Arizona football receiver Tre Spivey in line for breakout season after 'explosive' spring

This spring, there's a lot less learning and more building. Doege is back in his second season as Arizona's offensive play-caller, a year after the Wildcats had the third-best scoring offense in the Big 12 and averaged 31.5 points per game.

The season before Doege's arrival, Arizona averaged 21.8 points per game, which was second-to-last in the conference in 2024. Arizona had the 42nd-best offense in college football last season.

More notably, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita went from 2,958 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024, to 3,228 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions last season — and became the Wildcats' first first-team all-conference quarterback in 50 years. 

Between Doege and Fifita's return, along with returning pieces on the offensive line and at wide receiver, there's a calmness to the offense, however, "as many returning guys that we have, it does feel like a new group," Doege said.

"Getting that group on the same page, believing in the standard of how we do things and creating a mentality amongst this unit has been fun," Doege said. "It hasn't always been pretty, but they've always responded. They're a resilient group. I'm excited about the progress we've made this spring."

Doege said the Wildcats "have a chance to be very explosive on offense with the wideouts we're returning and some of the guys we brought in. I think we're at a healthy, healthy spot at O-line that we haven't had these last couple of years. I think our quarterback is playing at an elite level and taking care of the football at an elite level."

If there was an Offensive MVP Award this spring for a Wildcat not named Fifita, redshirt junior Tre Spivey would make a compelling case. 

Spivey, who transferred from Kansas State a year ago, returns as Arizona's leading receiver after a 2025 campaign with 23 catches for 381 yards — 198 yards after catch — and seven touchdowns, the most receiving touchdowns by a Wildcat last season. Spivey also had a rushing touchdown last season. One of his top plays was taking a screen pass 57 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of Arizona's win at Colorado.

Earlier in the spring, Doege said Spivey "is probably an NFL Draft pick." The 6-4, 213-pound Spivey is playing like one and has become one of Fifita's top targets in team periods and 7-on-7 periods — high-pointing catches over defenders, making contested catches in the end zone, maneuvering through the secondary over the middle and expanding his route tree.  

Spivey, the son of former Tucson Sidewinder and big-leaguer Junior Spivey, "is such a special player and I'll go as far as say he's a generational talent," Fifita said.

"Tre has shown glimpses of what he's capable of," Fifita added. "Now he's confident in what he's doing, he knows the scheme and knows the playbook, so he's lining up faster. He's going to win every one-on-one matchup and then obviously we've seen how lethal he is with the ball in his hands.

"As he continues to get more comfortable, he's going to get more dangerous. We look forward to leaning on Spivey to help continue to be explosive for us." 

Spivey "is an absolute freak" and became a mainstay in Arizona's offense last season, but he had the fifth-most receptions on the team despite having the third-most yards and the most touchdowns. 

"Why didn't we play him last year? Why didn't the ball find him as much last year? There was too many inconsistencies," Doege said of Spivey. "Lining up, running the right route at the right depth, on the right time, the right split — everything matters in Big 12 play.

"It's been fun to watch a guy like Spivey truly master that. He's gotten to the point where he's consistently lining up correctly, consistently getting to his depth (on routes), he's consistently winning on routes, he's consistently attacking the football. Because of that, in my opinion, he's had one of the most explosive camps out of anybody. I'm excited about him." 

In the offseason, Doege preached consistency to Spivey. Challenge accepted. 

"The greatest thing about Spivey is that he will look you in the eyes and say, 'Yes, sir,' and go try to attack it," Doege said. "I've never seen him pout when you catch him hard or you demand something from him, which I think could diminish your growth at times.

"(Arizona wide receivers coach) Bobby Wade does a great job of creating trust and developing some love in that room and have true relationships to where we can demand a standard from these receivers and they understand that it's coming from a place of love and we want them to be the very best. Spivey does a great job of attacking that."  

Akpa playing confidently 

When asked who has been the most improved offensive player this spring, Doege answered back: reserve right tackle Louis Akpa. 

Starting right tackle Tristan Bounds is limited this spring due to rehabbing a broken ankle injury, which has allowed redshirt freshman Akpa to step in and take first-team reps. 

The competition at right tackle this spring has been between Akpa, a 6-6, 299-pound second-year player, and San Jose State transfer Nathan Hale. 

Akpa, who's from San Francisco, joined Arizona as an undersized lineman who needed to pack on weight.

"He was so light that he would get bull-rushed back into the quarterback spot at a high percentage," said Doege. "It was hard for him to protect. There were times where he looked really good because he was so athletic and so explosive."

Doege said Akpa is "still lacking a little bit of strength, in my opinion."

"He's gotten stronger, but he's gotta get stronger to truly play at this level and consistently do what we're asking him to do," Doege added.

Even though Arizona's coaches are challenging Akpa to continue building his body, "he surpassed what I thought he was going to do this spring," Doege admitted.

"He's made some good calls in the run game and pass game and is throwing people across his face and doing it at a violent rate and he really looks like he belongs out there," Doege said. "He's playing with a lot of confidence and playing a lot stronger than he is. The more confidence he can get, the stronger he can get, he's got a chance to help us this fall." 

Bounds said, "Akpa is playing extremely confident right now and playing really well. I'm super happy for him. It's great to watch him get to do that. The best thing about Louis is how excited he is to play football. Those are the guys you want in your room, on your team, in your building. Super proud of Louis and all the progress he's making. He's playing really well." 

Extra points

– Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd spoke to the Arizona football team following Tuesday's practice. 

– Freshman receiver RJ Mosley, who was Arizona's highest-rated prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, participated in 7-on-7 periods and caught a pass on a slant route. The 6-3, 199-pound Mosley has a Spivey-esque frame. 

– Senior linebacker Chase Kennedy had a sack and a quarterback pressure, and redshirt junior defensive end Dominic Lolesio had a sack and a pass breakup in the backfield. Lolesio has been dubbed the most improved defensive player this spring by UA coaches and players. 

– Kicker Michael Salgado-Medina made a 56-yard field goal this week. He has only missed one field goal this spring.