While Noah Fifita is already a legend at Arizona, Dash Fifita looks to build his own legacy

Noah Fifita has been one of the most loyal players in college football, spending his entire five-year career with the Arizona Wildcats and cementing himself as a legend in Tucson.

While this season will be his last with the Wildcats, the Fifita name will continue to ring at Casino Del Sol Stadium even when the offense isn’t on the field in the form of his younger brother, Dash.

“Dash Fifita is going to play and not in a later-on role,” Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales told reporters. “He’s going to be a menace for people on special teams and he’s going to be a menace for people on defense because he’s a really good football player.”

Gonzales compared Fifita to former Wildcat linebacker Jacob Manu — both undersized and explosive linebackers.

While other schools thought Fifita was too small to play linebacker and suggested he transition to safety or cornerback, Arizona believed in his ability to thrive in the position he’s always played.

“One of the biggest reasons I came here was how much coach G believed in me,” Fifita said. “We’ve been able to use my versatility, speed and instincts to let me shine and play how I’ve been playing my whole life.”

With Fifita slated to have an early role for the Wildcats, the fans ought to be thrilled that they’ll get to see more of the name Fifita in the cardinal red and navy blue.

His brother, Noah, is already the winningest quarterback in the school’s history and has amassed 9,183 passing yards and 73 touchdowns over his first four years.

“He’s going to have every record, I plan on being in New York on Dec. 12,” Gonzales said. “Noah Fifita is the greatest thing to happen to this football program.”

With Noah Fifita leaving such a lasting legacy on the program, it leaves some large shoes to fill for Dash Fifita.

“I would hate to be his brother Dash,” Gonzales said. “Because when he screws up and hears ‘well Noah never did that,’ don’t screw up Dash, because that’s what you’ll hear.”

Despite this, Dash Fifita is already making his presence felt on the field in training camp.

“That one hurt a little bit for sure,” Noah Fifita said of his brother who intercepted one of his passes. “As his brother, I’m happy for him but as a competitor it hurt.”

Noah Fifita also noted how well his brother has played in camp so far, calling him very underrated in coverage.

“When he threw that ball it felt like a surreal moment,” Dash Fifita said. “Like all of our childhood memories and conversations we had about playing together rolled through my mind when it was in the air.”

Now, Noah Fifita is looking to lead the Wildcats in his final year and further cement himself into the Wildcat history books, with his brother by his side.

“One last year in Arizona with coach (Seth) Doege and my little brother,” Noah Fifita said. “I wouldn’t have imagined it any other way.”

Related

Louisiana judge rules against NCAA, clearing path for ex-NFL players to join LSU rosterBig 12 power rankings: Can anyone catch Texas Tech, BYU to prevent title rematch?Bowl game projections for ASU, Arizona ahead of opening gamesNorth Carolina opens Bill Belichick’s 2nd season with win over TCU in IrelandBig 12 becomes latest conference to ban former NFL players while NFL reiterates its rulesCourt halts ruling allowing thousands of college players extra year of eligibility