Before he was a quarterback on the verge of starting in Super Bowl 52, Nick Foles was an unproven college transfer and an Arizona Wildcat on the set of College Football Live. (video attached)
The Eagles' de facto starting quarterback took over in Tucson in 2009 as a sophomore transfer from Michigan State, and led Arizona to its best regular season in over a decade. In two-plus years as the Wildcats' starter, Foles threw for over 10,000 yards and 67 touchdowns.
Foles' nearly 2,500 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in his first season at the UA in 2009 earned him an appearance on ESPN's College Football Live ahead of his junior campaign.
Before the start of the 2010 season, Foles joined fellow Pac-10 quarterbacks Jake Locker, Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley (also a future teammate on the Eagles) on the set of College Football Live. Front Row recently dug the clip out of the ESPN vault, showcasing the Super Bowl talent in his early years.
In the clip, analyst Andre Ware asks Foles about his upcoming first full season as the Wildcats' starter.
"You don't get satisfied with it. You move forward," Foles said.
Arizona had recently parted with defensive coordinator Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes.
Foles took two out of three against the rival Sun Devils in his Arizona days, completing over 60 percent of his passes for 780 yards and five touchdowns to no interceptions in Territorial Cup games. But that doesn't mean he wasn't prone to some good ol' rivalry fun.
Later in the segment, Foles took aim at an Arizona State helmet. The results were, well, not quite as sharp as his resume against the Devils.
Fast forward to Foles' rookie season in the NFL. The Eagles' third-round draft selection in 2012 came off the sideline to replace injured starter Michael Vick, throwing for 1,699 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in six starts and seven appearances. But first, he sat down for a grilling by NFL QB guru Jon Gruden.
Foles talks about his role as a quarterback, what he brings to the table, snap counts, and Arizona's former pregame haka ritual. When pressed by Gruden on why NFL teams should want Foles ahead of other standouts, the quarterback answers simply, "because I'll make your team better."
In 2013, Foles started 10 games in place of an injured Vick and set the NFL on fire with 2,891 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He went 8-2 as a starter that season to earn a spot in his first and only Pro Bowl.
Foles will start in the Super Bowl on Sunday in place of starter Carson Wentz.
It wouldn't be fair to leave you without this gem of a photo from the set of College Football Live in 2010. Foles poses in boat shoes, baggy jeans, and a tucked UA polo alongside Barkley, Luck and Locker. What's sharper, Foles' game or that 2000s QB look?
— Steve "Chief" Burt (@Chiefzona1472) January 26, 2018
Sports producer
Nick Foles, Marquis Flowers become the 28th and 29th former UA players to even take part in the sport's biggest game.
New coach offered pair of teammates who committed to Texas A&M last summer.
Four former Wildcats — Eagles quarterback Nick Foles and special teams coach David Fipp, and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Marquis Flowers — will play in Sunday's game.
Look out NBA, there's another Markkanen in the world. Budding Chicago Bulls star and former Arizona standout Lauri Markkanen welcomed his firs…
The New England linebacker says he's been flattered by the attention he's received this week — including the UA's posting of a billboard heralding the three ex-Cats players and one UA grad coach in Sunday's Super Bowl.
The Arizona Wildcats received a verbal commitment Saturday from 2018 long snapper Geno Albini, who also became the first commit since new UA c…
© Copyright 2026 Arizona Daily Star, PO Box 26887 Tucson, AZ 85726-6887
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
