Arizona QB Noah Fifita not planning to transfer, but OC hire could sway him
Dec 5, 2024, 2:26 PM | Updated: 3:39 pm
Arizona Wildcats starting quarterback Noah Fifita is not planning to enter the transfer portal, his father Les Fifita told ESPN and 247Sports on Tuesday amid rumors of his potential departure.
Head coach Brent Brennan said Thursday that he’s had positive talks with Fifita, adding the caveat that it’s not a certainty as the Wildcats navigate coaching staff changes, including finding a replacement for offensive coordinator Dino Babers.
“He has every intention of returning, but I think who we hire has every impact on that,” Brennan said during a Zoom call Thursday. “He has to be excited about who we bring in to be the play-caller.”
Brennan added he met with Fifita among other team leaders Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this week.
When the head coach was asked what he wants in an offensive coordinator, Brennan first mentioned Fifita’s development as the team’s top priority, a signal that the head coach is doing everything in his power to retain the two-year starter who will likely be losing his top receiver and left tackle to the NFL Draft.
“How do we help him elevate his game? Because we know when that happens it’ll help us elevate ours,” Brennan said.
Arizona’s first season under Brennan ended Saturday with a 49-7 loss in the Territorial Cup against Arizona State.
Arizona finished 4-8 this year after a 10-3 campaign in 2023 under Jedd Fisch that included an Alamo Bowl win over Oklahoma. Fisch left for Washington as part of the chain reaction from Nick Saban stepping away from Alabama, but Fifita elected to remain in Tucson to play under the new regime.
Brennan will return despite the difficult first season and his quarterback plans on doing the same.
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Fifita broke out in 2023 taking over the starting quarterback job and winning Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year.
He started nine games and completed a program-record 72.4% of his passes for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Against ASU, Fifita threw for 527 yards and five touchdowns before adding 354 yards in the Alamo Bowl.
Fifita and leading receiver Tetairoa McMillan announced together they would return to handle “unfinished business.” McMillan is draft eligible and is receiving first-round buzz.
Fifita did not experience the same success this season, as the redshirt sophomore played 12 games and completed 260 of 430 pass attempts (60%) for 2,958 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The transfer window opens on Monday and will remain so until Dec. 28.
Arizona running back Rayshon Luke, quarterback Brayden Dorman, tight end Dorian Thomas, defensive lineman Bryce Echols and wide receiver AJ Jones have all announced their entrance into the transfer portal.
