The 2017 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2017 season. The season was the Wildcats's 118th overall, 40th as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, seventh within the Pac-12 South Division, and the sixth and final year under head coach Rich Rodriguez. The team played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona for the 89th straight year.
They finished the regular season with a 7âÂÂ5, 5âÂÂ4 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place in the South Division, making it into a bowl game. They were invited to the Foster Farms Bowl where they faced Purdue, losing 35âÂÂ38. Rich Rodriguez was fired after 6 seasons with Arizona. After Rich Rodriguez was fired, Kevin Sumlin was named the Wildcats' new full-time head coach on January 14, 2018.
Offseason departures
The Wildcats would lose twenty-nine (twenty seniors due graduation) football players. The Wildcats would lose nine more players from the 2016 team due to various reasons (transfers and withdrawals will be filled out once spring practice occurs). Notable departures from the 2016 squad included.
Preseason
Recruiting Class of 2017
The Wildcats signed 39 players including 10 HS walk-on players, 24 high school recruits, 3 JC transfers from junior colleges and 1 transfers were from NCAA Division I (FBS) programs. Five of the recruits were already enrolled for the spring, 2017 semester while 24 signed letters of intent on National Signing Day is February 3, 2017. Arizona is combined to be a unanimous top-25 class, ranked as high as (#21 by Scout, #15 by Rivals, #26 by ESPN, and #23 by 247) and finish top-5 in the Pac-12 recruitment class (#4 by 247, #4 by Scout, #4 by ESPN, and #4 by Rivals).
<small>Source:</small>
Incoming transfers
In addition to the 2017 recruiting class, Arizona did add four transfers, which includes eligible for the current season, to the 2017 roster:
Position key
Spring practice
Spring game
The 2017 Wildcats had spring practice from February 2017 to March 2, 2017. The 2017 Arizona football spring game will take place in Tucson, AZ at a date and time to be determined.
Fall practice
Fall camp is scheduled for August.
Pac-12 Media Days
Pac-12 media days are set for July 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Returning starters
Arizona returns 30 starters in 2017, including 14 on offense, 9 on defense, and 7 on special teams.
Projecting Returning Starters 2017
Offense (14)
Defense (9)
Special teams (7)
â Indicates player was a starter in 2016 but missed all of 2017 due to injury.
Personnel
Roster
*2017 Arizona Football Commits (07/28/2017)
*Projecting Roster
Coaching staff
Depth chart
Depth Chart Source: 2017 Arizona Wildcats Football Fact Book
True Freshman<br /> Double Position : *
Injury report
Regular season
Schedule
Arizona announced its 2017 football schedule on November 29, 2016. The 2017 Wildcats' schedule consisted of 7 home and 4 away games for the regular season. Arizona hosted nine Pac-12 conference opponents UCLA, Utah, Oregon State and Washington State and traveled to California, Colorado, Oregon, USC and traveled to arch rival Arizona State for the 91st annual Territorial Cup to close out the regular season. Arizona was not scheduled to play Pac-12 North opponents Stanford and Washington in the 2017 regular season.
Arizona's out of conference opponents represented the American, Big Sky, and C-USA. The Wildcats hosted three nonâÂÂconference games which were against Northern Arizona from the Big Sky and Houston from the American and traveled to El Paso, TX against TexasâÂÂEl Paso from the C-USA.
Schedule Source
Game summaries
vs Northern Arizona
vs Houston
at UTEP
vs No. 23 Utah
at Colorado
vs UCLA
at California
vs No. 15 Washington State
at No. 17 USC
vs Oregon State
at Oregon
at Arizona State
Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar was named Offensive MVP.
Purdue linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley was named Defensive MVP.
Rankings
Statistics
Team
As of 11/25/2017.
Non-conference opponents
Pac-12 opponents
Score total by Quarters
Offense
Rushing
Passing
Receiving
Defense
Special teams
Awards and honors
Preseason award watch lists
:Rimington Trophy
:Wuerffel Trophy
:Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
:Senior Bowl
Weekly awards
:Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Davey OâÂÂBrien Great 8, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Davey OâÂÂBrien Great 8 (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Davey OâÂÂBrien Great 8 (3), vs Washington State (10/28/17)
:CFPA National Performer of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Rose Bowl: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Rose Bowl: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2), vs Washington State (10/28/17)
:Las Vegas Bowl: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Las Vegas Bowl: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2), at California (10/21/17)
:Las Vegas Bowl: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (3), vs Washington State (10/28/17)
:Athlon Sports: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Athlon Sports: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2), at California (10/21/17)
:Athlon Sports: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (3), vs Washington (10/28/17)
:Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (3), at California (10/21/17)
:Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (4), vs Washington State (10/28/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (3), at California (10/21/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (4), vs Oregon State (11/11/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), vs. Houston (09/09/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (3), vs. Oregon State (11/11/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at California (10/21/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at California (10/21/17)
:Student Player of the Week, vs Utah (09/22/17)
:Student Player of the Week, at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Student Player of the Week, vs Washington (10/28/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Houston (09/09/17)
:Student Player of the Week, at Colorado (10/07/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Student Player of the Week, vs NAU (09/02/17)
:Student Player of the Week, at California (10/07/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Oregon State (11/11/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Oregon State (11/11/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Houston (09/09/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Houston (09/09/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (3), at California (10/21/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (4), vs. Oregon State (11/11/17)
:Athlon Sports: Pac-12 Defensive Freshman Player of the Week, at California (10/21/17)
:Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, at California (10/21/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at UTEP (09/15/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week (2), vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Student Player of the Week, vs UCLA (10/14/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, at California (10/21/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. NAU (09/02/17)
:Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, vs Washington State (10/28/17)
:Helmet Award Player of the Week, vs. Houston (09/09/17)
:Student Player of the Week, vs Houston (09/09/17)
Yearly awards
: *Maxwell Award semifinalist
: *Davey OâÂÂBrien Award semifinalist
: *Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalist
: *Manning Award finalist
: *AP Pac-12 Newcomer Player of the Year (2017)
: Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year
: Pac-12 Defensive Freshman Player of the Year
All-Americans
Each year several publications release lists of their ideal "team". The athletes on these lists are referred to as All-Americans. The NCAA recognizes five All-American lists. They are the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News (SN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF). If a player is selected to the first team of three publications he is considered a consensus All-American, if a player is selected to the first team of all five publications he is considered a unanimous All-American.
College Football News Pac-12 Top 30 (2017)
: All-Pac-12 AP 2nd team (2017)
: All-Pac-12 AP 2nd team (2017)
:USA Today Freshman All American (2017)
:USA Today Freshman All American (2017)
:ESPN Freshman All American (2017)
:247sports Freshman All American (2017)
: All-Pac-12 AP 2nd team (2017)
:ESPN Freshman All American (2017)
:247sports Freshman All American (2017)
:College Football News All-Pac-12 (2017)
:College Football News Pac-12 Top 30 (2017)
<small> Key:<br> First team<br> Consensus All-American<br> Unanimous All-American </small>
All-Pac-12 teams
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
: All-Pac-12 honorable mention (2017)
All-Academic Teams
NCAA Academic All-Americans
All-Pac-12 Academic
:All-Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic First Team (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic First Team (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic Second Team (2017)
:All-Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention (2017)
National winners
Record broken
<small>Honors and Awards Source: 2017 Arizona Media Notes (unless otherwise noted)</small>
Players in the 2018 NFL draft
Media affiliates
Radio
- ESPN Radio â (ESPN Tucson 1490 AM & 104.09 FM) â Nationwide (Dish Network, Sirius XM, TuneIn radio and iHeartRadio)
- KCUB 1290 AM â Football Radio Show â (Tucson, AZ)
- KHYT â 107.5 FM (Tucson, AZ)
- KTKT 990 AM â La Hora de Los Gatos (Spanish) â (Tucson, AZ)
- KGME 910 AM â (IMG Sports Network) â (Phoenix, AZ)
- KTAN 1420 AM â (Sierra Vista, AZ)
- KDAP 96.5 FM (Douglas, Arizona)
- KWRQ 102.3 FM â (Safford, AZ/Thatcher, AZ)
- KIKO 1340 AM â (Globe, AZ)
- KVWM 970 AM â (Show Low, AZ/Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ)
- XENY 760 â (Nogales, Sonora) (Spanish)
TV
References