Arizona spring football preview: linebackers

The Wildcats kick off their spring practice schedule on Tuesday, March 24, and will cap their month-long practice period with the program's spring showcase on Saturday, April 25, at Casino Del Sol Stadium. 

Leading up to spring ball, the Star is providing a position-by-position preview of Arizona football.

After previewing the offense, we've transitioned over to defense and started with the defensive line entering its second season under defensive line coach Joe Salave'a and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales. Up next: linebackers

Position coach: Josh Bringuel

Key departures: Max Harris, Riley Wilson

Key returners: Taye Brown (Jr.), Chase Kennedy (R-Sr.), Myron Robinson (So.), Jabari Mann (R-So.), Leviticus Su'a (R-Jr.)

Newcomers: Everett Roussaw (Sr.), Matai Tagoa'i (So.), Cooper Blomstrom (Sr.), Dash Fifita (Fr.)

The rundown: Sometimes Arizona would have its traditional two-linebacker lineup. Sometimes the Wildcats would have four-linebacker packages. 

Sometimes those four linebackers would hold hands until the ball was snapped — also known as "Red rover! Red rover!" The first time Arizona used it was in its four-linebacker lineup against Baylor, which resulted in a pick-six for Mann.

In the first season under Gonzales, who was a Broyles Award semifinalist in 2025 and recently signed a contract extension through the 2028 season, Arizona implemented a 3-3-5 defense, but used Kennedy and Wilson as linebacker-edge rusher hybrids; both hail from defensive end backgrounds. Wilson and Kennedy combined for 96 tackles, seven tackles, two interceptions (both Wilson) and two forced fumbles (both Kennedy). 

Arizona's most productive linebackers were Harris and Brown, who logged a career-high 93 tackles in his second season as a starter. 

Between Brown, Kennedy, Mann and Robinson — who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Cincinnati in November and is expected to be limited in the spring — Arizona's returning nucleus totaled 1,541 defensive snaps played in 2025 to go along with 177 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. 

The Wildcats added some reinforcements via the transfer portal and recruiting trail. 

Arizona beat out Florida State in the Tagoa'i sweepstakes. Tagoa'i left USC after a season with the Trojans. Tagoa'i, who mostly played special teams last season, had four tackles in eight game appearances for USC.

The 6-4, 200-pound Tagoa'i prepped at San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California, and signed with the hometown Trojans as a four-star prospect last year. Tagoa'i played in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. 

As a high school prospect, Tagoa'i also held offers from Alabama, BYU, Miami, Georgia, Arizona, Washington, Oklahoma, Michigan and Auburn, among others. He was rated by 247Sports.com as the 14th-best linebacker nationally for the 2025 recruiting class. 

Tagoa'i "is a freak athlete," Gonzales said earlier this year. 

Added Gonzales: "He's a slimmer version of (defensive lineman) Mays Pese, as far as their physical and violent nature, except what (Tagoa'i) can do in space. ... He's a freak athlete and when we get to spring ball, this is the mad scientist in me, I get to play with him like a little toy and see where he best fits in, and I love spring ball, because there's no pressure to win games." 

Tagoa'i joins Roussaw (Memphis) and Blomstrom (Georgetown) as linebackers in Arizona's transfer portal class.

The 6-2, 235-pound Roussaw started his career at UAB in 2023 and played two seasons under former head coach and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer, who was fired in October after two-plus years at the helm. 

At UAB, Roussaw played in 23 games and made eight starts as a true freshman. He recorded 125 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. 

The Atlanta native transferred to Memphis and had 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception in his lone year with the Tigers. He'll look to fill the void left behind by Wilson. 

"Everett is a 1-for-1 (years left in college) kid from Memphis, and he's got a similar frame — probably a couple pounds heavier than Riley Wilson," Gonzales said. "Similar athletic abilities and has done the same things on tape at Memphis as we've done with Riley and Chase (Kennedy), so him and Chase will be bookends when we do the four-linebacker stuff." 

The 6-2, 245-pound Blomstrom played defensive end at Georgetown, but was recruited as a linebacker. Blomstrom "is similar (to Kennedy and Wilson), but he's more comparable to a Dominic Lolesio, Tre Smith (at defensive end)," Gonzales said.

"Probably not as much off the ball, but has some pass-rushing skills that (Salave'a and Bringuel) can do some really special things in there," he added. 

Arizona added another Fifita to its roster in linebacker Dash Fifita, who's listed at 5-7, 186 pounds. The younger brother of Arizona star quarterback Noah Fifita comes to UA following a productive career at Santa Margarita Catholic in Southern California. 

Not only did Fifita lead Santa Margarita Catholic to a state title in 2025, he was also named Co-Defensive MVP of the prestigious Trinity League in Southern California for the second straight season.

"That's arguably the best high school football league in the country," Brennan said. "He needs to get his flowers for that because that is big time. He's tough, physical and whenever you watch him play, he's all over the football field. He's so productive, so tough, so fun to watch and you know you're getting this incredible foundation, incredible character, because you know the family so well."

Fifita finished his high school career with 201 tackles, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Fifita is one of two linebackers in Arizona's 2026 recruiting class, along with Dallas-area native Jaden Parker, who's joining the team in the summer for fall training camp.

Arizona's linebackers had an improved 2025 campaign compared to the prior season, but now "it's about developing your team and getting better the following season," Gonzales said.

"We'll have some fun with those pieces and see how we can develop them to give us the best chance to be successful next fall," added Gonzales.