Arizona 'got a good one in (kicker) Tyler Loop'; Wildcats still finding 'eraser' at punter (2024)

Arizona assistant coach Danny Gonzales has a word to describe the importance of special teams.

“Erasers,” Gonzales calls his specialists.

“They’re on the field to make up for mistakes that somebody made to where we didn’t get a first down, we didn’t score a touchdown, we’re having to punt the ball — those guys are coming in and fixing those mistakes,” said Gonzales, who will serve as Arizona’s special teams coordinator in 2024 in addition to linebackers coach in his first year on the UA staff. “I feel like we got a good one in (kicker) Tyler Loop, and we’re going to figure out who our punter is going to be.”

One of many burning questions going into the Wildcats’ spring schedule: Who will replace three-year starter Kyle Ostendorp at punter? A three-man competition for punter between redshirt sophom*ore and Mesa native Jordan Forbes, Loop and Chandler native Cash Peterman, who transferred from BYU last season, resulted.

“I don’t know if I have a No. 1 guy coming out yet,” Gonzales said.

The Wildcats are adding freshman kicker and punter Michael Salgado-Medina from Mission Viejo, California, this summer; Salgado-Medina is the potential successor to Loop after the 2024 season.

Arizona could also sign a punter in the transfer portal; the Wildcats signed long snapper Justin Holloway from Ohio.

If Loop becomes Arizona’s starting punter, he’ll become the first UA kicker-punter since Nick Folk in 2006.

Loop is coming off a career year for the Wildcats, making 19 of 24 field goals and influencing several games in Arizona’s 10-3 season in 2023. Loop made three field goals and three PAT attempts in Arizona’s 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. He also extended his range by making his first 50-yard field goal; he made 2 of 4 field goals from at least 50 yards out. Loop made a 52-yard goal in Arizona’s 34-31 win over Colorado — the game Loop won for the Wildcats with a 24-yard field goal as time expired, the team’s first walk-off field goal since 2014. Loop was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Colorado. In Loop’s 84 kickoff attempts in 2023, 73 of them were touchbacks.

The senior from Lucas, Texas, has made 49 of 57 (86%) field goals over three seasons with the Wildcats; Loop’s career rate currently ranks 12th in college football history (with a minimum 50 attempts). If Loop maintains his completion percentage, he’ll remain as Arizona’s all-time leader. Loop is also a perfect 103 for 103 in kicking PATs, which is 20 shy of Max Zendejas’ program record.

“My opportunity (is) to help Tyler Loop get what he wants and that’s to get to the NFL,” Gonzales said. “I think we have a good rapport, but the credit goes 100% to Tyler for being put in this position.”

Former ASU receiver to visit UA

Could one of Arizona State’s top transfer portal departures be coming down to Tucson for his final college season?

Former ASU star wide receiver Elijhah Badger, who entered the transfer portal last month, is taking official visits to Arizona and Florida, according to 247Sports and On3.com.

The 6-1, 185-pound Badger had 135 catches for 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns the last two seasons with the Sun Devils. Badger had eight receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in ASU’s loss to Arizona for the Territorial Cup in 2022; Badger didn’t play in the rivalry game this past season.

Badger, a Sacramento, California, native and former four-star recruit, was recruited by Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and his staff at San Jose State in 2020 before he signed with the Sun Devils. One of Badgers’ coaches at ASU was current Arizona wide receivers coach Bobby Wade.

After losing slot receiver Kevin Green Jr., who is taking an official visit to Washington this week, the Wildcats signed former Old Dominion wide receiver and Bay Area native Reymello Murphy. Adding Badger to an Arizona receiver room that has a potential first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, veteran Montana Lemonious-Craig, Murphy and budding talents Malachi Riley, AJ Jones, Devin Hyatt, Chris Hunter and Brandon Phelps would give Arizona one of the top receiver groups in college football.

RichRod signs extension with Jax State

Former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez signed a two-year contract extension with Jacksonville State on Friday. His contract now runs through the 2030 season. Rodriguez led the Gameco*cks to a 9-4 record and win at the New Orleans Bowl in the program’s first season at the FBS level. Jacksonville State, which is now a Conference USA team, is 18-6 in two seasons with Rodriguez at the helm.

“We couldn’t be more excited that coach Rodriguez is committed to Jacksonville State and continuing to lead our football program into this new era,” Jacksonville State athletic director Greg Seitz said. “The growth of our program since the day he took over has been incredible, with a conference title in year one, the first bowl win by a transition team in history in year two and the opening of the Loring and Debbie White Football Complex this fall, it has never been a more exciting time to be a Gameco*ck. We can’t wait to see the heights that coach takes this program to in the next eight years.”

Extra points

Arizona offered 2026 three-star Phoenix wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, the son of Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, on Thursday. The younger Fitzgerald is a 6-2, 185-pound receiver at Brophy College Preparatory. As a sophom*ore, he recorded 15 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona is Fitzgerald’s first Power 4 offer.