The 2017 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2017 season. The season was the Wildcats's 118th overall, 40th as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, seventh within the Pac-12 South Division, and the sixth and final year under head coach Rich Rodriguez. The team played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona for the 89th straight year.
They finished the regular season with a 7–5, 5–4 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place in the South Division, making it into a bowl game. They were invited to the Foster Farms Bowl where they faced Purdue, losing 35–38. Rich Rodriguez was fired after 6 seasons with Arizona. After Rich Rodriguez was fired, Kevin Sumlin was named the Wildcats' new full-time head coach on January 14, 2018.
Offseason departures The Wildcats would lose twenty-nine (twenty seniors due graduation) football players. The Wildcats would lose nine more players from the 2016 team due to various reasons (transfers and withdrawals will be filled out once spring practice occurs). Notable departures from the 2016 squad included.
Name Number Pos. Year Notes Tellas Jones #1 S RS senior Graduated Cam Denson #3 WR Senior Medically retired from the injury. The Tucson native had one catch for five yards in this season. Kahi Neves #7 LB RS freshman Dismissed from the team. Samajie Grant #10 WR-RB Senior Graduated Michael Barton #11 LB RS senior Graduated Nate Phillips #11 WR Senior Graduated Anu Solomon #12 QB RS junior Elected to transfer to Baylor, he is expected to graduate early and be eligible to play in 2017. Devin Holiday #13 CB Senior Graduated Paul Magloire Jr. #14 LB RS senior Graduated Matt Morin #15 TE RS senior Graduated Josh Kern #17 TE RS senior Graduated Davonte' Neal #19 CB RS senior Graduated Orlando Bradford #21 RB Sophomore dismissed from the football program Tyler Grammer #43 S RS senior Graduated DeJean King #44 S Senior Graduated Jake Matthews #47 LB Senior Graduated Brion Anduze #48 TE RS sophomore Retired from injuries. Justin Holt #50 OT-DT RS freshman Retired from injuries. John Kenny #52 LB RS senior Leaving from the team. Darrell Cloy Jr. #55 DL RS sophomore Medically retires from injuries.Cody Ippolito #57 LB RS senior Elected to transfer to Utah, he is expected to graduate early and be eligible to play in 2017. Matthew Stagg #59 LB RS senior Graduated Aiulua Fanene #62 DL RS senior Graduated Keenan Walker #63 DL RS freshman Elected to transfer to Independence CC. Zach Hemilla #65 OL RS senior Posthumously Graduated Freddie Tagaloa #72 OL RS senior Graduated Harper Sherman #77 OL RS freshman Dismissed from the team. Calvin Allen #94 DL RS junior Elected to transfer to New Mexico State. Sani Fuimano #99 DL Senior Graduated
Preseason
Recruiting Class of 2017
The Wildcats signed 39 players including 10 HS walk-on players, 24 high school recruits, 3 JC transfers from junior colleges and 1 transfers were from NCAA Division I (FBS) programs. Five of the recruits were already enrolled for the spring, 2017 semester while 24 signed letters of intent on National Signing Day is February 3, 2017. Arizona is combined to be a unanimous top-25 class, ranked as high as (#21 by Scout, #15 by Rivals, #26 by ESPN, and #23 by 247) and finish top-5 in the Pac-12 recruitment class (#4 by 247, #4 by Scout, #4 by ESPN, and #4 by Rivals).
Source:
Incoming transfers In addition to the 2017 recruiting class, Arizona did add four transfers, which includes eligible for the current season, to the 2017 roster:
List of incoming transfers Name Pos. Eligible beginning Years of eligibility Previous school Notes Sione Taufahema DT 2017 2 -- Junior college transfer from College of the Canyons. Dereck Boles DL 2017 2 Boise State Junior college transfer from Coffeyville CC. Boles will be eligible to play in 2017. In 2014, Boles was a 3-star recruit out of Lakeland HS in Lakefield, FL. Thiyo Lukusa OL 2017 3 MichiganState transfer from Michigan State. Lukusa will be eligible to play in 2018 (sit out for the 2017 season) due to the NCAA transfer rules. In 2016, Lukusa was a 4-star recruit out of DePaul Catholic HS in Wayne, NJ. Maisen Knight OL 2017 2 -- Junior college transfer from Ventura College.
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Spring practice
Spring game The 2017 Wildcats had spring practice from February 2017 to March 2, 2017. The 2017 Arizona football spring game will take place in Tucson, AZ at a date and time to be determined.
Date Time Spring Game Site TV Result Attendance March 2, 2017 Navy/Blue vs. Red/White Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ P12N 37-21 -
Fall practice Fall camp is scheduled for August.
Pac-12 Media Days Pac-12 media days are set for July 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Returning starters Arizona returns 30 starters in 2017, including 14 on offense, 9 on defense, and 7 on special teams.
Projecting Returning Starters 2017
Offense (14) Player Class Position Games Started Brandon Dawkins (13) RS junior Quarterback Khalil Tate (14) Sophomore Quarterback Nick Wilson (28) Senior Running back Tyrell Johnson (2) Senior Wide receiver Shun Brown (6) Junior Wide receiver Shawn Poindexter (19) Senior Wide receiver Layth Friekh (58) Senior Left tackle Christian Boettcher (69) RS junior Left guard Trevor Wood (8) RS junior Tight end Jacob Alsadek (78) RS senior Right guard Gerhard de Beer (67) RS senior Right tackle Levi Walton (58) RS junior Center
Defense (9) Player Class Position Game started Jarrius Wallace (3) RS freshman Safety Chacho Ulloa (20) Sophomore Safety Jack Banda (92) RS senior Defensive lineman DeAndre' Miller (32) RS senior Linebacker Jarvis McCall Jr. (29) RS senior Cornerback Kwesi Mashack (15) Senior Cornerback Jace Whittaker (17) Junior Cornerback Parker Zellers (93) RS senior Defensive lineman
Special teams (7) Player Class Position Game started Josh Pollack (9) RS sophomore Placekicker 13 games Jake Glatting (16) RS sophomore Punter Matt Aargon (26) RS freshman Punter Nick Reinhardt (56) RS freshman Long snapper Donald Rieter (51) RS freshman Long snapper Zach Werlinger (51) RS sophomore Holder (QB)
† Indicates player was a starter in 2016 but missed all of 2017 due to injury.
Personnel
Roster 2017 Arizona Wildcats roster Quarterbacks Rhett Rodriguez (H), Freshman Zach Werlinger, RS junior K'Hari Lane, Freshman Brandon Dawkins, RS junior Khalil Tate, Sophomore Donavan Tate, Freshman Andrew Tovar, Freshman
Running backs Gary Brightwell, Freshman J. J. Taylor, RS freshman Jamardre Cobb, RS junior Nick Wilson (C), Senior Jake Laudenslager, RS freshman Nathan Tilford, Freshman Zach Green (C), RS senior Dakota Poe, Freshman Noah Pittenger, Freshman Brandon Leon, RS sophomore Quincy Wimbish, RS freshman
Wide receivers Drew Dixon, Freshman Tyrell Johnson (C, KR), Senior Brian Casteel, Freshman Shun Brown (KR/PR), Junior DeVaughn Cooper, RS freshman Tony Ellison (PR), RS junior Cedric Peterson (KR), RS sophomore Shawn Poindexter (C), Senior Darick Holmes Jr., RS sophomore Thomas Reid III, RS freshman Isaiah Randle, Freshman Donovan Walker, RS junior Isaiah Lovett, Freshman Stanley Berryhill, Freshman Zach Benjamin (C), RS senior Donovan Moore, RS junior Tight ends Trevor Wood, RS junior Bryce Gilbert, Freshman Bryce Wolma, Freshman Jamie Nunley, RS freshman
Offensive linemen Josh McCauley, RS freshman Jon Jacobs, RS freshman Bryson Cain (OT), RS freshman Levi Walton, RS junior Layth Friekh (C), Senior Nathan Elridge, RS sophomore Gerhard de Beer (C), RS senior Christian Boettcher, RS junior Thiyo Lukusa, Sophomore Edgar Burrola, Freshman Alex Kosinski, RS sophomore Michael Eletise (OT), RS freshman Cody Creason, RS sophomore Maisen Knight, Junior Jacob Alsadek (C), RS senior Tyson Gardner, Freshman
Defensive end Kylan Wilborn, Freshman Jose Ramirez, Freshman DeAndre' Miller (C), RS senior Francisco Nelson, RS freshman Lee Anderson III, Sophomore Jalen Harris, Freshman My-King Johnson, Freshman Dante Blissit, Freshman Justin Belknap, RS sophomore Jack Banda (C), RS senior Defensive linemen Kurtis Brown, Freshman Luca Bruno (C), RS senior Jalen Cochran, RS freshman Matt Thomas, RS sophomore Finton Connolly, RS sophomore Parker Zellers (C),RS senior Sione Tuafauela (DT), Junior Marcus Griffin (C), RS junior Larry Tharpe Jr., RS junior Dereck Boles, RS junior
Linebackers Tony Fields II, Freshman Gavin Robertson Jr., RS freshman Colin Schooler, Freshman Josh Brown, Freshman Brandon Rutt, RS junior Anthony Pandy, Freshman Carrington Vaughn, RS sophomore Jacob Colacion, RS freshman Rourke Freeburg, Freshman Ken Samson, Freshman Richard Merritt, RS freshman Elijah Ruiz, Freshman Rexx Tessler, Freshman
Cornerbacks Lorenzo Burns, RS freshman Antonio Parks, RS freshman Dane Cruikshank (C), RS senior Malcolm Holland, RS sophomore Kwesi Mashack, (C) Senior Jace Whittaker, Junior Sammy Morrison, RS sophomore Antonio Wallace, Freshman Isaiah Strong, RS senior Malik Hausman, Freshman Lee Pitts, RS freshman Safeties Jarrius Wallace, RS freshman Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (FS), Junior Troy Young, Freshman Chacho Ulloa, Sophomore Scott Young, Freshman Isaiah Hayes, Sophomore Devon Brewer, RS sophomore Anthony Mariscal, RS sophomore Jarvis McCall Jr., (C) RS senior Tristan Cooper, Sophomore Kyeler Burke, Sophomore Xavier Bell, Freshman
Placekickers Josh Pollack, RS sophomore Lucas Havrisik, Freshman
Punters Jake Glatting (H), RS junior Matt Aragon, RS sophomore
Long snappers Donald Reiter, RS freshman Nick Reinhardt , RS junior James Offerman, Freshman
Classes Key: Fr – Freshman; first year player. So – Sophomore; second year player. Jr – Junior; third year player. Sr – Senior; fourth year player. Bold – Team captain. Italics – Left team during the season. RS – Previously used a redshirt. – Redshirt during 2017 season. – Injured for entire or majority of season and is eligible for a medical redshirt.
Arizona Wildcats roster
*2017 Arizona Football Commits (07/28/2017) Projecting Roster
Coaching staff Rich Rodriguez Head coach 6th year Calvin Magee Associate head coach and co-Offensive coordinator/running backs 6th year Rod Smith Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach 6th year Vince Amey Defensive line coach 2nd year Marcel Yates Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach 2nd year Brian Knorr Tight ends coach and special teams coordinator 1st year Theron Aych Assistant coach and wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator 1st year Scott Boone Assistant coach and linebackers 1st year Jahmile Addae Assistant coach and safeties 2nd year Jim Michalczik Assistant coach and OL 4th year Chuck Cecil Senior defensive analyst 1st year Chris Allen Associate athletic director, co-strength/conditioning coach 6th yearReference:2017 Arizona Wildcats Football Media Guide, p. 2
Depth chart
Depth Chart Source: 2017 Arizona Wildcats Football Fact Book
True Freshman Double Position : *
Injury report Player Position Status Injury Date of Injury Date of Return (Anticipated) DeAndre Miller LB Out Foot Sept. 2 TBA Bryson Cain OL Out (season) Knee Sept. 2 2018 Jalen Cochran DL Out (season) torn pectoral tendon Sept. 2 2018 Nick Reinhardt LS Out (season) Knee Sept. 15 2018 Carrington Vaughn LB Out (season) Knee Sept. 15 2018 Jamie Nunley TE Out Shoulder Sept. 15 TBA Cam Denson WR Out Foot Sept. 2 Sept. 9th Isaiah Hayes S Out Shoulder Sept. 2 TBA Donovan Walker WR Out Shoulder Sept. 9 TBA
Regular season
Schedule