The 2022 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Jedd Fisch, and played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. It was the Wildcats' 123rd season overall and 44th as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Wildcats finished 5–7 overall (3–6 in conference play) and failed to qualify for a bowl game.
Offseason
Position key
Team departures Over the course of the off-season, Arizona lost 48 total players. 18 players graduated, while the other 28 entered the transfer portal.
2022 Arizona offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Stanley Berryhill #1 WR 5'11 190 Junior Tucson, AZ Declared for 2022 NFL draft Rashie Hodge Jr. #35 LB 5'11 214 Junior Phoenix, AZ Declared for 2022 NFL draft Leevel Tatum III #97 DL 6'1 284 Senior Fresno, CA Graduated/Declared for 2022 NFL draft Mohamed Diallo #26 DL 6'4 306 Senior Toronto, CAN Graduated/Declared for 2022 NFL draft Trevon Mason #90 DL 6'5 305 Graduated Student Arlington, TX Graduated/Declared for 2022 NFL draft Lucas Havrisik #43 PK 6'2 188 Graduated Student Riverside, CA Graduated/Declared for 2022 NFL draft Christian Young #5 DB 6'3 217 Senior Houston, TX Graduated Anthony Pandy #8 LB 6'1 228 Graduated Student Carson, CA Graduated Luke Ashworth #13 QB 6'2 208 Senior Phoenix, AZ Graduated Thomas Reid III #16 WR 6'3 221 Graduated Student Chesapeake, VA Graduated Jacob Meeker-Hackett #32 PK 6'0 215 Graduated Student Tucson, AZ Graduated Donte Smith #38 LB 5'10 222 RS senior Round Rock, TX Graduated Clay Markoff #44 RB 5'10 239 Graduated Student Olympia, WA Graduated Josh McCauley #50 OL 6'4 310 Graduated Student Mesa, AZ Graduated Matthew Stefanski #54 OL 6'4 324 RS senior Frankfort, MI Graduated David Watson #67 OL 6'5 290 RS senior Tucson, AZ Graduated Donovan Laie #78 OL 6'5 323 Senior Oceanside, CA Graduated Connor Hutchings #80 TE 6'5 230 Graduated Student Phoenix, AZ Graduated Bryce Wolma #81 TE 6'4 237 Graduated Student Saline, MI Graduated Tristen D'Angelo #84 WR 6'3 200 RS senior Anthem, AZ Graduated
Coaching staff departures During the off-season, Arizona lost 2 position coaches and 1 support staff members. The two position coaches that departed the team were defensive coordinator Don Brown and linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski. Brown took an upgrade by becoming the 30th head coach to return at UMass, while Dudzinski returned to become the defensive coordinator at UMass. Furthermore, Brown and Dudzinski were the final 2 coaches that were under current head coach Jedd Fisch.
Don Brown Defensive Coordinator UMass Head coach Keith Dudzinski Assistant coach, Linebackers & Co-Special Teams Coordinator UMass Defensive coordinator Ryan Partridge Director of High School Scouting and Recruiting coordinator UMass Wide receivers coach
Outgoing transfers Twenty-four players elected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal during or after the 2021 season.
Arizona Outgoing transfersNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightHometownYearNew school Sources Boobie Curry #2 WR Senior Houston, TX Transferred to Buffalo BJ Casteel #5 WR Senior Pasadena, CA Transferred to Nevada Jaden Mitchell #7 WR Freshman Las Vegas, NV Transferred to Texas State Rhedi Short #7 DB Senior Pasadena, CA Transferred to Montana State Tayvian Cunningham #11 WR Graduate Vacaville, CA TBD Brayden Zermeno #12 QB Freshman Los Angeles, CA Transferred to UConn Jalen Johnson #13 WR Sophomore Corona, CA TBD Logan Kraut #14 DB Freshman Santa Rosa, CA Transferred to UC Davis McKenzie Barnes #15 CB Junior Fresno, CA Transferred to Hawaii Regen Terry #17 DL Freshman Florence, AZ Transferred to Boston College Jabar Triplett #17 LB Freshman Baton Rouge, LA Transferred to Grambling State Ma'Jon Wright #18 WR Freshman Fort Lauderdale, FL TBD † Nick Moore #18 QB Freshman Newhall, CA TBD Darrius Smith #20 RB Junior Houston, TX Transferred to Jacksonville State Malik Hausman #23 DB Senior Las Vegas, NV Transferred to Hawaii Javione Carr #25 DB Freshman Arlington, TX Transferred to Kansas State Jakelyn Morgan #27 DB Freshman Tyler, TX Transferred to Louisiana Tech Jackson Bailey #29 LB Freshman DeSoto, TX Transferred to Louisiana–Monroe Thor Canales #46 LB Freshman Plano, TX TBD Rourke Freeburg #47 LB Senior Scottsdale, AZ Transferred to Toledo Lucas Eckardt #51 OL Freshman Spring Grove, IL Transferred to Colorado David Watson #67 OL Sophomore Tucson, AZ Transferred to Adams State Edgar Burrola #72 OL Junior Las Vegas, NV TBD Zach Williams #82 TE Sophomore Johns Creek, GA TBD Colby Powers #83 TE Freshman Spring, TX Transferred to Tulsa Stacey Marshall Jr. #87 TE Senior Montgomery, AL Transferred to Marshall Alex Navarro-Silva #91 DL Sophomore Chino, CA TBD Myles Tapusoa #99 DT Senior Rose Park, UT TBD
† Note: Players with a dash in the new school column didn't land on a new team for the 2022 season.
Acquisitions
Incoming transfers Over the off-season, Arizona added nine players from the transfer portal. According to 247 Sports, Arizona had the 27th ranked transfer class in the country. The first transfer was quarterback Jayden de Laura. de Laura transferred from Washington State. On the offensive side, Arizona also added Florida State running back D.J. Williams, UTEP wide receiver Jacob Cowing and New Mexico offensive lineman Jack Buford. However, Arizona only took 5 defensive transfers in UCLA defensive back DJ Warnell and UCLA defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea, Michigan linebacker Anthony Solomon, USC Trojans linebacker Hunter Echols and Utah linebacker Jeremy Mercier.
Arizona Incoming transfersNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school Sources Jacob Cowing #6 WR Sophomore Maricopa, AZ UTEP Jayden de Laura #7 QB Sophomore Honolulu, HI Washington State Anthony Solomon #10 LB Junior Fort Lauderdale, FL Michigan DJ Warnell #14 DB Sophomore La Marque, TX UCLA Jeremy Mercier #20 LB Junior Chandler, AZ Utah Hunter Echols #31 LB Senior Los Angeles, CA USC D.J. Williams #37 RB Junior Lake Placid, FL Florida State Anthony Ward #57 LB Freshman Ontario, CA Washington Jack Buford #59 OT Sophomore St. Louis, MO New Mexico Tanner McLachlan #84 TE Sophomore Lethbridge, AB Southern Utah Tiaoalii Savea #98 DL Freshman Las Vegas, NV UCLA
2022 recruiting class
Arizona signed 25 players in the class of 2022. The Wildcats' recruiting class ranks 19th in the nation for 247Sports and 22nd in Rivals rankings. Four signees were ranked in the ESPN 300 top prospect list. Arizona also signed walk-ons during national signing day period.
*= 247Sports Composite rating; ratings are out of 1.00. (five stars= 1.00–.98, four stars= .97–.90, three stars= .80–.89, two stars= .79–.70, no stars= <70) †= Despite being rated as a four and five star recruit by ESPN, On3.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, McMillan received a four star 247Sports Composite rating. Δ= Left the Arizona program following signing but prior to the 2022 season.
2022 overall class rankings ESPN #24 #2 - 6 17 0 0 0 On3 Recruits #27 #2 - 5 17 0 0 0 Rivals #19 #1 1 4 15 3 0 0 247 Sports #21 #2 - 5 17 0 0 0
Walk-ons Name Pos. Height Weight Hometown High school Joe Borjon OL 6'8 330 La Puente, CA Mt. San Antonio College (JC) Jax Stam DB 5'11 195 Peoria, AZ Liberty High School Jacob Rich Kongaika DL 6'2 280 Santa Ana, CA Mater Dei High School Cole Tannebaum QB 6'4 200 Brentwood, CA Oaks Christian School John Hart TE 6'4 232 Peoria, AZ Sunrise Mountain High School Rex Haynes WR 6'4 195 San Diego, CA Cathedral Catholic High School Matthew Moore WR 6'3 203 Pomona, CA Carlsbad High School (California) Sam Graci-Glazer WR 6'3 160 Tampa, FL IMG Academy Gavin Smith WR 5'11 180 Scottsdale, AZ Notre Dame Prep Jake George WR 6'3 190 Whittier, CA La Serna High School Javier Perkins OL 6'4 295 Wauwatosa, WI Wauwatosa West High School Devin Dunn CB 5'11 195 Chandler, AZ Chandler High School Brandon Craddock LB 6'0 218 Phoenix, AZ Sandra Day O'Connor High School Will Uhrich S 6'1 195 Burlingame, CA Burlingame High School Jordan Forbes P 6'1 205 Mesa, AZ Desert Ridge High School
2023 recruiting class
2023 overall class rankings ESPN -- -- - 2 14 0 0 0 On3 Recruits #56 #6 - 1 11 0 0 0 Rivals #36 #4 -- 1 11 0 0 0 247 Sports #36 #4 - 1 15 0 0 0
Coaching staff additions
NamePrevious Position/Team New Position/Team Johnny Nansen Defensive line coach (UCLA) Defensive coordinator (Arizona) Jason Kaufusi Assistant coach, Outside linebackers (UCLA) Outside linebackers/Defensive ends (Arizona) Jordan Paopao Tight ends (UNLV) Special teams coordinator/Tight ends (Arizona)
Returning starters
+ Offense Will Plummer Sophomore Quarterback Michael Wiley Junior Running back Jarmarye Joiner RS junior Wide receiver Dorian Singer Sophomore Wide receiver Paiton Fears RS senior Offensive lineReference:
+ Defense J.B. Brown Grad Student Defensive line Jerry Roberts Grad Student Linebacker Christian Roland-Wallace Senior CornerbackReference:
+ Special teams Tyler Loop Sophomore Placekicker Kyle Ostendorp Junior Punter Kameron Hawkins Sophomore Long snapper Michael Wiley Junior Kickoff Returner Jamarye Joiner RSJunior Punt ReturnerReference:
† Indicates player was a starter in 2021 but missed all of 2022 due to injury.
Preseason
Spring game The 2022 Wildcats spring game is tentatively scheduled to take place in Tucson, Arizona on April 9, 2022. The Wildcats were scheduled to hold spring practices on March 2 to April 7, 2022.
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyKyon BarrsDLJr. Maxwell Award Jacob CowingWRBiletnikoff AwardDorian SingerSo.Lou Groza AwardTyler Loop PK Ray Guy Award Kyle Ostendorp PJr.Wuerffel TrophyJordan MorganOLPolynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardJonah SavaiinaeaFr.Tetairoa McMillanWR Tiaoalii SaveaDLSo. Manning Award Jayden de Laura QB
Pac-12 Media Day The Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 29, 2022 at the Novo Theater, LA Live (Pac-12 Network) with Jedd Fisch (HC), Jacob Cowing (WR) and Christian Young (DB). The preseason polls will be released on July 28, 2022. Arizona was picked to finish 11th in the annual Pac-12 football media poll released by the league.
Preseason All-Pac-12 and All-American honors First team
Position Player Class Team Special teamsPKKyle OstendorpSenior Arizona
Second team
Position Player Class Team OffenseWRJacob CowingSenior Arizona DefenseDLKyon BarrsSenior Arizona
Source:
Pre-season All-American HonorsKyle OstendorpP (#19)2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team Unanimous
Roster
Schedule
Game summaries
at San Diego State
Statistics ARIZ SDSU First downs 25 14 Total yards 461 232 Rushes/yards 39–162 42–170 Passing yards 299 62 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–35–1 7–16–1 Time of possession 32:37 27:23 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jayden de Laura 22/35, 299 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing D. J. Williams 14 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 8 receptions, 152 yards, 3 TD San Diego State Passing Braxton Burmeister 5/10, 51 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cam Davis 8 carries, 39 yards Receiving Kenan Christon 2 receptions, 19 yards
vs Mississippi State
Statistics MSST ARIZ First downs 27 19 Total yards 426 316 Rushes/yards 24–106 22–40 Passing yards 320 276 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 40–49–1 27–54–3 Time of possession 36:57 23:03 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Will Rogers 39/48, 313 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Dillon Johnson 11 carries, 60 yards Receiving RaRa Thomas 5 receptions, 63 yardsArizona Passing Jayden de Laura 23/45, 220 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Michael Wiley 6 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Tetairoa McMillan 4 receptions, 69 yards
vs North Dakota State
Statistics NDSU ARIZ First downs 21 23 Total yards 407 394 Rushes/yards 45–283 36–165 Passing yards 124 229 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–12–0 20–28–0 Time of possession 31:18 28:42