Arizona quarterback Luke Haugo (10) and Noah Fifita (1) look to pass the ball during spring football practice at Dick Tomey Field, April 8, 2025.

Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star

“For Noah, he’s such a football junkie and it’s so important to him. He works so hard and he studies so much. When you combine that with the great coaching Seth and their relationship, you do have a chance for an outstanding season from him.” 

The spring period and fall training camp will be essential time for the quarterbacks fighting for the QB2 spot behind Fifita, which was previously held by Braedyn Locke, who transferred to Tarleton State.

Redshirt freshman Sawyer Anderson, who was recruited by Doege, is entering his second season at Arizona following an illustrious career at The Parish Episcopal in Dallas. The 5-11, 181-pound Anderson passed for 14,674 yards and 158 touchdowns as a four-year starter in high school, which is a Dallas-Fort Worth record. 

Freshman and four-star quarterback Oscar Rios is an early enrollee after a productive career at Downey High School in Los Angeles. The 6-3, 170-pound Rios ended his career at Downey with 8,070 yards, 77 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, along with 2,227 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.

Rios, who competed at the “Elite 11” quarterback event last summer, is the highest-rated quarterback to sign with the Wildcats since Nic Costa in 2001.

Phoenix-area products Luke Haugo and Mason Bray, son of the late Heath Bray, are also a part of the quarterback corps. Bray appeared in the Weber State game last season and completed a 22-yard pass and ran for a 6-yard gain.

Arizona is fortunate enough to know its starting quarterback well before the Wildcats take their first snap. Fifita’s backup will likely be determined in the next five months.  

“The best thing he does is that he’s one of the guys, every single day, he models the way,” Brennan said of Fifita. “How he goes about his work, how he goes about his training, all of those things. Obviously he has played good football, so they look at him like, ‘That’s a path and if I handle things like Noah does, I can have a chance to play at the level he’s playing at.’