Football is the sport Noah Fifita plays and it's why he's a household name in the college football world, but it's not the most important aspect to his life. It's his faith.Â
The Arizona Wildcats quarterback will be the first to say, "My faith is the only reason why I'm here."
"At the end of the day, I'm a 5-9 quarterback," said the Arizona star quarterback. "People say what I'm doing is impossible. It truly is because God has a hand in it. The only reason I'm here is because of my faith, so he's definitely allowed me to have opportunities I wouldn't have.
"At the end of the day, it's not by my doing. Yeah, I'm going to work hard and do all of these things — (offensive coordinator Seth Doege) helps me in so many ways in terms of preparation. But the only reason I'm here is because God has allowed me to be. I'm not here on my own power. I don't deserve the credit because God is the one that's doing it."Â
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For the second straight spring, in coordination with Arizona's "Beyond Football" program, Fifita has packaged his faith and passion for football into a one-day camp, the "First Down Faith Football Camp," for boys and girls ages 11-14 at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Friday. The camp is connected to the "First Down Faith Foundation" founded by Fifita.Â
Last year, the First Down Faith Football Camp had 40 participants. It more than doubled this year with 90 players — 60 boys and 30 girls. Former UA staffer Melina Davis and Fifita's girlfriend, Faith Webb, "were the ones that did everything the last two or three months and made this all go," Fifita said.Â
The camp was divided into three groups, with the girls as their own group. Each camper received a clear First Down Faith Football Camp shoe bag in case they want to take the bag to UA home games this season. Each bag came with a bible, a journal, a thank-you card written by Fifita and Arizona freshman linebacker Dash Fifita, the younger brother of the Arizona quarterback, along with a towel, a wristband and personalized trading cards with both Fifita brothers.Â
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita plays around with one of his campers in the middle of a game of ultimate football that wrapped up the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Each group represented a different bible verse. The three bible verses were Matthew 11:28-30, John 13:7 and Isaiah 41:10, which is Noah Fifita's favorite bible verse.Â
The verse: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
The camp started with a meet-and-greet, before they cycled through practice stations on the field and then "learned how to annotate bible verses and see what bible verses mean to them," Fifita said.
Unlike last year, First Down Faith Football Camp had girl participants. Girls flag football has exponentially risen across the country, especially after the Olympics added the sport to the 2028 games in Los Angeles.Â
"For me, I think it's special that we get to involve them," said Fifita. "Even more so, we're all equal under God's eye. We're all brothers and sisters in Christ. It's amazing to see his kingdom grow in that way and include them. They also have their own issues and things they have to go through.
"For boys, it's about success, stats and fame. For girls, social media is a big thing for them because they find their identity in what people look like on social media and what people look like walking around, so they're always comparing themselves to that. My mission is to show that your identity is in Christ, whether that's on the football field or social media for girls."Â
It's also the first time both Fifita brothers are hosting the camp together, which is months before their first-ever season as teammates.Â
"This camp means the world, to see all that brother has put into this camp, the legacy that he's built here at Arizona, and him using his platform to inspire these kids that it's possible no matter where you come from or how big you are," said Dash Fifita. "It's an honor to add on to that and the legacy he's created here. It means the world."Â
Camper Fernando Hamilton and Arizona quarterback draw up a route for him to run during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
The Fifita brothers' grandfather, Steven Fifita, "instilled faith in us at a young age" and he's the influence behind the camp that parlays faith and football.Â
"He took us to church when we were super young," said Noah Fifita. "He would drag us out of bed and we'd go (to church) in our pajamas. Once I got to college, I had to make my own decision to grow in my faith. My grandfather wasn't there to bring me to church, so that's where I took a big step in my faith.
"I realized that not every kid has the role model that I have. Our goal as a nonprofit is to use camps and use our platform to inspire kids to know who Jesus Christ is. ... Our goal and mission is to inspire one kid to pick up a bible and start to pray. That would be success in our books."Â
Added Dash Fifita: "When we were younger, church was mandatory. Whether you're up or not, he'll get you up. We used to go in our pajamas. He'll pick us up and carry us to church and we wouldn't like it. Until I was about 14 years old, it was a burden. When I turned 14, it became a privilege. Him forcing that upon us was a blessing that we didn't even know at the time, but I'm so grateful he did."Â
The Fifitas also wanted to provide a unique space for football-playing kids who are grounded in their faith — or kids who are willing to experience faith-related activities through football. The specific camp is unlike anything the Fifitas had growing up in Orange County, California.Â
"Going to a football camp where (the UA players) lower themselves and show that their identity is bigger than football, I think that's special," Noah Fifita said. Â
The First Down Faith Football Camp and its purpose "is important because my purpose on this earth isn't to play football," Fifita said.
"God gave me the talents, he gave me the ability and this platform to play football, which I love to do," Fifita added. "But at the end of the day, football comes and goes. We've had great seasons and then we had a poor season. Fans come and go, stats come and go, but what got me through the good, what got me through the bad, is my faith. That's what my grandpa instilled in me.
"I hope to share with the next generation that their identity isn't in football or how popular they are in school, it's in God. That's my mission."Â
Photos: First Down Faith Football Camp
A trio of campers jump for a ball while playing around before the official start of the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026. The camp, hosted by Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and his linebacker brother Dash, drew about 100 youth players.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita plays around with one of his campers in the middle of a game of ultimate football that wrapped up the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Princeton Britt pulls down a hard earned touchdown, fighting Arizona receiver Tre Spivey, top, in one of the three ultimate football games that were the culmination of the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Ahsha Robinson does her end zone celebration after hauling in a catch during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Andrew Fay tries to haul in a tipped pass on a corner route while running drills during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Arizona receiver celebrates with Jacoby Strebing after he broke down a defender to make catch in the corner of the end zone a during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Sophia Hitchcock, left, comes in to swat away a pass intended for fellow camper Aria Honea during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Camper Fernando Hamilton and Arizona quarterback draw up a route for him to run during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Kai Smith draws in a pass, making a catch in one of the games of ultimate football during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Camper Trista De La Vara takes a stab at trying to keep Dash Fifita from making a catch as they play in one of the three ultimate football games that ended the night at the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Kendrix Robinson runs his drill in style during the First Down Faith Football Camp, Tucson, Ariz., April 17, 2026.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports

