Something funny, nice and a bit surprising happened to Arizona football since the dawn of the transfer portal and NIL era.
The Wildcats got good.
Perhaps against all odds in a world where most felt money ruled all, with some credit to reputation and facilities as well, Arizona — which will never be mistaken for the richest or most “endowed” program, has managed to put together a roster that from the looks of it is among the best in the Big 12.
Justin McIllice, creator of the College Football Atlas and a recent guest on Wildcat Radio 2.0, pointed to the talent in Tucson as a key factor in the team’s positive projection for the season. When it came to work regarding the portal, Arizona ranked 16th in the nation.
“There’s a lot of focus on what teams added; you know, a lot of the rankings will be based on what did you add in the portal, who are the big names you brought in and all those things, and that’s great, that’s exciting and fun,” McIllice said. “But it’s just as important to retain players, and that was done here.”
A little more than a decade ago then-Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez quipped that “the good news is we return a lot of guys, and the bad news is we return a lot of guys.”
As we sit here today the good news is Arizona returns a lot of guys. The bad news is hard to find.
As McIllice noted, Arizona was a good and talented team last year, and even with what was lost to the NFL and graduation there’s “no reason to think that they would drop off this year.”
Neither McIllice nor myself are predicting Arizona to make the College Football Playoff, but the numbers and eye test reveal the idea isn’t all that far-fetched. The Cats have Noah Fifita, after all, which means they may very well have the best quarterback on the field in every game they play.
Fifita is the headliner, but up and down the roster you see players with solid floors and potential to bee so much more. For the sake of this column’s length there will not be a list of names who fit the mold, but just take a look at the depth chart and you’ll see it.
Running back. Wide receiver. Tight end. Defensive back. Linebacker. Defensive line.
Even the offensive line looks like it could be not a weakness, but a strength.
At least, so sayeth the Atlas.
Arizona amassed this talent with one just Top 25 recruiting class (2022) and not a single transfer portal haul that had anyone turning their heads. It doesn’t matter.
You watched this team last year, right? You saw what this coaching staff was capable of and you are aware of what the roster brought back and brought in. Hedge if you want, but this is a program that should have every expectation of at the very least maintaining its high level of play.
And if the team stays healthy and the right players elevate their play?
In that case, especially given the schedule Arizona could be in for a very special season.
Now this is Arizona and when it comes to football rarely it seems can we have nice things. Even when things are going well we often wait for the other shoe to drop, and an injury to a certain QB for example would certainly derail much of the momentum and dash most hope.
But most of the better programs in the nation are in a similar boat, with the transfer portal doing plenty to limit depth, especially at that position. Every team’s dreams can be crushed with some misfortune, although it’s certainly true that some can withstand injuries and other challenges better than others.
Odds are Arizona is not in the group that can whether a considerable storm, but there’s no shame in that.
In fact, there should be pride in the fact that with less than a month until the season begins the Wildcats are seen as a top-third team in the Big 12 and likely a fringe Top 25 team in all of college football.
It’s a product of an athletic department that has found its footing and a coaching staff that has found its stride. Together, they have built a roster that can win games.
“Bad coaching can sink you, but (if you have) a bad roster you have no hope,” McIllice said. “So Arizona does not have a bad roster, quite the opposite. You start with Fifita and then you work your way through. And this is certainly a roster that can compete in the Big 12.”
Indeed.