Ahead of Arizona’s month-long training camp that begins Wednesday, the Wildcats will hold a media day and roll out 16 players expected to have an impact in 2023.
Here’s a look at the players participating in Arizona’s media day Tuesday, as the Wildcats look to improve on last year’s 5-7 campaign entering the third season under head coach Jedd Fisch:
Wide receiver Jacob Cowing makes a catch running routes during an Arizona Wildcats spring practice session in late March.
Jacob Cowing
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Maricopa (UTEP)
The rundown: Cowing was a highly-touted prospect in the transfer portal well over a year ago — and he showed why in his first season at the UA, leading the Pac-12 in receptions (85) and becoming the only player in the conference with over 80 catches; he also averaged 7.5 yards after catch (YAC). Cowing returns to Arizona’s high-powered offense, which ranked sixth nationally in passing yards last season, as one of the UA’s premier playmakers.
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Quarterback Jayden de Laura cocks to throw while working with the receivers at the University of Arizona spring practice session on March 30, 2023.
Jayden de Laura
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Honolulu (Washington State)
The rundown: Despite throwing a Pac-12-worst 13 interceptions, de Laura threw for 3,685 yards — the third-most in a season by a UA quarterback — and 25 touchdowns. Over the summer, de Laura attended the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana and the “3DQB†camp in Huntington Beach, California. De Laura has added at least 15 pounds since joining Arizona last season.
Kevin Green Jr. waits on a throw as the receivers work routes with the quarterbacks during the University of Arizona’s spring practice session on March 28, 2023.
Kevin Green
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt freshman
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Mission Hills, California (Bishop Alemany High School)
The rundown: The addition of former Colorado receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig likely bumped Green from the starting rotation to a reserve role, but the former USC commit is expected to have a role for Arizona’s receiving corps.
Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, left, signals a first down behind ASU linebacker James Djonkam in the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 25, 2022.
Jonah Savaiinaea
Position: Right tackle
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6-5
Weight: 335 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Honolulu (St. Louis High School)
The rundown: Savaiinaea, who started all 12 games at right guard as a true freshman, will start at right tackle for the Wildcats this season. Savaiinaea was a Freshman All-American and only allowed two sacks and was penalized twice, according to Pro Football Focus.
Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan, top, jumps over UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Tanner McLachlan
Position: Tight end
Year: Redshirt senior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 240 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (Southern Utah)
The rundown: McLachlan’s 456 yards are the most by an Arizona tight end since Rob Gronkowski in 2008. Other contributors at tight end for Arizona include 6-6, 235-pound sophomore Keyan Burnett.
Arizona running back Michael Wiley jets into the end zone past falling ASU DB Jordan Clark in the third quarter of last year’s win over the Sun Devils.
Michael Wiley
Position: Running back
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Houston (Strake Jesuit High School)
The rundown: The Bob Moran MVP recipient for his career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona State will pilot a running back room that also includes sophomore Jonah Coleman, former Florida State transfer D.J. Williams and sophomore Rayshon “Speedy†Luke.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV offensive lineman Jordan Morgan takes the field during the first half of Arizona’s 43-20 win over Colorado last year.
Jordan Morgan
Position: Left tackle
Year: Senior
Height: 6-6
Weight: 320 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Marana (Marana High School)
The rundown: A season-ending knee injury in Arizona’s upset win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl sidelined Morgan for the remainder of the ’22 season and hindered him from NFL Draft preparation, which could be a blessing in disguise for the Wildcats. Morgan is rated by PFF as the best tackle in the Pac-12 entering the season. Morgan and Savaiinaea bookending Arizona’s offensive line is among the top tackle tandems in the Pac-12.
Arizona punter Kyle Ostendorp watches the ball as Tyler Loop kicks the extra point during the Wildcats’ Sept. 17, 2022, win over North Dakota State.
Kyle Ostendorp
Position: Punter
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215
Hometown (previous school): Phoenix (Desert Vista High School)
The rundown: The 2021 All-Pac-12 First Team selection averaged 45.5 yards per punt last season and had three touchbacks and 10 punts pin opponents inside the 20-yard line.
UCLA defensive back Martell Irby (12) runs to the end zone for a touchdown past Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Martell Irby
Position: Defensive back
Year: Senior
Height: 5-9
Weight: 208 pounds
Hometown (previous school): San Diego (UCLA)
The rundown: The former UCLA running back and defensive back retired from football last summer, citing mental health reasons, before reuniting with former UCLA assistant coach and current defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen. Irby received snaps at nickel back in the spring.
Linebacker Jacob Manu sprays water into the stands as the fans and players get into a wet war behind the bench during Arizona’s spring football game at Arizona Stadium on April 15.
Jacob Manu
Position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore
Height: 5-11
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Santa Ana, California (Servite High School)
The rundown: Manu became a mainstay in Arizona’s defense during the second half of the season after impressing UA coaches in practice as a scout-team linebacker against the Wildcats’ starting offense. Despite limited action in the first half of the season, Manu was second on the team in quarterback hurries (16), according to PFF. Manu is expected to start at “Will†linebacker alongside Oregon transfer Justin Flowe this season.
UCLA lineman Tyler Manoa sits on the sideline during a game against Alabama State in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Manoa transferred to Arizona this offseason.
Tyler Manoa
Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Senior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 310 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Hayward, California (UCLA)
The rundown: Manoa was among the standouts on Arizona’s defensive line in the spring. The former Bruin is one several reinforcements on the defensive front Nansen lured to Tucson.
Former Georgia Bulldog Bill Norton is one of several front-six signees in Arizona’s 2023 recruiting class.
Bill Norton
Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Senior
Height: 6-6
Weight: 300 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Memphis, Tennessee (Georgia)
The rundown: Norton had limited action in the NFL factory — also known as Georgia’s defensive line — but the ex-Bulldog adds size and experience to a defense that finished 10th in the Pac-12 in stopping the run.
Kamuela Kaaihue is one of three players from Hawaii the Wildcats have signed for 2023.Â
Kamuela Ka’aihue
Position: Linebacker
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Honolulu (President Theodore Roosevelt High School)
The rundown: Ka’aihue was an early enrollee in the spring and earned starting reps in pinches during team segments in the spring. Ka’aihue didn’t participate in the spring game after suffering a lower-body injury during Arizona’s final scrimmage.
Arizona's Treydan Stukes broke up a pass intended for ASU's Cam Johnson during Arizona State at Arizona football at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 25, 2022. However, Arizona was penalized for pass interference on the play.
Treydan Stukes
Position: Nickel back
Year: Junior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Litchfield Park, Arizona (Goodyear Millennium High School)
The rundown: Stukes, who changed his jersey number from 20 to 2, will start at nickel back in Nansen’s 4-2-5 defense this season after starting at cornerback last year.
Arizona defensive back Gunner Maldonado jumps into the arms of his teammates after hitting an extra point kick during the University of Arizona football’s spring game at Arizona Stadium on April 15, 2023.
Gunner Maldonado
Position: Safety
Year: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 pound5
Hometown (previous school): Chandler (Northwestern)
The rundown: Maldonado was productive late in the season at nickel back and finished with a career-high 48 tackles, but returned to strong safety in the spring.
Chandler Hamilton safety Genesis Smith is seen by some as the secret to Arizona's 2023 recruiting class.
Genesis Smith
Position: Safety
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Chandler (Chandler Hamilton High School)
The rundown: Smith ended Arizona’s first scrimmage in the spring by intercepting de Laura in the end zone, and became one of the Wildcats’ top safeties. UA safeties coach Chuck Cecil said Smith is “not soft. He’s good with contact. And that works for me.â€
Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura and nickel back Treydan Stukes were the player representatives for the UA at Pac-12 Media on Friday in Las Vegas.
Contact sports producer Justin Spears at jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter: @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
