophomore receiver Giovanni Richardson and junior safety Quinn Olson.
The area with the most newness for Arizona is on special teams, where outside of kicker Michael Salgado-Medina all other projected starters are in their first year with the program. Australian Chase Ridley is listed as the starting punter, with Arkansas State transfer Drew Nicolson handling long snapping duties and Louisville transfer Carter Schwartz holding on kicks. For punt and kickoff returns freshman Caleb ‘Jet’ Smith is listed as starter, with returning senior Quincy Craig also an option on kickoffs.
Smith and receiver RJ Mosley are the lone freshmen on the depth chart on offense, both at No. 3 at their positions. On defense there are four freshmen on the depth chart: defensive linemen Keytrin Harris, Kaisi Lafitaga and Prince Williams and linebacker Dash Fifita.
