2019 Arizona Wildcats football team


The 2019 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Wildcats' 120th season. They played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona and competed as members of the South Division in the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. They finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in last place in the South Division.
Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates was fired after eight games. He was hired to be the defensive backs coach at California in 2020.

Previous season

Offseason

The Wildcats have 12 senior graduates only graduated players noted until spring practice. As well as one junior who would choose to forgo their senior season in pursuit of an early NFL career. The Wildcats would lose 14 more players from the 2018 team due to various reasons. Notable departures from the 2018 squad included.
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
P.J. Johnson#52DT6'4335RS JuniorSacramento, CADeclared for 2019 NFL Draft
Layth Friekh#58OL6'5297RS SeniorGlendale, AZGraduated/2019 NFL Draft
Shawn Poindexter#19WR6'5218RS SeniorPeoria, AZGraduated/2019 NFL Draft
Dylan Klumph#42P6'3229RS SeniorMalibu, CAGraduated
Josh Pollack#30PK5'10184RS SeniorHighland Park, ILGraduated
Jake Glatting#18P6'3221RS SeniorPhoenix, AZGraduated
Tim Hough#8CB5'11195RS SeniorDetroit, MIGraduated
Dereck Boles#99DT6'2306RS SeniorKingston, JamaicaGraduated
Matt Thomas#90DT6'1278RS SeniorTucson, AZGraduated
Nick Reinhardt#49LS6'1241RS SeniorScottsdale, AZGraduated
Tony Ellison#9WR5'11189RS SeniorGranite Bay, CAGraduated
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles#6S6'2209SeniorTucson, AZGraduated
Shun Brown#6WR5'10188SeniorShreveport, LAGraduated
Jamie Nunley#85TE6'5230RS SophomoreMurrieta, CAMedically retirement
Jacob Colacion#34LB6'1218RS SophomoreLa Habra, CAMedically retirement

Recruiting

The 2019 football recruiting cycle was the first in which the NCAA authorized two signing periods for high school seniors in that sport. In addition to the traditional spring period starting with National Signing Day in February 2019, a new early signing period was introduced, with the first such period falling from December 19, 2018.

Transfers

Outgoing
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownNew school
Kurtis Brown#44DT6'1"291RS-JuniorBakersfield, CAFresno State Bulldogs
Nathan Eldridge#75OL6'3"292RS-SeniorAnthem, AZOregon State Beavers
Michael Eletise#47OL6'3"323RS-JuniorHonolulu, HIHawaii Rainbow Warriors
K'Hari Lane#11QB6'1"222RS-FreshmanMontezuma, GAHutchinson Community College
Sammy Morrison#27CB5'10"177RS-SeniorLeesburg, VASan Diego State Aztecs
Antonio Parks#4CB5'10"204RS-JuniorNew Orleans, LAUTSA Roadrunners
Isaiah Hayes#21S6'0191JuniorLos Angeles, CaliforniaLouisville Cardinals
Geno Albini#66LS5'11213RS FreshmanAustin, TexasTexas Tech Red Raiders
Azizi Hearn#20CB6'1193RS FreshmanOceanside, CaliforniaWyoming Cowboys
DeVaughn Cooper#7WR5'10175RS SophomoreLos Angeles, CaliforniaUTEP Miners
Brandon Leon#38RB5'8"213RS-SeniorGoodyear, AZTBD
Thiyo Lukusa#70OL6'5"308RS-JuniorTraverse City, MITBD
Anthony Mariscal#38RB5'10"212RS-SeniorBakersfield, CATBD
Sione Taufahema#94DT6'1"339RS-SeniorMission Hills, CATBD
Jailen Bailey#83WR5'10"163FreshmanSan Diego, CATBD

Incoming
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrev. school
Josh Donovan#56OT6'5"3252019College Station, TXTrinity Valley Community College
Myles Tapusoa#99DT6'2"3202019Salt Lake City, UTEastern Arizona College
Trevon Mason#90DT6'3"2902019Arlington, TXNavarro College
Paiton Fears#74OT6'5"3252019Hutchinson, KSHutchinson Community College
Zach Lord#75OT6'10"2652019Liberty Hill, TXDallas Baptist University
Samari Springs#29S6'0"1892019Ashburn, VARichmond Spiders

Position key

Returning starters

Offense
Defense
Special Teams
† Indicates player was a starter in 2018 but missed all of 2019 due to injury.

Spring game

The 2019 Wildcats had spring practice in March 2019. The 2019 Arizona football spring game will take place in Tucson, AZ on April 13, 2019 at 6:00 pm MT with the Defense team beating the Offense team 87–30.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyColin SchoolerLBJR
Maxwell AwardKhalil TateQBSR
Maxwell AwardJ.J. TaylorRBRS JR
Bednarik AwardColin SchoolerLBJR
Davey O'Brien AwardKhalil TateQBSR
Doak Walker AwardJ.J. TaylorRBRS JR
John Mackey AwardBryce WolmaTEJR
Rimington TrophyJosh McCauleyCRS SR
Butkus AwardTony FieldsLBJR
Butkus AwardColin SchoolerLBJR
Bronko Nagurski TrophyColin SchoolerLBJR
Wuerffel TrophyMalcolm HollandCBRS JR
Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardDonovan LaieOLSO
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardKhalil TateQBSR
Manning AwardKhalil TateQBSR

Pac-12 Media Day

The 2019 Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin, quarterback Khalil Tate, and running back J.J. Taylor were in attendance to field questions from the media.
In the 2019 Pac-12 preseason media poll, Arizona was voted to finish in fifth place in the South Division.
Media poll

Preseason All Pac-12 teams

The Wildcats had 2 players at 2 positions selected to the preseason all Pac-12 teams.
Offense
2nd team
J.J. Taylor – RB
Defense
1st team
Colin Schooler – LB
Specialists
1st team
J.J. Taylor – RET

Personnel

Coaching staff

Roster

Depth chart

Starters and backups.
Depth Chart Source: 2019 Arizona Wildcats Football Fact Book
True Freshman

Double Position : *

Schedule

Arizona announced its 2019 football schedule on December 4, 2018. The 2019 Wildcats' schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games for the regular season. Arizona host 4 Pac-12 opponents Oregon State, UCLA, Utah and Washington, host 5 Pac-12 opponents on the road to arch-rival Arizona State for the 92nd annual Territorial Cup to close out the regular season, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford and USC. Arizona is not scheduled to play Pac-12 North opponents California and Washington State for the 2019 Pac-12 regular season. The Wildcats has 3 bye weeks comes during Week 1, Week 4 and Week 11.
Arizona's out of conference opponents represent the Big Sky, Big 12 and Mountain West conferences. The Wildcats will host two non–conference games which are against Northern Arizona from the and Texas Tech and travel to Hawaii from the.

Game summaries

at Hawaii

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaHawaii
First downs2731
Total yards539595
Rushing yards178159
Passing yards361436
Turnovers26
Time of possession22:0437:56

Northern Arizona

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsNorthern ArizonaArizona
First downs2627
Total yards442720
Rushing yards69431
Passing yards373289
Turnovers20
Time of possession26:2133:39

Texas Tech

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsTexas TechArizona
First downs2223
Total yards411499
Rushing yards104314
Passing yards307185
Turnovers23
Time of possession25:0834:52

UCLA

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsUCLAArizona
First downs2125
Total yards445451
Rushing yards21799
Passing yards228352
Turnovers10
Time of possession31:5628:04

at Colorado

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaColorado
First downs2226
Total yards487496
Rushing yards83159
Passing yards404337
Turnovers10
Time of possession24:5735:03

Washington

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsWashingtonArizona
First downs1818
Total yards450360
Rushing yards207151
Passing yards243209
Turnovers14
Time of possession34:2425:36

at USC

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaUSC
First downs2216
Total yards385448
Rushing yards142201
Passing yards243247
Turnovers31
Time of possession30:0229:58

at Stanford

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaStanford
First downs2926
Total yards495472
Rushing yards222160
Passing yards273312
Turnovers20
Time of possession25:2934:31

Oregon State

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsOregon StateArizona
First downs3133
Total yards572526
Rushing yards244148
Passing yards328378
Turnovers00
Time of possession29:3530:25

at Oregon

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaOregon
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Utah

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsUtahArizona
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

at Arizona State

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

Sources:
Statistics
StatisticsArizonaArizona State
First downs1923
Total yards383339
Rushing yards155235
Passing yards228104
Turnovers30
Time of possession25:3131:44

Statistics

Offense

;Rushing
Note: G = Games played; ATT = Attempts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per carry; LG = Longest run; TD = Rushing touchdowns
NameGPAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
#23 Gary Brightwell4332656259 yards7.84 TDs9464.8
#14 Khalil Tate 34226729238 yards78.42 TDs8479.3
#21 J.J. Taylor3352135208 yards5.92 TDs4069.3
#20 Darrius Smith3231864182 yards7.91 TDs4760.7
#33 Nathan Tilford31081774 yards7.41 TDs2824.7
#6 Michael Wiley41855649 yards2.70 TDs912.2
#5 Brian Casteel 4214014 yards7.00 TDs93.5
#28 Nazar Bombata2212012 yards6.00 TDs76.0
#17 Grant Gunnell 2821156 yards0.80 TDs93.0
#11 Tayvian Cunningham 4101-1 yards-1.00 TDs0-0.2
#4 Rhett Rodriguez 1103-3 yards-3.00 TDs0-3.0
TEAM44016-16 yards-4.00 TDs0-4.0
Total41691,114921,022 yards6.010 TDs94255.5

;Passing
Note: G = Games played; COMP = Completions; ATT = Attempts; COMP % = Completion percentage; YDS = Passing yards; TD = Passing touchdowns; INT = Interceptions; EFF = Passing efficiency
NameGPAtt-Cmp-IntPctEFFPYdsTDLngAvg/G
#14 Khalil Tate350–74–463.3%150.96684 yards6 TDs57228.0
#17 Grant Gunnell233–55–069.1%169.91503 yards4 TDs75251.5
Total488–134–465.7%158.741,187 yards10 TDs75296.8

;Receiving
Note: G = Games played; REC = Receptions; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per catch; LG = Longest catch; TD = Receiving touchdowns
NameGPAttYardsAvgTDLongAvg/G
#86 Stanley Berryhill III412187 yards15.62 TDs5746.8
#11 Tayvian Cunningham416177 yards11.12 TDs4744.2
#20 Darrius Smith 38153 yards19.12 TDs7551.0
#10 Jamarye Joiner410139 yards13.91 TDs2734.8
#18 Cedric Peterson48107 yards13.41 TDs4726.8
#5 Brian Casteel414106 yards7.60 TDs1726.5
#1 Drew Dixon49100 yards1.11 TDs2425.0
#16 Thomas Reid III4285 yards42.51 TDs7521.2
#6 Michael Wiley 4581 yards16.20 TDs3420.2
#81 Bryce Wolma3114 yards14.01 TDs147.0
#9 Jalen Johnson1114 yards14.00 TDs1414.0
#21 J.J. Taylor 3113 yards13.00 TDs134.3
#23 Gary Brightwell 4111 yards11.00 TDs112.8
Total4881,187 yards13.510 TDs75296.8

Defense

Note: G = Games played; Solo = Solo tackles; Ast = Assisted tackles; Total = Total tackles; TFL-Yds = Tackles for loss-yards lost; Sack = Sacks; INT = Interceptions; PD = Passes defended; FF = Forced fumbles; FR = Forced recoveries

Special teams

Kick and punt returning
Note: G = Games played; PR = Punt returns; PYDS = Punt return yards; PLG = Punt return long; KR = Kick returns; KYDS = Kick return yards; KLG = Kick return long; TD = Total return touchdowns
Pos.PlayerGPRPYDSPLGAVGTotal PR TDsKRKYDSKLGTotal KOR TDsAVG
RBGary Brightwell30000033922013.0
RBJ.J. Taylor30010024423022.0
WRTayvian Cunningham30000012323023.0
RBNathan Tilford30000017707.0
WRBrian Casteel31424242.0000000.0
WRStanley Berryhill III31-1-10.0000000.0
Total3241 yards4120.50 TDs7113 yards230 TDs16.1

Kicking
Note: G = Games played; FGM = Field goals made; FGA = Field goals attempted; LG = Field goal long; XPT = Extra points made; XPT ATT = XPT attempted; In20 = Kicking inside the 20; 20-29 = Kicking inside the 20-29; 30-39 = Kicking inside the 30-39; 40-49 = Kicking inside the 40-49; 50 = Kicking inside the 50; TP = Total points
Pos.PlayerGFGMFGAPCTLG10–19I2030–3940–4950+BLKNO.XPTXPT ATTPCTKO YardsTBTPAVGOB
KLucas Havrisik43560%530-00–00-12–21-2027181995%1,730212364.10

Punting
Note: G = Games played; P = Punts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average per punt; LG = Punt long; In20 = Punts inside the 20; TB = Touchbacks
Pos.PlayerGNo.YDSAVGLongFCIn2050+TBBLK
PMatt Aragon41559439.47025120
PKyle Ostendorp327638.04210000
Total417667 yards39.27035120

Scoring

Scores by quarter (non-conference opponents)

Scores by quarter (Pac-12 opponents)

Scores by quarter (All opponents)

Awards and honors

PlayerPositionDateRef.
Grant Gunnell QBSeptember 30, 2019
Lucas Havrisik PKOctober 14, 2019

PlayerPositionAwardRef.

Postseason

2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft will be held on April 23–25, 2020 in Paradise, Nevada.
Wildcats who were picked in the 2020 NFL Draft:
RoundPickPlayerPositionTeam
----

Media affiliates

Radio