
Arizona head football coach Brent Brennan is entering his third season at the helm, and the Wildcats have made plenty of strides during his brief tenure.
One of the most significant improvements is the development of NFL-caliber talent and draft prospects. Arizona has 20 draft hopefuls entering the 2026 Draft, but not all will be selected. Still, it builds on an impressive run for Brennan's alums.
Here's a complete list of the players he's had drafted into the NFL since arriving in Tucson,
McMillan was a star for Arizona during Brennan's first season. He spent three seasons with the Wildcats and amassed 3,423 receiving yards with 26 touchdowns, including back-to-back seasons with over 1,300 yards to complete his college career. His yardage total set a new program record.
Because of that, McMillan was a highly rated NFL prospect and became the 12th first-round pick in program history and the highest drafted Wildcat of all time when he was selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers. It worked out well for Carolina, as the team reached the playoffs, and McMillan won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
A three-year starter along the Wildcats' offensive line, Saavaiinaea was a popular sleeper in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was a consistent run blocker and adequate pass blocker, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention during his final season in Tucson.
The Miami Dolphins selected him 37th overall (second round), but he struggled to adapt in his first NFL season.
After beginning his career as Arizona's primary punter in 2020, Loop settled in as the team's placekicker. He eventually set the program record for career field goal percentage, making 83.75% of his kicks (67 of 80) throughout his career. He also holds the program record with a 62-yard field goal.
Loop also made some NFL history, becoming the first-ever kicker drafted by the Baltimore Ravens when they took him in the sixth round as a potential replacement for Justin Tucker. As a rookie, Loop went 30-of-34 on his kicks.
This might be the best story to come from Brennan's teams. Jacory Croskey-Merritt transferred from New Mexico to Arizona for his final college football season, but only managed 106 rushing yards. Most running backs don't get drafted after a season like that, but Croskey-Merritt stood out during the evaluation process, even earning MVP of the East-West Shrine Game.
The Washington Commanders selected him in the final round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he led the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this past season.
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