The 2019 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Wildcats' 120th season. They played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona (for the 91st year) and competed as members of the South Division (9th season) in the Pac-12 Conference (42nd overall season). They were led by second-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. They finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in last place in the South Division.
Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates was fired after eight games due to a poor defensive performance by the team. He was hired to be the defensive backs coach at California in 2020.
Offseason The Wildcats have 12 senior graduates only graduated players noted until spring practice. As well as one junior who would choose to forgo their senior season in pursuit of an early NFL career. The Wildcats would lose 14 more players from the 2018 team due to various reasons. Notable departures from the 2018 squad included.
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes P. J. Johnson #52 DT 6'4 335 RS junior Sacramento, CA Declared for 2019 NFL draft Layth Friekh #58 OL 6'5 297 RS senior Glendale, AZ Graduated/2019 NFL draft Shawn Poindexter #19 WR 6'5 218 RS senior Peoria, AZ Graduated/2019 NFL draft Dylan Klumph #42 P 6'3 229 RS senior Malibu, CA Graduated Josh Pollack #30 PK 5'10 184 RS senior Highland Park, IL Graduated Jake Glatting #18 P 6'3 221 RS senior Phoenix, AZ Graduated Tim Hough #8 CB 5'11 195 RS senior Detroit, MI Graduated Dereck Boles #99 DT 6'2 306 RS senior Kingston, Jamaica Graduated Matt Thomas #90 DT 6'1 278 RS senior Tucson, AZ Graduated Nick Reinhardt #49 LS 6'1 241 RS senior Scottsdale, AZ Graduated Tony Ellison #9 WR 5'11 189 RS senior Granite Bay, CA Graduated Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles #6 S 6'2 209 Senior Tucson, AZ Graduated Shun Brown #6 WR 5'10 188 Senior Shreveport, LA Graduated Jamie Nunley #85 TE 6'5 230 RS sophomore Murrieta, CA Medically retirement Jacob Colacion #34 LB 6'1 218 RS sophomore La Habra, CA Medically retirement
Recruiting
The 2019 football recruiting cycle was the first in which the NCAA authorized two signing periods for high school seniors in that sport. In addition to the traditional spring period starting with National Signing Day in February 2019, a new early signing period was introduced, with the first such period falling from December 19, 2018.
Transfers
Outgoing Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Kurtis Brown #44 DT 6'1" 291 RS-Junior Bakersfield, CA Fresno State Bulldogs Nathan Eldridge #75 OL 6'3" 292 RS-Senior Anthem, AZ Oregon State Beavers Michael Eletise #47 OL 6'3" 323 RS-Junior Honolulu, HI Hawaii Rainbow Warriors K'Hari Lane #11 QB 6'1" 222 RS-Freshman Montezuma, GA Hutchinson Community College Sammy Morrison #27 CB 5'10" 177 RS-Senior Leesburg, VA San Diego State Aztecs Antonio Parks #4 CB 5'10" 204 RS-Junior New Orleans, LA UTSA Roadrunners Isaiah Hayes #21 S 6'0 191 Junior Los Angeles, California Louisville Cardinals Geno Albini #66 LS 5'11 213 RS freshman Austin, Texas Texas Tech Red Raiders Azizi Hearn #20 CB 6'1 193 RS freshman Oceanside, California Wyoming Cowboys DeVaughn Cooper #7 WR 5'10 175 RS sophomore Los Angeles, California UTEP Miners Brandon Leon #38 RB 5'8" 213 RS-Senior Goodyear, AZ TBD Thiyo Lukusa #70 OL 6'5" 308 RS-Junior Traverse City, MI TBD Anthony Mariscal #38 RB 5'10" 212 RS-Senior Bakersfield, CA TBD Sione Taufahema #94 DT 6'1" 339 RS-Senior Mission Hills, CA TBD Jailen Bailey #83 WR 5'10" 163 Freshman San Diego, CA San Diego Mesa College
Incoming Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Josh Donovan #56 OT 6'5" 325 2019 College Station, TX Trinity Valley Community College Myles Tapusoa #99 DT 6'2" 320 2019 Salt Lake City, UT Eastern Arizona College Trevon Mason #90 DT 6'3" 290 2019 Arlington, TX Navarro College Paiton Fears #74 OT 6'5" 325 2019 Hutchinson, KS Hutchinson Community College Zach Lord #75 OT 6'10" 265 2019 Liberty Hill, TX Dallas Baptist University Samari Springs #29 S 6'0" 189 2019 Ashburn, VA Richmond Spiders
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Returning starters
Offense
Player Class Position Khalil Tate Senior Quarterback J. J. Taylor RS junior Running back Cedric Peterson RS senior Wide receiver Stanley Berryhill RS sophomore Wide receiver Bryce Wolma Junior Tight end Cody Creason RS senior Offensive line Josh McCauley RS senior Offensive lineReference:
Defense Player Class Position J.B. Brown Junior Defensive end Kylan Wilborn Junior Linebacker Tony Fields II Junior Linebacker Colin Schooler Junior Linebacker Jace Whittaker RS senior Defensive back Lorenzo Burns RS junior Defensive back Jarrius Wallace RS junior Defensive back Tristan Cooper Senior Defensive back Reference:
Special teams
Player Class Position Lucas Havrisik Junior Placekicker Cedric Peterson RS senior Kick returnerReference:
† Indicates player was a starter in 2018 but missed all of 2019 due to injury.
Spring game The 2019 Wildcats had spring practice in March 2019. The 2019 Arizona football spring game took place in Tucson, AZ on April 13, 2019, at 6:00 pm MT with the Defense team beating the Offense team 87–30.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyColin SchoolerLBJRMaxwell AwardKhalil TateQBSRJ. J. TaylorRBRS JRBednarik AwardColin SchoolerLBJRDavey O'Brien AwardKhalil TateQBSRDoak Walker AwardJ. J. TaylorRBRS JRJohn Mackey AwardBryce WolmaTEJRRimington TrophyJosh McCauleyCRS SRButkus AwardTony Fields IILBJRColin SchoolerLBJRBronko Nagurski TrophyColin SchoolerLBJRWuerffel TrophyMalcolm HollandCBRS JRPolynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardDonovan LaieOLSOJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardKhalil TateQBSRManning AwardKhalil TateQBSR
Pac-12 Media Day The 2019 Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 24, 2019, in Hollywood, California. Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin, quarterback Khalil Tate, and running back J. J. Taylor were in attendance to field questions from the media.
In the 2019 Pac-12 preseason media poll, Arizona was voted to finish in fifth place in the South Division.
Preseason All-Pac-12 teams The Wildcats had 2 players at 2 positions selected to the preseason All-Pac-12 teams.
Offense
2nd team
J. J. Taylor – RB
Defense
1st team
Colin Schooler – LB
Specialists
1st team
J. J. Taylor – RET
Personnel
Coaching staff Kevin Sumlin Head coach 2nd Purdue Noel Mazzone Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 2nd New Mexico Chuck Cecil Defensive coordinator/safeties 1st Arizona Taylor Mazzone Assistant coach/outside Receivers 2nd East Carolina Greg Patrick Assistant coach/defensive backs/Line 1st Kyle DeVan Assistant coach/offensive line 1st Oregon State Hank Hobson Assistant coach/linebackers 1st Arizona DeMarco Murray Assistant coach/running backs 1st Oklahoma Theron Aych Assistant coach/inside wide receivers 3rd Northern State Jeremy Springer Tight ends/Special teams 2nd UTEP Brian Johnson Strength and Conditioning 2nd LSU
Roster 2019 Arizona Wildcats FootballQuarterbacks 4 Rhett Rodriguez – junior (6'0, 186) 12 Kevin Doyle – sophomore (6'3, 210) 13 Luke Ashworth – sophomore (6'0, 197) 14 Khalil Tate – senior (6'2, 215) 15 Cameron Fietz – freshman (6'1, 192) 17 Grant Gunnell – freshman (6'5, 222)
Running backs 6 Michael Wiley – freshman (5'11, 186) 20 Darrius Smith – freshman (5'9, 175) 21 J. J. Taylor – junior (5'6, 180) 23 Gary Brightwell – junior (6'1, 196) 28 Nazar Bombata – sophomore (5'11, 195) 33 Nathan Tilford – sophomore (6'2, 206) 34 John Burton – freshman (5'11, 210) 36 Bryce Coleman – junior (5'9, 185)
Wide receiver 1 Drew Dixon – sophomore (6'3, 203) 4 Boobie Curry – freshman (6'2, 206) 5 Brian Casteel – junior (6'0, 214) 7 Jaden Mitchell – freshman (5'9, 175) 8 Thomas Aych – sophomore (6'0, 167) 9 Jalen Johnson – freshman (6'2, 199) 10 Jamarye Joiner – freshman (6'1, 210) 11 Tayvian Cunningham – junior (5'7, 181) 15 William Gunnell – freshman (5'9, 187) 16 Thomas Reid III – junior (6'2, 202) 18 Cedric Peterson – senior (5'11, 188) (KR+) 25 Devin Green – freshman (5'10, 166) 35 Karl Altenburg – sophomore (5'9, 180) 40 Jashon Butler – freshman (5'8, 182) 41 Daniel Egbo – senior (6'2, 192) 82 Zach Williams – freshman (6'3, 224) 83 Terrence Johnson – senior (6'2, 211) 86 Stanley Berryhill – sophomore (5'9, 169) 88 Vince Ellison – freshman (6'2, 170) 89 Brice Vooletich – freshman (5'10, 194)
Tight end 39 Tristen D'Angelo – Sophomore (6'3, 203) 42 Connor Hutchings – junior (6'5, 220) (OL+) 46 Jack Koceman – freshman (6'4, 235) 80 Jake Peters – freshman (6'4, 235) 81 Bryce Wolma – junior (6'3, 239)
Punter 19 Kyle Ostendorp – freshman (6'1, 202) 26 Matt Aragon – senior (6'5, 211) 32 Jacob Meeker-Hackett - Junior (6'0, 199) (WR+) 99 Cameron Weinberg – freshman (5'11, 177) (K+) Offensive lineman 50 Josh McCauley – junior (6'3, 292) (OL+) 53 Jon Jacobs – junior (6'4, 300) (OL+) 54 Bryson Cain – junior (6'4, 291) (OT+) 55 Jamari Williams – freshman (6'3, 298) (OL+) 56 Josh Donovan – junior (6'5, 317) (OL+) 60 Mykee Irving – freshman (6'3, 337) (OL+) 63 Steven Bailey – senior (6'3, 318) (OL+) 66 Robert Congel – sophomore (6'3, 315) (OL+) 67 David Watson – sophomore (6'3, 307) (OL+) 72 Edgar Burrola – sophomore (6'5, 293) (OL+) 74 Paiton Fears – junior (6'5, 308) (OL+) 75 Zach Lord – junior (6'7, 275) (OT+) 76 Cody Creason – senior (6'4, 294) (OT+) 77 Jordan Morgan – freshman (6'5, 287) 78 Donovan Laie – sophomore (6'4, 318) (OL+) 79 Tyson Gardner – sophomore (6'3, 277) (OL+)
Defensive lineman 12 JB Brown – junior (6'3, 244) (DE+) 19 Kwabena Watson – freshman (6'2, 210) (DE+) 40 Dante Diaz–Infante – junior (6'1, 250) (DE+) 45 Issaiah Johnson – sophomore (6'1, 235) (DL+) 55 Chandler Kelly – freshman (6'2, 209) (DL+) 58 Nahe Sulunga – freshman (6'2, 270) (DT+) 81 Jalen Cochran – junior (6'3, 249) (DE+) 86 Justin Belknap – senior (DE+) 90 Trevon Mason – junior (6'4, 285) (DL+) 91 Finton Connolly – senior (6'5, 275) (DT+) 92 Kyon Barrs – freshman (6'2, 299) (DT+) 94 Naz Higgins – freshman (6'3, 272) (DT+) 99 Myles Tapousa – junior (6'1, 330) (DL+)
Linebackers 1 Tony Fields II – junior (6'1, 225) 7 Colin Schooler – junior (6'0, 226) 8 Anthony Pandy – junior (6'0, 225) 9 Dayven Coleman – sophomore (6'2, 216) 14 Kylan Wilborn – junior (6'2, 245) (STUD+) 26 Eddie Siaumau – freshman (6'3, 235) 27 Derrion Clark – freshman (6'1, 211) 38 Dante Smith – sophomore (5'10, 223) 44 Calib McRae – freshman (6'1, 246) 48 Parker Henley – sophomore (5'11, 222) 49 Jalen Harris – sophomore (6'4, 212) (STUD+) 51 Lee Anderson III – senior (6'1, 235) (STUD+) 53 Richard Merritt – junior (6'0, 216) 56 Rexx Tessler – sophomore (5'9, 209)
Placekicker 43 Lucas Havrisik – junior (6'2, 173) 80 Nathan Halsell – freshman (6'1, 201) Defensive backs 2 Lorenzo Burns – junior (5'10, 173) (CB+) 3 Jarrius Wallace – junior (6'1, 180) (S+) 4 Christian Roland-Wallace – freshman (5'11, 198) (CB+) 5 Christian Young – sophomore (6'1, 209) (S+) 6 Scottie Young Jr. – junior (5'11, 200) (S+) 10 Malcolm Holland – senior (5'11, 189) (CB+) 11 Troy Young – junior (6'0, 205) (S+) 13 Chacho Ulloa – senior (5'11, 192) (S+) 15 McKenzie Barnes – sophomore (6'1, 178) (CB+) 17 Jace Whittaker – senior (5'11, 182) (CB+) 18 Dhameer Warren – freshman (6'1, 175) (CB+) 21 Jaxen Turner – freshman (6'0, 190) (CB+) 23 Malik Hausman – sophomore (6'0, 170) (CB+) 24 Rhedi Short – sophomore (6'0, 184) (S+) 25 Bobby Wolfe – freshman (6'1, 170) (CB+) 29 Samari Springs – junior (6'0, 189) (S+) 30 Quinn Sullivan – freshman (5'11, 181) (S+)