The 2021 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, and they played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. It was the Wildcats' 122nd season overall and 43rd as a member of the Pac-12 Conference and 11th in the Pac-12 South Division.
Offseason
Coaching changes
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Players Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Gary Brightwell #23 RB 6'1 210 Senior Chester, PA Graduated/Declared for NFL draft Lorenzo Burns #2 DB 5'11 175 RS senior Murrieta, CA Graduated/Declared for NFL draft Roy Lopez 51 DL 6'2 310 Graduate Student Tempe, AZ Graduated/Declared for NFL draft Steven Bailey 63 C 6'3 313 RS senior Litchfield Park, AZ Graduated Dante Diaz-Infante 40 DE 6'1 262 Senior Phoenix, AZ Graduated
Outgoing transfers
The Wildcats lost fifteen players via transfer portal for the 2021 season.
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Grant Gunnell #17 QB Sophomore The Woodlands, TX Memphis Robert Congel #66 OL Junior Greenwood Village, CO Oklahoma Jamari Williams #55 OL Freshman Fort Lauderdale, FL Middle Tennessee Rhett Rodriguez #4 QB Junior Catalina Foothills, AZ Louisiana-Monroe Kylan Wilborn #14 LB Junior Northridge, CA UNLV Khary Crump #20 DB Freshman Culver City, CA Michigan State Drew Dixon #1 WR Junior Tucson, AZ TBD Edric Whitley #11 DB Freshman Pflugerville, TX Kilgore College Frank Brown #8 RB Freshman Houston, TX TBD Mykee Irving #60 DL Junior Calabasas, CA San Diego Jarrius Wallace #3 S Senior Villa, LA McNeese State Kevin Doyle #12 QB Junior Washington, D.C. William & Mary Nathan Tilford #33 RB Junior Fontana, CA UT Permian Basin Cameron Fietz #16 QB Junior Calgary, Alberta TBD Darrell Branch #71 OG Freshman Gilbert, AZ Tennessee State Derrick Mourning #18 LB Freshman Gilbert, AZ Kilgore College
Incoming transfers
The Wildcats add fourteen players via transfer portal from the 2020 season.
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Mohamed Diallo #-- DL Senior Toronto, Canada Central Michigan Isaiah Rutherford #2 CB Sophomore Sacramento, CA Notre Dame Jordan McCloud #4 QB Sophomore Tampa, FL South Florida Jason Harris #6 LB Freshman Gilbert, AZ Colorado Drake Anderson #8 RB Sophomore Chandler, AZ Northwestern Gunner Cruz #9 QB Freshman Gilbert, AZ Washington State Gunner Maldonado #9 DB Freshman Chandler, AZ Northwestern Kenny Hebert #21 LB Senior New Orleans, LA Vanderbilt Treshaun Hayward #23 LB Senior Ypsilanti, MI Western Michigan Jerry Roberts #33 LB Junior Erie, PA Bowling Green Alex Lines #34 TE Freshman Gilbert, AZ UNLV Clay Markoff #44 RB Senior Olympia, WA Washington State Malik Reed #53 LB Freshman Chandler, AZ Wisconsin Davis DiVall #79 OL Freshman Phoenix, AZ Baylor Leevel Tatum #97 DE Senior Fresno, CA Fresno State
Recruiting class The Wildcats signed a total of 18 scholarship recruits and 7 walk-ons during national signing period.
Overall class rankings ESPN — — 0 0 0 Rivals 68 11 0 1 22 247 Sports 77 11 0 1 22
Recruits
2021 NFL draft
The following Wildcats were selected in the 2021 NFL draft.
6 195 Roy Lopez DT Houston Texans 6 196 Gary Brightwell RB New York Giants
Returning starters
Offense
Player Class Position Will Plummer Sophomore Quarterback Michael Wiley Sophomore Running back Jarmarye Joiner RS junior Wide receiver Stanley Berryhill RS senior Wide receiver Bryce Wolma Grad Student Tight end Josh McCauley Grad Student Offensive lineReference:
Defense Player Class Position J.B. Brown Grad Student Defensive end Anthony Pandy Grad Student Linebacker Christian Young Senior Defensive backReference:
Special teams
Player Class Position Lucas Havrisik Grad Student Placekicker Kyle Ostendorp Junior Punter Seth MacKellar Junior Long snapper Tayvian Cunningham Grad Student Kickoff Returner Jarmarye Joiner RS junior Punt ReturnerReference:
† Indicates player was a starter in 2020 but missed all of 2021 due to injury.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Doak Walker AwardMichael WileyRBSo.Rimington TrophyJosh McCauleyCGS.Wuerffel TrophyBryce WolmaTEGSEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardMichael WileyRBSo.Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardDonovan LaieOLSr.
Pac-12 Media Day The Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 27, 2021, in Hollywood, California. Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch, wide receiver Stanley Berryhill, and linebacker Anthony Pandy were in attendance to field questions from the media.
In the preseason media poll, Arizona was predicted to finish sixth in the Pac-12 South Division.
Preseason All-Pac-12 teams
Second team Position Player Class Team Second Team Special teams PK Lucas Havrisik Sr. Arizona
Personnel
Coaching staff Jedd Fisch Head coach University of Florida (1998) 1st Brennan Carroll Offensive Coordinator, Offensive line coach University of Pittsburgh (2001) 1st Jimmie Dougherty Assistant coach, Quarterbacks, Passing game coordinator University of Missouri (2002) 1st Scottie Graham Assistant coach, Running Backs Ohio State University (1996) 1st Kevin Cummings Assistant coach, Wide receivers Oregon State University (2014) 1st Jordan Paopao Assistant coach, Tight Ends & Co-Special Teams Coordinator University of San Diego (2008) 1st Don Brown Defensive Coordinator Norwich University (1977) 1st Ricky Hunley Assistant coach, Defensive Line University of Arizona (1983) 1st Chuck Cecil Assistant coach, Safeties University of Arizona (1987) 1st DeWayne Walker Assistant coach, Cornerbacks University of Minnesota (1981) 1st Keith Dudzinski Assistant coach, Linebackers & Co-Special Teams Coordinator University of New Haven (1991) 1st Tedy Bruschi Senior Advisor to Head Coach University of Arizona (1995) 1st Tyler Owens Director of Strength and Conditioning University of Alabama (2015) 1st
Graduate assistants Luke McNitt Offensive graduate assistant University of Nebraska–Lincoln (2018) 2nd Darren Andrews Graduate Assistant, wide receivers coach UCLA (2018) 1st Ty Nichols Graduate Assistant Texas Tech University (2020) 1st Garrison Smith Graduate Assistant University of Georgia (2013) 3rd
Analysts Derron Montgomery Assistant running backs coach, Senior Offensive Analyst Abilene Christian University (2011) 1st Beyah Rasool Assistant Defensive backs coach, Senior Defensive Analyst Eastern Arizona College (2007) 1st Scott Spurrier Special Teams Analyst University of South Carolina (2008) 1st Darell Garretson Offensive Analyst Oregon State University (2016) 1st Aaron Van Horn Defensive Analyst University of Michigan (2019) 1st Kyle Rosenbaum Recruiting Analyst Indiana University (2020) 1st
Roster 2021 Arizona Wildcats rosterQuarterback 4 – Jordan McCloud – junior (6'0, 200) 9 – Gunner Cruz – sophomore (6'5, 227) 12 – Brayden Zermeno – freshman (6'4, 219) 13 – Luke Ashworth – junior (6'2, 208) 15 – Will Plummer – sophomore (6'1, 204) 17 – Jaden White – freshman (6'0, 197)
Running back 6 – Michael Wiley – junior (5'11, 207) 8 – Drake Anderson – sophomore (5'11, 194) 20 – Darrius Smith – junior (5'9, 187) 21 – Jalen John – sophomore (5'11, 221) 23 – Stevie Rocker – freshman (6'0, 202) 28 – Nazar Bombata – junior (6'0, 202) 29 – Jashon Butler – sophomore (5'10, 201) 33 – James Bohls – freshman (6'0, 211) 44 – Clay Markoff – Graduate (5'10, 239)
Wide receiver 1 – Stanley Berryhill – senior (5'11, 190) 2 – Boobie Curry – junior (6'2, 211) 3 – Jalen Johnson – Sophomore (6'2, 209) 5 – Brian Casteel – senior (6'0, 197) 7 – Jaden Mitchell – freshman (5'9, 182) 10 – Jamarye Joiner – junior (6'1, 208) 11 – Tayvian Cunningham – Graduate (5'7, 183) 16 – Thomas Reid III – Graduate (6'3, 221) 18 – Ma'Jon Wright – freshman (6'2, 197) 24 – Dorian Singer – freshman (6'1, 185) 25 – Anthony Simpson – freshman (5'11, 184) 26 – Jaden Clark – freshman (5'10, 172) 84 – Tristen D'Angelo – junior (6'3, 200)
Tight ends 80 – Connor Hutchings – Graduate (6'5, 230) 81 – Bryce Wolma – Graduate (6'4, 237) 82 – Zach Williams – junior (6'3, 239) 83 – Colby Powers – freshman (6'4, 230) 85 – Roberto Miranda – sophomore (6'2, 217) 87 – Stacey Marshall – senior (6'5, 262) 88 – Alex Lines – freshman (6'5, 245)
Placekicker 32 – Jacob Meeker-Hackett Graduate (6'0, 215) 33 – Tyler Loop – sophomore (6'0, 180) 43 – Lucas Havrisik – Graduate (6'2, 188) Offensive Lineman 50 – Josh McCauley – OL – Graduate (6'4, 310) 51 – Lucas Eckardt – OT – freshman (6'6, 290) 54 – Matthew Stefanski – OG – junior (6'4, 324) 55 – JT Hand – OL – freshman (6'4, 310) 56 – Josh Donovan – OT – senior (6'5, 320) 58 – Sam Langi – OG – junior (6'5, 311) 65 – Leif Magnuson – OT – freshman (6'4, 296) 67 – David Watson – OT – junior (6'5, 290) 71 – Jaxon McBride – OT – freshman (6'5, 295) 73 – Woody Jean – OL – sophomore (6'4, 302) 74 – Paiton Fears – OT – senior (6'6, 307) 75 – Josh Baker – OL – sophomore (6'3, 305) 76 – Anthony Patt – OT – sophomore (6'5, 275) 77 – Jordan Morgan – OT – junior (6'6, 312) 78 – Donovan Laie – OT – senior (6'5, 323) 79 – Davis DiVall – OG – freshman (6'4, 295)
Defensive Lineman 1 – Jalen Harris – DT – senior (6'5, 254) 12 – JB Brown – DT – Graduate (6'3, 281) 17 – Regen Terry – DE – freshman (6'4, 284) 26 – Mohamed Diallo – Graduate Student (6'4, 306) 41 – Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa – DE – freshman (6'3, 245) 44 – Shontrail Key – DT – freshman (6'4, 261) 52 – Aaron Blackwell – DT – Graduate (6'3, 284) 55 – Evan Branch-Haynes – DE – freshman (6'2, 309) 58 – Nahe Sulunga – DT – junior (6'3, 253) 90 – Trevon Mason – DT – Graduate (6'5, 305) 91 – Alex Navarro-Silva – Sophomore (6'5, 280) 92 – Kyon Barrs – DT – junior (6'3, 295) 93 – Ugochukwu Nosike – DT – freshman (6'3, 280) 94 – Dion Wilson Jr. – DE – freshman (6'4, 285) 95 – Paris Shand – DE – sophomore (6'5, 281) 96 – Reid Codwell – DT – freshman (6'2, 262) 97 – Leevel Tatum III – DT – Graduate (6'1, 285) 99 – Myles Tapusoa – DT – Graduate (6'1, 345)
Punter 19 – Kyle Ostendorp – junior (6'1, 215) Linebacker 6 – Jason Harris – freshman (6'7, 255) 8 – Anthony Pandy – Graduate (6'1, 228) 10 – Jabar Triplett – freshman (6'1, 238) 11 – Kolbe Cage – freshman (6'0, 205) 18 – Kenny Hebert – Graduate (6'4, 231) 23 – Treshaun Hayward – Graduate (6'1, 229) 29 – Jackson Bailey – freshman (6'3, 237) 32 – Matt Weerts – freshman (6'1, 223) 34 – John Burton – sophomore (5'11, 205) 35 – Rashie Hodge Jr. – Graduate (5'11, 214) 36 – RJ Edwards – freshman (6'2, 217) 37 – Kevon Garcia – freshman (6'2, 240) 38 – Dante Smith – junior (5'10, 222) 40 – Ammon Allen – freshman (6'3, 194) 42 – DJ Fryar Jr. – freshman (6'2, 227) 45 – Issaiah Johnson – sophomore (6'1, 245) 46 – Victor Zayas – freshman (6'2, 220) 47 – Rourke Freeburg – senior (6'2, 220) 48 – Jerry Roberts – Graduate (6'2, 226) 51 – Chandler Kelly – sophomore (6'2, 222) 53 – Malik Reed – freshman (6'1, 225)
Defensive backs 2 – Isaiah Rutherford – CB – sophomore (6'1, 195) 3 – Jaydin Young – S – freshman (6'0, 192) 4 – Christian Roland-Wallace – CB – sophomore (6'0, 194) 5 – Christian Young – S – senior (6'3, 217) 7 – Rhedi Short – S – senior (6'1, 196) 9 – Gunner Maldonado – S – freshman (6'0, 195) 13 – Isaiah Mays – CB – senior (6'1, 193) 14 – Logan Kraut – S – freshman (6'2, 197) 15 – McKenzie Barnes – CB – senior (6'2, 185) 16 – Dalton Johnson – S – freshman (5'11, 187) 19 – Adama Fall – CB – freshman (6'2, 200) 20 – Treydan Stukes – CB – sophomore (6'1, 184) 21 – Jaxen Turner – S – junior (6'0, 209) 23 – Malik Hausman – CB – senior (6'0, 187) 25 – Javione Carr – CB – freshman (5'11, 182) 27 – Jakelyn Morgan – CB – freshman (6'0, 170) 28 – Isaiah Taylor – S – freshman (5'11, 196) 30 – Anthony Gonzales – S – freshman (5'10, 183)