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Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Chris Hunter (16) runs the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Arizona Training Camp Observations

Originally posted on Arizona Wildcats on SI
By Troy Hutchison | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Arizona football is officially BACK in action and the long offseason is finally coming to an end as the Wildcats have opened up their 2025 training camp to get things geared up for the season with the team set to face Hawaii on Aug. 30 at home at 7:30 p.m. (MST) on TNT.

After an underwhelming 2024 season under Brent Brennan where Arizona went 4-8 after starting the year in the preseason AP Poll at No. 21 and ending the year losing 7 out of its last 8 games, the WIldcats made changes to the roster and their coaching staff.

Brennan revamped his coaching staff by hiring Seth Doege as the offensive coordinator and promoting Danny Gonzales to the defensive coordinating job. Plus, he was able to bring in defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, who is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation and a former Wildcat as well.

“When we go through a tough season like we did a year ago, you got to find a way to fix what was broken, fix what wasn’t working and put those pieces together,” Brennan said. “And part of those pieces are how we’re going to do things in terms of how we’re going to coach, what we’re going to do schematically and the other part is who are the players that are going to play those roles.”

The energy at practice was high, loud despite the team not even in full pads, or in shells at this point in time. The pace of play was a complete 180 from the previous season and matches the mindset and mentality that the coaching staff wasn’t to bring to the 2025 season.

Although there was no contact and players weren’t in shells, there were still takeaways to be made with what the media was able to see throughout the duration of the day.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Three Observations

Linebackers

Last season, outside of Jacob Manu and Taye Brown, the Wildcats were extremely thin and saw injuries create issues with the starting defense. Now, Arizona has added depth through the transfer portal in Texas State's Max Harris and Montana's Riley Wilson, who brings experience to a young group.

Plus, Brown has taken on a larger leadership role and has been more vocal on the field according to Danny Gonzales. He is now an upperclassman and has shown leadership roles leading the young linebackers on the roster.

Chris Hunter

At the end of last season, wide receiver Chris Hunter came on strong, ending the season with 323 yards on 35 receptions and hauled in three touchdowns. His breakout game came against Central Florida where he caught seven passes for 102 yards.

Hunter has been electric in training camp and has been a nightmare for the Arizona secondary with two 50-plus yard touchdown receptions and multiple chunk plays in seven-on-seven drills.

It is clear that Hunter will be one of the top three targets for Fifita on the roster this season and could see a breakout year coming his way.

Tyler Powell

The tight ends last season for Arizona were very underwhelming given the talent in the room with Tyler Powell, Keyan Burnett and Sam Olson. Now, a majority of the issues came from the offensive scheme with Dino Babers as the offensive coordinator.

The same group is back and has added new toughness with new tight ends coach Josh Miller, who has challenged the group since his arrival he has pushed the group and added physicality that wasn’t there before according to offensive coordinator Seth Doege.

Players both on the offensive side of the ball and defensively have said that Powell is one of the most improved players on the roster.

The Wildcats might have a two headed monster with Powell and Burnett, which might be one of the best receiving tight end duos in the Big 12 this season.

This article first appeared on Arizona Wildcats on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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