Arizona football training camp notes, practice 9: Noah Fifita displays arm strength, accuracy

The Wildcats put a bow on their third batch of practices, bringing their total up to nine practices this fall training camp.

Here are notes and takeaways from Saturday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium:

* Freshman linebacker Dash Fifita started with the first-team defense. Arizona’s starters in the first team period had Tre Smith, Leroy Palu and Mays Pese on the defensive line, with Fifita, Taye Brown and Georgetown transfer Cooper Blomstrom at linebacker, and Jay’Vion Cole, Gavin Hunter, Quinn Olson, Nebraska transfer Malcolm Hartzog and Charlotte transfer cornerback Dwight Bootle in the secondary. The first team period ended with Brown sacking Fifita.

* BYU transfer offensive lineman Jake Griffin took first-team reps in one of the final team periods, alongside Matthew Lado, Washington transfer Zach Henning, Alexander Doost and Tristan Bounds.

* Freshman safety Hannibal Navies II had an interception in a 7-on-11 segment. Navies is the son of former NFL linebacker Hannibal Navies, who was a second-team All-Big 12 linebacker. The younger Navies, for being a first-year, looks the part of a high-level defensive back.

* In the same period, Olson had a pass breakup on deep ball from quarterback Noah Fifita to USC transfer receiver DJ Jordan. As Jordan was about to pluck the ball, a leaping Olson dove and batted the ball away. Olson, a walk-on from Iowa, is a legitimate candidate to start at free safety for the Wildcats.

* Fifita threw a dime to third-year wide receiver Brandon Phelps — who got one foot in bounds — on the left sideline for a gain of about 30 yards. Fifita threw a similar to pass to Illinois transfer tight end Cole Rusk on the right sideline. In an earlier period, Fifita completed a deep pass to Colorado State transfer receiver Jordan Ross, who caught the ball over multiple defenders. Fifita has had a plethora of completions on deep shots to multiple receivers and tight ends this training camp. Fifita’s accuracy, arm strength and touch is in midseason form.

* UConn transfer Lee Molette intercepted Fifita in one of the final team periods.

* Marshall transfer running back Antwan Roberts took a dump-off pass for a gain of about 15 yards.

* Reserve quarterback Luke Haugo completed a deep ball to second-year wide receiver Isaiah Mizell on the right sideline. Afterwards, freshman kicker Ian French made a 49-yard field goal.

* In a period designed for Arizona’s punt team to save the football from bouncing in the end zone for a touchback, Hartzog dove into the end zone and knocked the ball to the 2-yard line. In addition to likely starting in Arizona’s secondary, Hartzog looks to be a key contributor on the Wildcats’ special teams units.

* Australia native and freshman punter Chase Ridley had one of his best punts of training camp. The booming punt, with decent hang time, traveled around 65 yards. In the last few practices, Ridley has demonstrated leg strength and touch — and could be a serious weapon for having an advantage in field position this season.

* Arizona receiver Caleb “Jet” Smith, running back Quincy Craig, running back Kedrick Reescano, running back Cornelius Warren III and wide receiver Giovanni Richardson took reps at kick returner.

* Former Arizona offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll attended practice on Saturday. Carroll coached under former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch from 2021-23, before following Fisch to Washington. Carroll, who played a vital role in the development of first-round offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, was most recently the run game coordinator and offensive line coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Carroll coached for the Raiders under father and head coach Pete Carroll, who was fired after one season.